Judas – Journey to the Dark Side
Judas Iscariot is perhaps one of the most known of Jesus’ followers, gaining notoriety by his betrayal of Jesus. The writer of John tells us that Judas was the son of Simon Iscariot, the only real description we have of Judas’s background. John also writes that Judas had a privileged position among the disciples, serving as the treasurer of the group (13:29), but John also claims that Judas was a thief who would steal from the common purse (12:6).
We have no idea why Judas chose to betray Jesus. Matthew tells us that he did it to receive 30 pieces of silver for his cooperation with the leaders of the temple (Matthew 26:14-16), but John only indicates that the betrayal occurred because Satan entered into Judas (John 13:2, 27). Judas betrayed Jesus by leading the authorities to a private location, apart from the crowds, in Gethsemane.
Very early in John’s gospel, there is a divided response to Jesus’ mission and ministry. Many follow and believe in him, but his ministry also creates conflict with the leaders of the temple – conflict that grows throughout his life and will eventually lead to crucifixion. As early as chapter 5 of John, the authorities are looking for a way to kill Jesus, and Judas eventually willingly enters into their plans. Several times in the gospel, John casts a shadow over Judas, letting the reader know he is not to be trusted. When Jesus is anointed by Mary, Judas protests that she acts wastefully, that the perfume could have been sold for 300 denarii (about a year’s wages) and given to the poor. John is quick to tell the reader, however, that Judas did not care for the poor, but continually stole from the purse he was responsible for keeping.
But who exactly was Judas? John seems to kind of wink at the reader when referring to Judas, giving us inside information, as if to say, “Remember him? He’s the one that went bad, the one who used to steal, the one Satan befriended.” But even though we see this dark side of Judas, it’s important to remember that Judas was still a disciple, a member of Jesus’ inner circle. And this is terrifying!
We have no idea why Judas chose to betray Jesus. Matthew tells us that he did it to receive 30 pieces of silver for his cooperation with the leaders of the temple (Matthew 26:14-16), but John only indicates that the betrayal occurred because Satan entered into Judas (John 13:2, 27). Judas betrayed Jesus by leading the authorities to a private location, apart from the crowds, in Gethsemane.
Very early in John’s gospel, there is a divided response to Jesus’ mission and ministry. Many follow and believe in him, but his ministry also creates conflict with the leaders of the temple – conflict that grows throughout his life and will eventually lead to crucifixion. As early as chapter 5 of John, the authorities are looking for a way to kill Jesus, and Judas eventually willingly enters into their plans. Several times in the gospel, John casts a shadow over Judas, letting the reader know he is not to be trusted. When Jesus is anointed by Mary, Judas protests that she acts wastefully, that the perfume could have been sold for 300 denarii (about a year’s wages) and given to the poor. John is quick to tell the reader, however, that Judas did not care for the poor, but continually stole from the purse he was responsible for keeping.
But who exactly was Judas? John seems to kind of wink at the reader when referring to Judas, giving us inside information, as if to say, “Remember him? He’s the one that went bad, the one who used to steal, the one Satan befriended.” But even though we see this dark side of Judas, it’s important to remember that Judas was still a disciple, a member of Jesus’ inner circle. And this is terrifying!
In the opening of his gospel, John lays out his own “birth story,” that Jesus is the Word enfleshed and living among us, full of light and truth. But John also cautions right from the beginning:
Judas is a part of the world that did not know Jesus, who did not recognize the light. So in chapter 13, when Jesus gathers with his disciples on the night of his arrest to wash their feet and to share with them his final words, Jesus sends Judas off into the night.
21After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, “Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.” 22The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. 23One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining next to him; 24Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking.25So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”26Jesus 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. 27After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “Do quickly what you are going to do.” 28Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him.29Some 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. 30So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.
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There, in that room, the disciples were basking in the presence of the Light of the World, yet Judas did not recognize that light and instead chose to go off into the darkness, into the night.
What is so terrifying about this passage is that even a member of Jesus’ own inner circle can be turned away from the light, from faith, from trusting in what God is up to. The biblical scholar David Bartlett puts it this way:
Judas is a far more threatening figure than Pilate or the Jewish leaders to those of us Christians who read John’s Gospel. Judas is the reminder that every day is judgment day and that on any day some faithful follower, like Judas—or like you or me—might turn tail on the light and stumble out into the darkness, caught up in evil or caught up by evil’s prince. (Interpretation, 43 no 4 Oct 1989)
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We are tempted every day to stumble into the night, leaving the presence and the promise of Jesus. When Jesus called on his disciples to follow, he invited them into a life of serving, comforting, providing, healing, and loving. Whenever we fail to care for those around us, we fail to follow, and instead find ourselves stumbling in the night. Whenever we build walls between ourselves and the grace that Jesus offers, we find ourselves cutting ourselves off from the light of Christ. In other words, we all have a little bit of Judas in each of us.
The good news is that when Jesus was betrayed by Judas, later denied by Peter, and abandoned by his followers, he still chose the path to the cross. And when we see Jesus lifted up on the cross, we see hope, forgiveness, and life. Chapter 13 of John’s gospel gradually begins dimming the lights until Friday when darkness covered the earth. But Easter morning brought light and life in the hope of resurrection. In our day to day lives, we experience that darkness, but as a black preacher once proclaimed, “It may be Friday now, but Sunday’s coming.”
The good news is that when Jesus was betrayed by Judas, later denied by Peter, and abandoned by his followers, he still chose the path to the cross. And when we see Jesus lifted up on the cross, we see hope, forgiveness, and life. Chapter 13 of John’s gospel gradually begins dimming the lights until Friday when darkness covered the earth. But Easter morning brought light and life in the hope of resurrection. In our day to day lives, we experience that darkness, but as a black preacher once proclaimed, “It may be Friday now, but Sunday’s coming.”