Lent was an interesting season for our family, and for my heart in particular. I have been diving deep into a Bible study on the book of John with BSF (Bible Study Fellowship-it's an international, non denominational Bible study and it's AMAZING... There's likely one in your area... look it up... Also the kid's program... TOP NOTCH) and I have thoroughly enjoyed picking apart the different characters that had the opportunity to interact with Jesus in such a way that they made it into the Bible. Today, let's talk about Judas.
Can I just start by saying that if I had written the story of Judas' life, I would have done it differently. I love a good, sappy story of redemption and that SO could have been what Judas was. It still breaks my heart when I think about the fact that Judas never got it. Never. Right up to the end of his own tormented life.
At the last supper, Jesus made clear that the one he would give the bread to was the one who would betray him. He then offered the bread in secret to Judas. I wonder if, just maybe, this was the last chance for Judas. This was his last opportunity to make the right choice. But he failed. And the scripture tells us that as soon as Judas willingly reached out his own hand and took that bread from Jesus, Satan entered him. He no longer wanted to battle his sin. He had made friends with it. And at that point, he was no longer Jesus's. A man who walked next to Jesus, heard his every word, watched his every miracle. A man who could see the goodness, the GODness. But you know what? It wasn't what he expected. Judas came from a long line of Bible study-ers and they all knew what the King of the Jews was going to look like. And maybe he kept thinking Jesus would change, show his superiority, wear his kingly attire and take his place on a throne. He was looking for a king to rule, not a servant to wash his feet. And maybe the Last Supper-watching Jesus kneel before him and wash the animal feces off his feet-did him in. He had his eyes open, but they weren't seeing clearly. This did not look like the high king he thought Jesus was going to become. He was blinded by his own expectations, his own assumptions. He knew the Old Testament prophecies, and even though every single one of them was being met before his very eyes, he couldn't see one of them.
As many times as I've heard the story of Judas, I've wondered "How could he not get it?" But this year, I realize, we aren't getting it. We Christians. We have our cookie-cutter gospels and when life isn't fitting into our versions of the gospels, we spew hatred. We spew hurt. We spew everything Jesus didn't. We have become churches filled with Judas's. Somehow, we have read and studied scripture, and become exactly what the Pharisees were. We would stand there and crucify Jesus all over again, I'm sure of it. As I listen to Christians debate how certain groups of people should be dealt with, kept away from, I wonder how did we get here? I wonder if Jesus walked back onto the earth today, would we, His followers, even recognize Him? Read through His life in any one of the gospels. He didn't separate himself from sinners. He wasn't afraid of being "guilty by association". He loved with no strings attached. He saved without issuing punishments. He washed the feet of a man who was about to betray him to his death. You guys. That's the Jesus we serve. That's the Jesus we long to be like. And yet we don't even want to make small talk with someone who seems different, let alone wash their stinky feet. Walk the streets with the sinners. Pray with and for them. Hand them a hot meal or an ice cold bottle of water. Take that person out for coffee. Love on their kids every chance you get. Make eye contact. Say hello. Smile. Give them that box of clothes that's taking up space in your closet and driving you crazy. Invite them into your home. Love them without also feeling the need to condemn them. I've yet to come to a story where Jesus says "You're going to hell. Your sin is more than I can bear." Jesus walked the earth to show us what our job is. To love God. To love people. That's it. How have we missed it?
I still wish Judas had repented, been saved. But I'm heeding the warning his life was. Jesus wasn't a cookie cutter Savior and the gospel doesn't always read exactly how I want it to. And that's okay. I just need to love my God and love His people. I'll let Jesus do the rest.
Can I just start by saying that if I had written the story of Judas' life, I would have done it differently. I love a good, sappy story of redemption and that SO could have been what Judas was. It still breaks my heart when I think about the fact that Judas never got it. Never. Right up to the end of his own tormented life.
At the last supper, Jesus made clear that the one he would give the bread to was the one who would betray him. He then offered the bread in secret to Judas. I wonder if, just maybe, this was the last chance for Judas. This was his last opportunity to make the right choice. But he failed. And the scripture tells us that as soon as Judas willingly reached out his own hand and took that bread from Jesus, Satan entered him. He no longer wanted to battle his sin. He had made friends with it. And at that point, he was no longer Jesus's. A man who walked next to Jesus, heard his every word, watched his every miracle. A man who could see the goodness, the GODness. But you know what? It wasn't what he expected. Judas came from a long line of Bible study-ers and they all knew what the King of the Jews was going to look like. And maybe he kept thinking Jesus would change, show his superiority, wear his kingly attire and take his place on a throne. He was looking for a king to rule, not a servant to wash his feet. And maybe the Last Supper-watching Jesus kneel before him and wash the animal feces off his feet-did him in. He had his eyes open, but they weren't seeing clearly. This did not look like the high king he thought Jesus was going to become. He was blinded by his own expectations, his own assumptions. He knew the Old Testament prophecies, and even though every single one of them was being met before his very eyes, he couldn't see one of them.
As many times as I've heard the story of Judas, I've wondered "How could he not get it?" But this year, I realize, we aren't getting it. We Christians. We have our cookie-cutter gospels and when life isn't fitting into our versions of the gospels, we spew hatred. We spew hurt. We spew everything Jesus didn't. We have become churches filled with Judas's. Somehow, we have read and studied scripture, and become exactly what the Pharisees were. We would stand there and crucify Jesus all over again, I'm sure of it. As I listen to Christians debate how certain groups of people should be dealt with, kept away from, I wonder how did we get here? I wonder if Jesus walked back onto the earth today, would we, His followers, even recognize Him? Read through His life in any one of the gospels. He didn't separate himself from sinners. He wasn't afraid of being "guilty by association". He loved with no strings attached. He saved without issuing punishments. He washed the feet of a man who was about to betray him to his death. You guys. That's the Jesus we serve. That's the Jesus we long to be like. And yet we don't even want to make small talk with someone who seems different, let alone wash their stinky feet. Walk the streets with the sinners. Pray with and for them. Hand them a hot meal or an ice cold bottle of water. Take that person out for coffee. Love on their kids every chance you get. Make eye contact. Say hello. Smile. Give them that box of clothes that's taking up space in your closet and driving you crazy. Invite them into your home. Love them without also feeling the need to condemn them. I've yet to come to a story where Jesus says "You're going to hell. Your sin is more than I can bear." Jesus walked the earth to show us what our job is. To love God. To love people. That's it. How have we missed it?
I still wish Judas had repented, been saved. But I'm heeding the warning his life was. Jesus wasn't a cookie cutter Savior and the gospel doesn't always read exactly how I want it to. And that's okay. I just need to love my God and love His people. I'll let Jesus do the rest.