This week’s blog came about as a result of a conversation I had with a Chrisitan friend.
Friend said, “I found a book titled The Gospel of Judas, and did I know anything about it?” Friend went on to say she had always been interested in Judas, so she bought the book. I said if it isn’t based on the Bible, I would be very skeptical.” She said, “It can’t hurt me because I have a very strong faith.”
Satan’s deception: It can’t hurt me.
“I’ll do some research and get back to you,” I said. Without getting too technical, this is what I learned as I researched The Gospel of Judas.
It is a Gnostic text that was first referenced by Irenaeus around 180 AD and rediscovered by archaeologists in 1978. This non-canonical text portrays Judas as Jesus trusted friend and confidant. Judas was tasked to help liberate Jesus’ spirit from His material body, not as the traditional betrayer, but as a hero. (Gnosticism is a religious philosophy that teaches salvation by secret knowledge rather than by faith in Jesus.
It challenges mainstream Christian teachings by depicting a different understanding of God, the world and Jesus’ mission.
The Gospel of Judas text from the second or third century AD is a Coptic language manuscript found in Egypt that presents a radically different view of Judas Iscariot. Judas is shown as the only disciple who truly understands Jesus and his mission. Jesus instructs Judas to betray him, to sacrifice the man. The goal was to free Jesus’ divine Spirit or heavenly principle from His mortal body allowing it to return to the spiritual realm. The script was rejected as hearsay by the early Christian Church and was lost for centuries.
Before I called by friend back, I researched Biblical information on Judas. My research is based on four questions:
1) Who was Judas? He was the son of Simon Iscariot (see John 6:71; 12:24; and 13:26) from the town of Kerioth-Hezron in Judea making him the only Judean disciple. The Bible gives no further family history.
2) Why did Jesus choose Judas to be one of the 12 disciples? Jesus chose Judas to fulfill Old Testament prophecies. “Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me” (Psalm 41:9). Judas’ character and actions are a stark reminder of the destructive power of sin, especially that the love of money is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10). Judas was a thief and motivated by greed (John 12:4-6). Jesus may have chosen Judas as a disciple, but Judas chose to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-16; Mark 14:10-11; Luke 22:3-6; John 6:70-71; 12:4-6). Judas’ lust of money was his downfall.
3) How did Jesus choose Judas? Jesus chose Judas as part of God’s overarching, sovereign plan but not a specific calling as with the other 11 disciples. (Matthew 10:1-4; Mark 3:13-19; Luke 6:12-16; John 6:70-71; and John 13:18 that reveals that Jesus’ choice of Judas was intentional to fulfill Scripture.
Just prior to His betrayal, Jesus prayed to the Father, “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your Name. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled (John 17:12).
Son of perdition highlights Judas’ destined path of downfall and betrayal of Jesus, which ultimately led to his condemnation.
4) What happened to Judas? Matthew 27:3-5 says, “When Judas, Jesus’ betrayer saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, ‘I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.’ They said, ‘What is that to us? See to it yourself.’ And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself.” Judas hung himself without seeking godly forgiveness prior to Jesus’ death on the cross for the forgiveness of sins.
The Bible not only gives us the account of who Judas was, why and how Jesus chose Judas as one of the 12, and what happened to Judas, it shows Jesus’ omniscience, His sovereignty over all things, His perfect obedience to the Father, His mercy toward mankind, His unconditional love, and His immeasurable grace. The Gospel of Jesus is trustworthy and true because it is the inspired Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).
In response, we as believers must examine our own hearts to ensure that our faith is genuine with no ulterior motives. We are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and all our strength that we might not sin against our Savior. And if we do sin, we have a great High Priest who intercedes for us before the Father.