The Hope of the Believer . . .

MIGHT JUDAS BE IN HEAVEN?  

Heaven will almost certainly have its surprises. We may be surprised that some of those we thought to be "righteous" are nowhere to be found. We might even be surprised to find ourselves there, considering all the uncertainties that so many of us harbor about "being good enough." We are likely to be surprised, if we have had a sectarian spirit, to find those in heaven that we have rejected in this world.

It is enough to say that there are likely Lobe multiplied millions in heaven from all cultures, nations, and religions that we from our narrow perspective will be surprised to see. And from every conceivable background and circumstance, including many who committed atrocious sins in this world, for they will all be sinners saved by God's grace. Might this include Judas Iscariot, who might well be described as the most tragic figure in human history?

I am not saying that I believe Judas is in heaven, but I am saying that I believe he might be. In view of the overwhelming mercy of God, anyone might be! But my main purpose herein is to suggest that we should be a bit uncomfortable in putting distance between ourselves and the likes of Judas - "all those awful sinners Out there." We are all sinners together and it is risky to try to separate us into bad sinners and not-so-bad sinners. It implies that we do not need God's grace as much as the really serious sinners.

We can't be sure that Paul knew the story of Judas. He might have mentioned him when he referred to "the night in which Jesus was betrayed," but he did not. But even so Paul still thought of himself as "the chief of sinners," not Judas. That means that the greatest sinner of all, by his own measure, is now in heaven. That is God's grace!

There are deep mysteries relative to the Bible's most tragic figure. After praying all night for guidance in choosing those who would be his closest disciples, Jesus chose Judas as one of twelve men to be trusted. In Jn. 6:71 our Lord makes the remarkable statement, "Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil." Surely we are not to conclude that Jesus knew when he selected Judas that he would serve as an agent of Satan. Jesus also once referred to Peter as Satan. Another mystery is Judas' reaction when his foul deed in some way went contrary to his expectations, in spite of its success. Not only did he give back the money that his evil deed brought him, but he went on to kill himself. Did Judas betray one that he really loved and believed in?

Are we to resolve part of the mystery the way Peter did in Acts 1:16 by saying Judas did what he did because "this Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus"? Peter says Judas did what he did because the Holy Spirit prophesied that he would do it! Another apostle says that it was Satan who put it into Judas' heart to betray Jesus (Jn. 13:2), and goes on to explain that it was at the Supper when "Satan entered into Judas," leading Jesus to tell him to go on and do quickly what he planned to do (Jn. 13:27). Was Jesus here yielding to Satan, recognizing that one of his disciples was but the agent of a foreordained cosmic event. Jesus said as much later in the garden when his enemies came to arrest him. After reminding them that he had taught daily in public and that there was need to come after him with swords and clubs, he said to them, "But this is your hour, and the power of darkness" (Lk. 22:53).

Jesus appears to be following a script written in eternity according to God's foreordained plan, and Judas is part of its decree. When Judas kissed Jesus in the garden, so as to identify him for the mob, the Lord said to him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" (Lk. 22:48). But when the mob surrounded him and made him a prisoner Jesus also explained why he would not do what he had the power to do, summon an army of angels to his rescue, "How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must happen thus" (Mt. 26:54). Again, as if summarizing all the events of "the hour of darkness," including Judas' treacherous deed, he says, "All this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled" (Mt. 26:56).

Could Judas therefore, like Geraldine, excuse himself on grounds that "The devil made me do it!"? The Scriptures make it clear that throughout the entire betrayal episode Judas behaved as a free man. He freely chose to betray his Lord, else he would not have killed himself in remorse, and yet it was decreed in God's eternal purpose that he would be the villain in the drama of the world's darkest hour. The Director already had Judas' name printed on the program! It is an inexplicable mystery. But the cosmic dimensions of poor Judas' role should at least cause us to be less judgmental of him, if not to forgive him. Ah, forgive him! Can we forgive him?

Did not our blessed Lord forgive him when he prayed on the Cross, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." It was for the ungodly, not the righteous, for whom Christ died. Surely even Judas is not beyond the reach of God's mercy, and does he need that grace any more than the rest of us? Since we all betray our faith in many and varied ways, would it be all that inappropriate to have Judas within the fellowship of the church? He would not be the first member of which it could be said "Satan entered into his heart"! Who among us can claim that it is always Christ in his heart and never Satan?

While the Biblical picture of Judas is rather dark, there are some things that indicate there was another side to him. We are to remember that Jesus after careful determination and prayer chose Judas as an apostle from scores of faithful followers. Surely he was not then possessed of the devil, but one of deep faith and devotion. He must have given three years of faithful service as an apostle before "the hour of darkness" came. He was selected to serve as treasurer for the apostolic community, a position of trust. There was no suspicion of his loyalty, up to the very end, for when Jesus told the twelve that one of them would betray him, no one pointed an accusing finger at Judas. Each one rather said "Is it I, Lord?," which reveals that they were all aware of their vulnerability. After all, before that night was over, they all ran for their lives, leaving the Master to shift for himself. Except for Peter, who went for his sword in his typically rash fashion, and yet within hours he denied his Lord not once but thrice. It shows that Judas was not the only sinner among the apostles.

Even when Judas left the upper room to do his foul deed, no apostle suspected him. It was he that took care of business matters, so they supposed Jesus had sent him on an errand, to buy food or give something to the poor, the kind of things Judas often did.

What could have been Judas' motive in betraying his Lord? Surely not money, however much he loved it, for thirty pieces of silver (around $15 in our money) was a mere pittance for the most wanted "criminal" around. If it was silver that he was after, why did he in the end throw it away?

It could hardly be that for whatever reason his love for Jesus had turned to hate, and so he wanted to see him die. He would not have been so distraught as to commit suicide if the scenario had gone as he planned. It is evident that things did not go as Judas intended. The fact that he threw the money back at those who gave it to him, crying out, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood," shows that Jesus was still close to his heart. How could one live with Jesus for three years and not love him?

The theory most compatible with the facts is that Judas had grown impatient with Jesus' reluctance to assert himself as the Messiah that Judas believed him to be, and so by betraying him he would force him to act. Like other of the apostles and the general public, Judas looked to Jesus as a conquering Messiah, who, by revolutionary means if necessary, would set the nation free of Roman oppression. There is some evidence that the name "Iscariot," which he was called (not a family name), associates him with the Sicarri, a dagger sect that believed in a violent overthrown of the Roman yoke. Simon Zealotes, another apostle, seems to have had such connections in his background.

That the apostles expected some kind of displacement of Roman domination and a new rule by Jesus is evident. They argued over who would have key positions in such a kingdom. James and John even asked Jesus if they might be deputy governors, ruling at his side. In spite of Jesus' continual emphasis upon the spiritual nature of the new reign of God that he was bringing, there is little evidence that even his own disciples really understood. Even after his crucifixion, burial, and resurrection they ask him, "Will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel" (Acts 1:6).

This may well be why Judas was led to take such drastic measures. If Jesus was confronted by armed force, he would at last act with all the powers of a conquering Messiah, Judas may have supposed. "The one I kiss, he is the one," Judas said to Jewish leaders, "seize him." Was Judas convinced that Jesus could not be taken by force? He had seen folk try to seize him before, but he always eluded them. Judas never expected the Master to be captured, certainly not for long, much less to be killed. He rather hoped for an uprising, led by Jesus. When it became evident that Jesus was going to be executed, Judas' world fell apart. Could he any longer believe that Jesus was the expected Messiah, now that he was seized and manhandled by his enemies? He saw no solution but self-destruction.

If Judas could have believed what Jesus taught the disciples over and over, that he would be crucified but after three days he would rise, he would have reason to live on, and he could have righted things. It is amazing that on that first Good Friday when Jesus died and was buried there was not a single person in all the world that believed he would rise from the dead, not even his disciples to whom he had divulged the good news.

Judas was remorseful, according to Mt. 27:3. There was one noble thing he could do: repudiate his act in the face of those who bribed him, men he must have hated with a passion. In his agony he bore his soul to the corrupt leaders that shared his guilt: "I have sinned, I have betrayed innocent blood." He didn't say that he had betrayed the Christ. He might then have been confused about who Jesus was. But he knew one thing, Jesus was a good and righteous man, and he had sinned in betraying him.

At this point the Jewish leaders reveal their degeneracy as never before. Even though Judas had given them the evil triumph they had long sought, they hadn't the slightest concern for his desperate plight. "What is that to us. That's your problem." Judas must have seethed with hatred in the face of such calloused pride and arrogance. It says that they were in the temple, probably at the entrance to the Holy Place. Judas did a dramatic and noble thing. In his fury he threw the thirty pieces of filthy lucre at the feet of the filthy men who were partakers with him of his grievous deed. He saw to it that it did concern them and that it was their problem. They had the blood money of their own bloodly act scattered over their sacred precincts, a problem they had to deal with. He was saying to them what they had said to him, See you to it! Good for Judas. Great show.

The poor, wretched soul lost no time in doing himself in, and the horror of his death was probably well calculated. He hanged himself in such a way that his body dashed against the rocks with such fury that "he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out" (Acts 1:18).

What tragedy! But amidst the tragedy Judas was nobler than many of us. He could say "I have sinned" and say it loud and clear. And in his last hour he proclaimed to those who needed the most to hear it, that Jesus of Nazareth, whom they chose to murder, was an innocent and just man.

The essence of the tragedy is shared by us all who profess to follow Jesus Christ, and that is that Judas was never quite willing to accept Jesus for what he was. He wanted to make him over. He wanted it his way. Jesus made it clear that the kingdom he brought was heavenly, not earthy, and that its weapons were spiritual, not carnal. Poor Judas wanted to rewrite the script, and so, mortal man though he was, he took eternity into his own hands. But are we all that different? In our proud materialistic world, mirrored even in the church itself, do we really take the claims of Christ seriously? And with all the advantages that we have that Judas never had, in how many ways do we betray the Christ and crucify him afresh? If we had been there with Judas and the other disciples, where would we have been on that first Easter morning? Judas was dead and the others were hiding in fear of their lives. When they all fled would we have stayed? Would we have been at the tomb "while it was yet dark" waiting to greet the Lord of glory?

Any man who dies in remorse for his wretchedness, confessing himself to be a sinner, is a candidate for God's mercy. And we will leave it to those who have not sinned after the similitude of Judas to cast the first stone. — the Editor  

Alexander Campbell's New Earth  

The present material universe, yet unrevealed in all its area, in all the tenantries, in all its riches, beauty and grandeur, will be wholly regenerated. Of this fact we have full assurance; since he that now sits upon the Throne of the Universe, has pledged his word for it, saying, "Behold, I will create all things new: -consequently "new heavens, new earth, "consequently, new tenantries, new employments, new pleasures, new joys new ecstasies. There is a fullness of joy, a fullness of glory, and a fullness of blessedness, of which no living man, however enlightened, however enlarged, however gifted, ever formed or entertained one adequate conception. — Millennial Harbinger, 1865, p.517.