After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, “Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining next to him; Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “Do quickly what you are going to do.” Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. Some thought that, because Judas had the common purse, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival”; or, that he should give something to the poor. So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.
The reading this evening was from the Last Supper.
It is the scene where Judas leaves to betray Jesus.
Here is a Caravaggio painting of Judas with Jesus.
This is the moment of the betrayal.
Look into his face.
Look at the reaction of Jesus.
All of the commotion around them and yet there in the middle a seeming pool of calm.
Judas and Jesus having a defining moment.
The moment of betrayal.
Look at Jesus reaction.
This is his friend.
They have been together for years walking from village to village.
And now he gives him a kiss.
Last night I said that Judas fascinating.
I have so many questions to ask him.
Why did he do it?
Was it really for money?
Judas is shown to be the betrayer yet others are redeemed?
When Peter betrays Jesus and denies Him three times, he is forgiven.
Jesus later goes on to restore him after the resurrection.
Meanwhile, Judas is cast off into the outer darkness?
There are many, many questions.
Judas becomes the “other”.
Judas is the person on whom we place all our hurt and anger and frustration.
All the feelings of betrayal.
But isn’t that Jesus’ role?
Isn’t Jesus the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world?
Isn’t Jesus the one on whom all our sin fall?
I think that Judas is not a figure of hate, or of repulsion. He is lost.
He fails.
But Jesus is into failure.
That’s what he is all about.
Jesus comes for failures like you and me.
Jesus has no problem with our failure.
He deals with betrayal and failure all the time.
The problem is not that Jesus couldn’t deal with the failure and betrayal of Judas.
It is that Judas won’t allow Jesus deal with his betrayal and failure.
All through the gospels there are people turning their lives around.
They come to Jesus and they seek forgiveness.
Zacchaeus comes down from his tree and seeks forgiveness.
He then gives the money he’s taken back and more.
When Peter recognises his betrayal he places himself before Jesus for forgiveness.
Judas doesn’t.
Judas takes himself off into his own personal hell.
Judas can’t come and receive the forgiveness of Jesus.
Is Judas evil?
Is he actually a sad figure?
He has spent two years in the presence of The Christ and he still doesn’t recognise his need of Jesus.
Is that where we are?
Are we lost in the darkness?
Have we not realised that we can turn to Jesus?
Jesus love is all encompassing.
It is a free invitation.
Everyone’s life can be transformed.
Will you let Jesus shine His love into your life?
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