THE MISUNDERSTOOD JUDAS ISCARIOT

The Judas Kiss

Almost throughout the history of the Church, the name Judas has always been attributed in the negative interpretation. This name has never been forgotten in the story the day before the crucifixion of Jesus. Judas became the antagonist, a betrayer of Jesus. He is a dominant personality with a questioned loyalty to the Lord.

            In the four Gospel, only Matthew mentioned about the death of Judas (see Matthew 27:5). In the Acts of the Apostle, Peter also narrated a very different story about Judas’ death (see Acts 1:16-19). It became worst when Bishop Papias further exaggerated the story. All this different versions of story ignites the questionable death of Judas. How Judas died left unanswered. And the million dollar question of why did Judas betrayed Jesus is also hanging.

The 30 Silver Coins

            Judas is not for sure an accessory of Christ’s death because God is omnipotent. God will not use people to pursue his divine plan of salvation. One should look at the event in the human perspective that Judas like Peter who denied Jesus three times has also a human weaknesses and limitations. If one will compare Peter, Judas, and the other disciples who left Jesus during that difficult time, what are now their differences?

            I think it would be very unfair to remember and condemn Judas in such a way that people could not help but to looked for that tree to make sure if there is the hanging body of Judas; or to portray him as a glutton burst his stomach because of greediness; or fabricate a story that would tend people to cover their nostrils and vomit due to the intolerable odor of his remain.

            In the end, I believe that it would be right to remember Judas as a repentant sinner (see Matthew 27:3). He also sobs like Peter and the rest of the other disciples who denounces Jesus in times of complexity but was also saved by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.