Jesus Would Have Restored Judas, Too (I Think)
Part Five: At this point in each of their stories, both Judas and Peter are in the same place—broken, sinful, and guilty
Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, come down from the cross and save yourself!” In the same way, the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him. (Mark 15:29-32, NIV)
Jesus did not come to save himself
In the Garden of Gethsemane, before being arrested, Jesus prays, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” (Lk 22:42). If Jesus was in this game to save himself, there were opportunities to do so before reaching the cross. After all, Jesus had an uncanny ability to pass through the crowd and escape (Lk 4:30 and Jn 10:39). He certainly could have escaped to the wilderness had that been his desire.
It seems clear, however, that Jesus had only one genuine desire—to follow the Father no matter where it led!
In doing this, Jesus—
does not turn from the Father to follow the “serpent” (of course, Jesus shows this tendency since his first time of testing in the wilderness);
displays the model of a shalom-filled relationship with God the Father (of course, Jesus also showed such a relationship with both the Father and with his neighbors throughout his life and ministry);
can be seen to be the Lamb of God without any defect, as was required for all sin offerings according to the Law of Moses
In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus wrestled with His impending torture and brutal execution. He had to decide whether to retreat or face the ordeal. Anyone in similar circumstances would want to leave, and Jesus indicated that was His desire. (Nabeel Qureshi, Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus, Kindle 2341)
Judas’ kiss
Judas arrives on the scene following his time of prayer in which his closest friends could not keep themselves from dozing off. He had sold out Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. The kiss of friendship with which Judas greets Jesus on that evening was a kiss of betrayal signaling to the soldiers whom they should arrest.
Do you remember what happened in Luke 22:47-53 when the priests and the temple guards were about to arrest Jesus?
“It’s go time!” the disciples were surely thinking. With their hands on their swords, they were ready to defend the honor of their Master, begin the revolutionary takeover for which some of them had undoubtedly been waiting, and give these religious bullies what they had coming to them. It was time for the warrior-messiah to take control!
As this moment takes shape before their eyes Peter, one of the disciples, slashes off the right ear of Malchus, a servant of the high priest (Jn 18:10). Peter was like that sometimes. Jesus responds immediately, “No more of this!” (Lk 22:5) Then, reflecting the nature of his Heavenly Father, Jesus heals the man’s ear even as he is being wrongly arrested.
Violence and power would not be the marks of God’s kingdom. The kingdom would not exist in this world by force or by self-preservation.
Jesus is taken away to the house of the high priest.
Jesus is abandoned by those closest to him
Peter, his sword still warm with blood and his mind reeling from Jesus’ refusal to fight back, follows from a safe distance. Throughout the long evening, Peter is accused three times of being part of Jesus’ inner circle. Three times Peter denies knowing Jesus or of having any association with the one he had confessed as the “Messiah, Son of the living God” (Mt 16:16). Peter had denied Jesus and turned to follow the serpent.
Then…the rooster.
Peter wasn’t the only one, though. All the disciples leave him and run away, at least one of them naked and all of them afraid, it seems (Mk 14:50-52).
The gospel writers take every opportunity to remind us that Judas was the disciple that betrayed Jesus. Perhaps that is why there aren’t very many little Judas’ running around our schools these days. However, there are plenty of little Peters running around, even though Peter, one of Jesus’ closest friends, also disowns and rejects his friend and teacher.
Two responses to betrayal
When Judas sees that Jesus is condemned, he is seized with remorse and regret. ”I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood” (Mt 27:3-4). Judas, it seems, wasn’t all bad. Peter, remembering that Jesus had told him, “before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times,” goes outside and weeps bitterly (Lk 22:62).
Both Judas and Peter respond to the realization of their respective disloyalty and unfaithfulness in similar ways—with remorse, regret, guilt, and weeping. They had both done wrong, both had turned to follow the serpent, and both had broken shalom with Jesus through their selfish sinful decisions.
At this point in each of their stories, both Judas and Peter are in the same place—broken, sinful, and guilty.
Jesus restores the broken
Jesus fits into the first category of showing chutzpah on behalf of others, like Abraham, David, and Moses. He pleaded for God’s mercy on the perpetrators of his crucifixion, because “they do not know what they are doing.” (Lois Tverberg, “Dust of the Rabbi,” Kindle 1994)
The difference between Judas and Peter lies in each one’s response to their shame. Judas goes away and hangs himself (Mt 27:3-5). Peter, on the other hand, finds himself again eating with Jesus. Jesus asks him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” Peter replies, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you” Jesus repeats this question three times (one for each of Peter’s denials) and then tells Peter, “Take care of my sheep.” (Jn 21:15). Peter does not turn away again.
It seems clear that Judas decided to kill himself in a desperate act of remorse, self-pity, and hopelessness. Though likewise full of regret and guilt, Peter remains with the other disciples following the crucifixion of Jesus. Judas (whether his choice or not) found himself no longer connected to the community of Jesus’ followers. Peter remained connected and, eventually, found forgiveness and restoration.
Jesus had no opportunity here on earth to once again look into the eyes of Judas and offer him the same forgiveness given to Peter.
I think he would have, given the opportunity.
And it would have been epic.
This story is part five of an Easter series. Read parts 1-4 using the links below:
I believe that Jesus had every opportunity to redeem Judas while on earth. Jesus clearly positioned Judas betrayal as he dipped his bread on his tongue. Jesus could have appealed to Father God right then, He could have responded in a similar way as He responded to Satan on the precipice when offered the world… but He did not. Judas did not respond as Peter did when he realized his darkened heart. Judas did not steal opportunity from Jesus to be restored…. Betrayal is a strong action of ruthless disregard for Love in its most elementary age. At the cross, Jesus love for us is at its highest yield and Peter knew this. Judas did not….
I believe you are mistaking the two responses for they are inordinate.