One Of You Will Betray Me

There is no counting the times I've looked down my nose, metaphorically speaking, on the man known in history as Judas Iscariot, chosen disciple, friend yet betrayer of one, Jesus (who called Himself The Son of G'D). As a child I scorned the thought of Judas, vowed never to become him, and considered him the most evil and vile friend any person could ever have. What I didn't know is that there is a little bit of Judas in everyone. What I didn't know is that we are all him, in one shape or form.

If you don't believe this is true, think through the many circumstances of your life. Did you ever fail to tell the truth because to do so would make you look bad, or put on display your lack of integrity? Did you ever take something from someone, whether in the tangible, or the intangible? Did you ever dream of doing so? Did you ever secretly enjoy a revenge taken against another individual (even if it wasn't you perpetrating the crime)? Did you ever have a choice to protect someone from a hurt, but decided to save yourself instead? Did you ever secretly rejoice over someone else's pain?

Certainly, these fabricated scenarios leave a lot to the imagination; as such they might not be considered hideous acts of betrayal. In fact, they might not even be thought to belong on the list delineating acts of betrayal by some. Still, they are (acts of betrayal), even if no one else will ever know you took part.

These are acts that would shock those we love, if they were to find out we committed them. These are actions, reactions and lack of action that have the power to disappoint the ones we say we love, if they thought us capable. Thing is, even if anyone were to consider such faults against us, the ability to err is so human, there would be no escaping the fact that by the same token that we could be criticized for possessing such low tendencies, so would every other person on the face of this earth. No human is exempt.

So, what makes the discovery really a shock? Certain activities take on a life of their own when, like words that fly out of a mouth without thought, they cannot be taken back, because they reveal the heart behind a matter. In other words, certain activities, actions, reactions, thoughts and desires reveal who a person really is; and while we all know there's a lot of no good inside a heart, each of us needs to believe there is generally enough good in humanity, so that we can feel free to function without needing to look over our shoulder all the time.

Since each of us has the potential to be evil, in subtle yet real manifestations of the definition, what makes this discovery really a shock, is just how evil an individual has the potential to be, something many people will never admit, never accept, fully deny and even attempt to mask at every opportunity. Nobody wants to be unmasked. Yet, Judas' act of betrayal is something the whole world can read about in the historical account of his time with Jesus of Nazareth. That's why he is the focus of this Hub page. Or is he?

Looking at the infamous Judas, no one can deny that his act of utter betrayal was a cold-hearted effort. Whatever his real intention, Judas essentially gave up his friend for a sack of gold coins. Therefore, understanding what motivated Judas to follow Jesus becomes less difficult when we consider Judas was a thief in charge of the money-purse, just looking to make an extra buck.

The riddle is: why did Jesus select Judas Iscariot to be His disciple? Jesus knew Judas was really a thief at heart. And, if in fact, HE IS G'D Incarnate, Jesus even knew Judas would ultimately turn Him over to the religious authorities in exchange for something as spiritually temporal but carnally tempting, as gold coins.

Judas was there when that last Passover meal was celebrated. As custom dictates, Judas' fingers dipped bread in the same bowl as Jesus. Yet even after Jesus said, "one of you will betray Me", Judas didn't change his plan of action.

To be fair as we negotiate the elements in this equation, logic decrees recognition of the high probability that one out of the twelve men Jesus chose to be His followers, was going to have the capacity to betray Him. In fact, Jesus could have made every effort to manipulate His selection to include a man whose reputation and dealings preceded him, in order to secure a "betrayer" in His inner circle, because the fact that He was going to be betrayed was inevitable.

Or, this selection is a wondrous example of Jesus' generosity. He did not display prejudice against Judas, no matter how wickedly the heart inside him might scheme against a friend. He even gave Judas command of the money-purse, knowing he might skim off the top whenever he could. Perhaps though, Jesus was giving Judas the chance to make a choice to do otherwise.

In journeying through Israel with Jesus, he heard the Master's teachings, he also watched Jesus heal the masses as well as specific individuals. Being witness to all the wise applications Jesus put into practice, should have had the effect of changing Judas' heart. The fact that nothing Judas saw Jesus do grazed the surface of Judas' demeanor is seriously sorrowful.

If Jesus was really G'D Incarnate, He knew, not only the prophecies, but that Judas would ultimately choose to do things his way. Still, Jesus gave Judas the chance to live a different choice. For all we know, Judas may have repented of his association with the religious leaders only to ask forgiveness of G'D, and receive it. It well may be, that up until that point in time when Judas dedicated himself to committing suicide, the end of his life story was not etched in stone.

Let's look at another option: what if Jesus was in fact, just another man. As such, He would have no clue as to the type of men he was selecting to be his personal entourage. he would have had no clue Judas was capable of feeding Him to the dogs. Neither could he have spoken about the action taken against him during His last meal, where all the men were joining him in the celebration that commemorates the 'freedom'. Also, why would a man who isn't G'D, though he says he is tell his followers this would be the last meal he shared with them, and this would be the last time he would ever drink wine? Hmmm. Let's leave those thoughts aside for now, since they don't relate to the subject.

The truth is, I will never be able to imagine all the permutations and variations of thought attached to either of these scenarios; but my mind has the ability to draw a few conclusions, even if they can never really be explored more deeply. For example: what kind of a lunatic would choose a man who is a thief to be part of his inner circle, and then give that man the money-purse? A very ignorant man might do so. However, wouldn't an ignorant man also run for the hills at the first thought of being pursued, then judged by religious fanatics, who are more than aching to declare him guilty before a jury of religious peers? Even a lunatic would be aware that such a lynching squad would only be waiting for the first opportunity to kill him. Wouldn't he?

When Jesus made the statement, "one of you will betray Me", if He was just an ordinary man, and He noticed Judas slip away from the rest of the company, wouldn't that be a good time for Him to get up and take off? I mean, who in his right mind, would want to face that hungry mob of religious leaders waiting to flay the skin from off his back?

Another scenario: If Jesus was just an ordinary man, and He didn't actually know Judas was going to betray Him, but He coincidentally made that statement during dinner, wouldn't He have reacted differently when Peter pulled a sword from his hip, cutting off the ear of one of the men who came to arrest Him? Think about it. The men who came to the Garden of Gethsemene were fully armed. They came with swords and clubs. They came ready to fight, if necessary, in order to capture this rebel rouser.

My point is simple: as you must already know, I believe Jesus IS G'D Incarnate. Therefore, in my estimation everything He did, He did with purpose. He selected Judas, knowing this was the man who would betray Him, knowing Judas would pursue the setting aside of an opportunity to be part of something greater, in order to be part of something menial. Yet, Judas, while an instrument of G'D'S Purpose, was loved by Jesus.

My firm belief includes the theory that if Judas would have asked forgiveness of Jesus, Judas would have received forgiveness. Unfortunately, Judas was so blinded by the shock of his own capacity to give a friend over to be persecuted, that he didn't think of receiving forgiveness. Like so many of us, when things get rough, Judas took the matter into his own hands, coming up with a remedy to the problem of his betrayal, and his sense of shame, from which there was no turning back: suicide.

I continue certain, this G'D I worship, love and revere is so amazing, His most crucial reason for selecting Judas as a disciple, was not to use him for the purpose of being betrayed when the time came for Him to lay down His Life in order to redeem humankind from the fall, because G'D Orchestrated that resolution, and it would come to pass with or without Judas, but as an example of His Extreme Love.

What am I talking about? Think about it. The logical conclusion is: unless He was pyscho, Jesus was in fact, G'D.

Only G'D Would give a man like Judas a chance at life. Only G'D would treat a man whose lifestyle proved his greed like a friend. Only G'D would love His enemy, even if it cost Him His Life.

Essentially, Jesus chose Judas because He Loves, against all logic. Essentially, by choosing Judas, He chooses you. He chooses me.

We're all Judas. The problem is, some people will never admit fallibility. Other people will never admit an ability to do things that may end up generating unthinkable consequences. Still, motivated by selfish inclinations, some people will always proudly think of themselves before any other person, no matter the cost.

I used to look down my nose at the thought of being like Judas, until I realized that only by The Grace of G'D, with His Help, and as a result of His Intervention, will I actually live my life in such a way as not to be Judas, everyday, all the time.

PRAISED BE HIS HOLY NAME!!!!! GLORY TO ADONAI! Amen.