Today we come to one of the most sobering stories in scripture – Jesus’ betrayal by Judas Iscariot. The story is so famous it has entered our culture: we still use the name ‘Judas’ as a generic term for betrayal. Indeed, the identification of Judas with betrayal is so strong that the two other ‘good’ Judases in the New Testament are given different names to differentiate them: so, the second disciple called Judas is usually called ‘Thaddeus’, and Jesus’ half-brother Judas who wrote the last New Testament letter (just before Revelation) is called ‘Jude’. They can’t be called their actual name, in case we associate them with the Judas of this story!
John’s account of Judas’ betrayal largely accords with the other gospel writers, although he does add the unique detail that Judas’ disillusionment with Jesus had a partly personal motive (see John 12:6). It wasn’t just that Jesus proved not to be the kind of Messiah Judas wanted or expected; he was also stealing money and (presumably) Jesus knew of his deceit.
But in other respects, we see the same main elements: Judas had already decided to betray Jesus before the Last Supper (v2), and Jesus knew he had done so (v11). Judas’ betrayal is also a fulfilment of prophecy: (v18, quoting Psalm 41:9) ‘He who shared my bread has turned against me.’
It begs the question: did Judas have a choice? Was he just the unlucky one pre-determined to do this? I think we have to say that people always have a choice. It is true that the scriptural prophecy that someone would betray the Son of Man did have to come true – but Judas did not have to be that person. He chose to steal. He chose to take money for information. Even at the table, he chose to do ‘what you are about to do’ (v27). He was not a robot or a stooge – he made his own choices.
John’s last words in today’s text are poetic and chilling: (v30) ‘And it was night.’ Night in the physical sense; but also night in the spiritual sense. Darkness had overtaken Judas, and was shortly to do the same to Jesus, albeit only with his full acceptance.
The story of Judas is a sobering but healthy reminder of all our little betrayals. All the more important, then, to cast ourselves on the boundless grace of our Saviour. To remind ourselves that he came to save people just like us. His healing makes all things new. ‘Whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.’ Whoever. No-one is beyond his love. Thanks be to God!