Essay
Desperate for an escape, two teenagers hold a gun to a cashier’s
head, stealing money for the drugs they are going to buy later. Bruised
physically and broken emotionally, a lonely wife nurses her beaten body while
her abusive husband visits his young mistress. Thoughts consumed with a
blood-lusting rage, the psychopath plunges the blade into his prey’s
franticly-beating heart. Planet Earth endures bounties of monstrous acts all
because of humankind’s ultimate imminent need to sin. Ranging from white lies to
genocide, the epidemic of sin plagues everyone. Which sin holds the weight of
worst transgression? Probably the most infamous sin of all: Judas’s kiss of
betrayal. After all, no mother names her child Judas, for that outrageous act
stands equivalent to a Harry Potter fan naming her boy Voldemort. Judas’s name
is a literature allusion for traitor. How and why did this follower of Jesus
sell out his friend? Still more important than the how and why is the importance
of Judas’s actions. Judas Iscariot’s sin led to every Christian’s
salvation.
To understand what Judas did, one must first know the man. One of the
twelve hand-picked disciples of Jesus, he spent countless hours with the
teacher: “Judas preached about the Kingdom of God, healed people, and exercised
power and authority over evil spirits” (Miller). A couple of differences
separated him from the others. From a different background, Judas “was the only
one of the Twelve Apostles who was not a Galilean, but a Judean” (The Apostle
Judas). Because of that background, Judas probably dabbled in politics. Also,
Jesus “appointed Judas as treasurer of the group”, which meant Jesus trusted
Judas (Miller). Yet Satan slithered his way into Judas’s heart.
To learn more about the other disciples, check out this website:
http://www.angelfire.com/mb2/marizavehab_t12dofj/
Jesus knew one of his friends would betray him. At the Last Supper, he
stated, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me” (The
Holy Bible 925). Sure enough, Judas proceeded that very night to lead
soldiers to collect Jesus. Judas received thirty pieces of silver, the cost of
slaves in that time period. Once Judas realized the priests and guards wished
Jesus dead, he immediately changed course. Repenting, Judas “returned the thirty
pieces of silver to the chief of priests and the elders. ‘I have sinned,’ he
said, ‘for I have betrayed innocent blood.’…So Judas threw the money into the
temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself” (The
Holy Bible 905). By returning the money, Judas attempted to soothe his
conscience and failed. Why did Judas cause himself this much grief by betraying
Jesus?
head, stealing money for the drugs they are going to buy later. Bruised
physically and broken emotionally, a lonely wife nurses her beaten body while
her abusive husband visits his young mistress. Thoughts consumed with a
blood-lusting rage, the psychopath plunges the blade into his prey’s
franticly-beating heart. Planet Earth endures bounties of monstrous acts all
because of humankind’s ultimate imminent need to sin. Ranging from white lies to
genocide, the epidemic of sin plagues everyone. Which sin holds the weight of
worst transgression? Probably the most infamous sin of all: Judas’s kiss of
betrayal. After all, no mother names her child Judas, for that outrageous act
stands equivalent to a Harry Potter fan naming her boy Voldemort. Judas’s name
is a literature allusion for traitor. How and why did this follower of Jesus
sell out his friend? Still more important than the how and why is the importance
of Judas’s actions. Judas Iscariot’s sin led to every Christian’s
salvation.
To understand what Judas did, one must first know the man. One of the
twelve hand-picked disciples of Jesus, he spent countless hours with the
teacher: “Judas preached about the Kingdom of God, healed people, and exercised
power and authority over evil spirits” (Miller). A couple of differences
separated him from the others. From a different background, Judas “was the only
one of the Twelve Apostles who was not a Galilean, but a Judean” (The Apostle
Judas). Because of that background, Judas probably dabbled in politics. Also,
Jesus “appointed Judas as treasurer of the group”, which meant Jesus trusted
Judas (Miller). Yet Satan slithered his way into Judas’s heart.
To learn more about the other disciples, check out this website:
http://www.angelfire.com/mb2/marizavehab_t12dofj/
Jesus knew one of his friends would betray him. At the Last Supper, he
stated, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me” (The
Holy Bible 925). Sure enough, Judas proceeded that very night to lead
soldiers to collect Jesus. Judas received thirty pieces of silver, the cost of
slaves in that time period. Once Judas realized the priests and guards wished
Jesus dead, he immediately changed course. Repenting, Judas “returned the thirty
pieces of silver to the chief of priests and the elders. ‘I have sinned,’ he
said, ‘for I have betrayed innocent blood.’…So Judas threw the money into the
temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself” (The
Holy Bible 905). By returning the money, Judas attempted to soothe his
conscience and failed. Why did Judas cause himself this much grief by betraying
Jesus?
Many different people believe many different theories. One
theory states that Judas, outraged by Jesus’s acceptance of Mary’s lavish oil
anointment on his feet, let hatred and greed consume him to the point of
betrayal: “The value of the oil was equivalent to about one year’s wages for a
worker so Judas was irate” (Miller). Another theory suggests that Judas’s
actions held a little honor. If Judas was a Zealot, like his last name suggests,
then he most likely believed radical ideas about Jesus’s plan and power. Zealots
interpreted one of Daniel’s prophecies literally. The prophecy declares,
“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was on like
a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of
Days and was lead into his presence. He was given authority, glory, and
sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His
dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is
one that will never be destroyed” (The Holy Bible 810).
Judas, assuming Jesus’s goal comprised of claiming His throne in
order to rule on Earth, could have gotten Him captured in order to force Jesus
to unleash His power and right the world. Either way, Judas committed the
betrayal and fell sick with guilt. When returning the money failed to satisfy
his life, he decided to end his pain through
suicide.
To learn more about Judas's possible political beliefs, check out this link:
http://www.thenazareneway.com/holy_week/why_did_judas_betray.htm
These actions, never forgotten, shaped the world in the greatest way.
Ironic, how the worst sin lead to the ultimate salvation. Yet that is exactly
what occurred. When Jesus appeared to the disciples after his crucifixion, his
teachings and Word took on new weight and precious meaning. The disciples, now
certain of their call, dedicated their lives to sharing this miraculous love of
a conqueror of death. It is a solid fact that “without this certainty there
would probably have been no Christian Church” (Bainton 45). If Jesus never
suffered a criminal’s death, his resurrection would have failed to spur the
disciples’ passion to the extent that it did. If Judas had never sold Jesus’s
life for thirty pieces of silver, he would not have been crucified. So if Judas
never sinned, no Christian would enjoy the salvation they are able to claim
today.
Yes, Judas will forever claim the title of betrayer. After all, he is,
“notorious for betraying Jesus with a kiss in exchange for thirty pieces of
silver” (Prothero 194). Yet from his deadly, evil sin bloomed the most
beautiful, live-giving salvation in the Christian faith. Mankind, in a slightly
twisted way, has a betrayer to thank for their hope and freedom from sin.
Christians should never take that lightly. Everyone can take hope away from
this. For if a joy-giving religion can come from one man’s horrific betrayal,
then every soul can see the good in the midst of the bad.
theory states that Judas, outraged by Jesus’s acceptance of Mary’s lavish oil
anointment on his feet, let hatred and greed consume him to the point of
betrayal: “The value of the oil was equivalent to about one year’s wages for a
worker so Judas was irate” (Miller). Another theory suggests that Judas’s
actions held a little honor. If Judas was a Zealot, like his last name suggests,
then he most likely believed radical ideas about Jesus’s plan and power. Zealots
interpreted one of Daniel’s prophecies literally. The prophecy declares,
“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was on like
a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of
Days and was lead into his presence. He was given authority, glory, and
sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His
dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is
one that will never be destroyed” (The Holy Bible 810).
Judas, assuming Jesus’s goal comprised of claiming His throne in
order to rule on Earth, could have gotten Him captured in order to force Jesus
to unleash His power and right the world. Either way, Judas committed the
betrayal and fell sick with guilt. When returning the money failed to satisfy
his life, he decided to end his pain through
suicide.
To learn more about Judas's possible political beliefs, check out this link:
http://www.thenazareneway.com/holy_week/why_did_judas_betray.htm
These actions, never forgotten, shaped the world in the greatest way.
Ironic, how the worst sin lead to the ultimate salvation. Yet that is exactly
what occurred. When Jesus appeared to the disciples after his crucifixion, his
teachings and Word took on new weight and precious meaning. The disciples, now
certain of their call, dedicated their lives to sharing this miraculous love of
a conqueror of death. It is a solid fact that “without this certainty there
would probably have been no Christian Church” (Bainton 45). If Jesus never
suffered a criminal’s death, his resurrection would have failed to spur the
disciples’ passion to the extent that it did. If Judas had never sold Jesus’s
life for thirty pieces of silver, he would not have been crucified. So if Judas
never sinned, no Christian would enjoy the salvation they are able to claim
today.
Yes, Judas will forever claim the title of betrayer. After all, he is,
“notorious for betraying Jesus with a kiss in exchange for thirty pieces of
silver” (Prothero 194). Yet from his deadly, evil sin bloomed the most
beautiful, live-giving salvation in the Christian faith. Mankind, in a slightly
twisted way, has a betrayer to thank for their hope and freedom from sin.
Christians should never take that lightly. Everyone can take hope away from
this. For if a joy-giving religion can come from one man’s horrific betrayal,
then every soul can see the good in the midst of the bad.