I cannot comment upon Judas without taking note of his name. Admittedly, Judas, deriving as it does from Judah, would hardly be an uncommon name in Judea, and Iscariot need mean no more than that he is that particular Judas who comes from the town of Kerioth. However, as names in Scripture are often more meaningful than that, and more closely connected to events, I find it intriguing that this man’s name might well be translated as 'celebrated city of man’. Not having read it, I wonder if this is where Augustine derived his idea of two cities, the city of God and the city of man. The concept has its threads running throughout Scripture, to be sure, but is there a connection we ought to find applicable to this man?

Celebrated city of man. And, here he has sought to take down the prince of the city of God – seems even to have succeeded. But, of course, the reality is that he failed, and in rejecting and opposing his rightful Lord, he only managed to drive himself to the grave and those worse events that lay beyond the grave for him. This must ever be the case when the city of man seeks to exalt itself against God, seeks to require its independence from the kingdom of God. It cannot come to a good end. I suppose it is just as inevitable that when the city of man demands its own way, it finds its inspiration in the devil. Turn that around and one finds the devil always availing himself of those opportunities presented by the rebellious city of man.

This turns my attention to what is probably the most troubling aspect of this business with Judas. You see, just as Jesus pursued the purpose to which He was born, so Judas was serving the purpose to which he had been born. This would seem to leave him a helpless pawn in the course of his life. Consider: The devil, as John clearly declares, was the one who inspired Judas to betray Jesus (Jn 13:2). At one and the same time, Jesus had chosen Judas to be among His disciples.

Now, there are those who, emphasizing the humanity of our Lord, suppose He was not aware at the time that Judas would prove false. There are those who perceive all those lessons Jesus taught about the love of money as attempts on His part to reach Judas and bring him to saving faith. Yet, it is also clear from John’s account that Jesus was aware of what would come about by Judas’ efforts. “I Myself chose you all, yet one of you is a devil.” That bespeaks full awareness, and it seems to me that full awareness suits the Son of God. Did Jesus consciously seek to act in ways that would fulfill prophecy? There are certainly occasions, such as those we see at the beginning of this final week of His ministry, that indicate very definite concern for such matters. Likewise, at the very start, when John the Baptist sought to dissuade Him from an unnecessary baptism. No. It must be. Scripture must be fulfilled.

Of course, that is also a simple statement of fact. Scripture must be fulfilled not in order to protect its reputation, or to lend stature to those who seek to maintain it. Scripture must be fulfilled for the very simple reason that it is impossible that it should be otherwise. It is God’s word, and God’s word does not fail of itself. In His word there is no least shadow of misinformation. Jesus may very well have consciously sought to conform His own activities to the word of Scripture, but only as part of His being. Honestly, it would be (or should be, anyway) unthinkable that the God of Truth would act in any other way than to be very careful of His own word.

Those who put forth this idea that Jesus unwittingly welcomed Judas into His circle of companions, that He was surprised by the ways of the man and sought to bring him around only after the fact, seem to me to be missing who Jesus is. It is difficult. We know, after all, that Jesus emptied Himself of the full prerogatives of Godhood when He was born into this life. We know, also, that He remained fully God in spite of that. To what degree is His knowledge perfect as He walks the roads of Israel? Well, He knew full well what was in the heart of a man. He knew what those around Him were thinking. Do we suppose He simply had a high degree of empathy, or a well developed understanding of the typical human psyche? Was He just a keen judge of character? I think He was more than that. He was born for a purpose, and I am inclined to accept that from the first moments of consciousness as to His selfhood, He was aware of His purpose and His true parentage.

Judas was not so self-aware as all that, but he, too, was born to a purpose. Indeed, it must be held that Jesus chose him for that very reason. Judas was the one to fill the role of betrayer. It could be no other, for it had been ordained. So, here is this man, ordained by God, inspired by the devil. In what way, then, is he found guilty? In every way! Though it might provoke us to sympathy, though it might lead us to view the man as but a pawn in a game played by beings too powerful to contemplate, the fact is that he was following his own predilections. Regardless of those machinations, he remained in control of the course of his life, and did just as he pleased. The devil saw the advantage of his natural tendencies and provoked. God, of course, knew his ways completely, and also knew the devil would seek to play him. But, His ways are far and away above our own. His knowledge and planning are perfect, accounting for every aspect of our natures. He can plan for us. That does not in any way relieve us of responsibility for the choices we make. Neither was Judas relieved of his responsibility.

It is clear from his final actions that he understood this. It is also clear from his final actions that he never really did understand Jesus. He never really understood God. His attempts to return the money he had been paid for Jesus’ betrayal are seen by some that whatever blindness had allowed him to act had now been removed from him, and he was beginning to see the truth. But, if he had been seeing the truth, he must also have seen the potential for forgiveness in this One Who was more than a man. Think about it. Even in the moment during which he betrayed Jesus, and Jesus making it very clear He knew exactly what was up, that same Jesus he was condemning to death spoke of him as a friend.

That is shocking. It is also telling. Jesus wasn’t just following social norms. I think He meant that very sincerely. There is still the potential for repentance, Judas. There is still the opportunity to be forgiven. In spite of all you are doing, it need not end badly. But, if that offer was there to be heard, it was beyond Judas’ capacity to hear it.

It is impossible to think about Judas and his actions without considering Peter’s similarities and differences. Most distinct among those differences is that Peter did not act with premeditation. Judas had built up to this moment. Indeed, I think it must be questioned whether he had ever truly believed. After all, if he had truly believed in the Savior would he not have been saved? But, he planned his steps. He considered well how he would turn on Jesus without leaving himself exposed to danger. Peter, by way of contrast, was reacting to a moment. It was a weak-fleshed reaction to what appeared to be imminent peril. Peter also had true faith in Jesus, however sorely it was tried in the days following His death. The confession he had made about Jesus being the Son of God was inspired by the Holy Spirit, to be sure. But, it also reflected his own considered opinion. Judas, as demonstrated clearly by his actions, did not hold that same opinion. He may have nodded his agreement, may even have spoken in ways that would suggest faith, but that faith was feigned, and there was no true conception of God to be found in him.

In spite of this, it remains true that God’s praise was made glorious in Judas. Is that a shocking thought? Understand that God is glorified when sin is punished just as God is glorified when He rescues a sinner from the devil’s camp. In both cases, His Truth and His Goodness are upheld. In both cases, His majesty is displayed. Isn’t that something? God was glorified in Jesus. This we understand almost intuitively. God was glorified in Peter, for we find Peter restored and more. God was glorified in Paul, whose life was so thoroughly transformed by that one encounter. But, Judas? God was glorified in Judas? Indeed He was. He was glorified in that every move Judas made had been set forth as being part of the plan of redemption centuries earlier. He was glorified in that, even by his act of betrayal and even by his act of suicide, Judas proved the veracity of God’s Word. God was glorified, as well, by the fact that the unrepentant sinner met his just due.

In all things, God is to be praised. We are naturally more thankful when that praise is due to His benevolence towards us. But, we ought also to praise Him even in the most adverse situations, for He is still there. He is still God. And all things work together for good by His power. Let us never forget.