Judas Iscariot: Revisited and Restored

Part One:

Of all the characters in the Bible (both the Hebrew as well as Messianic Scriptures) there can be no name more despised than that of Judas Iscariot. How was it possible for him to betray a friend who never did him any harm, who only ever sought to bless him and overlook his (many) faults? Judas had the priceless privilege to watch Yeshua at very close range. He saw his masters’ compassion for a lost humanity and witnessed many miracles.

Most people, if they’re honest, prefer not to dwell on Judas. They usually try to create as much distance between themselves and Judas as possible – otherwise the waves of fear and condemnation might overwhelm them if they dwelt too deeply on their own sins and weaknesses. Is it possible that there is more to Judas than meets the eye and that his life and death contains vital clues to our own human nature and fate?

If you believe that the Bible is just a collection of fairy tales, the story of Judas is unlikely to keep you awake at night. However, for those of you who still take the Bible seriously, who believe that it contains the very words of HaShem, the life of Judas strikes at the very heart of our human nature.

Before I continue, I would like to recommend to you a book which has left a deep impression on me and answered questions which have troubled me for many years: “Judas Iscariot: Revisited and Restored” by Ivan Rogers. I have been given permission by the author to quote widely from his book in this series. Although the author does not endorse our views on homosexuality, this should not hold you back from reading on. In my opinion, this is the best book ever written on the subject of Judas. It is well researched (with plenty of references) and offers unique insights into the depth of Messiah’s love for each of us. Be ready to discover grace in a most unlikely place.

Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve emissaries, the one who is always last on the list and who is always identified as ‘the betrayer’ of Yeshua. The name Judas is the Greek form of the Hebrew Judah, which means praise – a rather common name among the Jews of his time. Yeshua chose the twelve, including Judas, after an all-night prayer-session to His heavenly father (Luke 6:12-13). Yeshua taught that all of His personal decisions were first informed by the Father (John 5:19). So were are lead to conclude that Judas was the answer to the Savior’s personal prayer request, a designated gift from the heavenly Father to His Son.

From the beginning, Judas was so highly regarded that the other emissaries elected him to have charge of the finances. Yeshua would surely have had to approve this position of trust, perhaps even recommend it? According to scripture, Judas was a thief (John 12:6) and it seems certain that the others didn’t know of this fact when the decision was made to install him as treasurer of the group. As has already been pointed out, Yeshua knew all about Judas from the very beginning, so why then didn’t He alert the others?

Before we continue, there is an interesting nuance on the Greek word used for thief. Thief is the English translation of the Greek word kleptes (from which we derive the word ‘kleptomania’). A person afflicted with kleptomania has an irresistible impulse to steal, stemming from an emotional disturbance (Random House College Dictionary, Revised Edition 1975). Labeling Judas a ‘kleptes’ may infer that he was a kleptomaniac. Interestingly, there is another Greek word for thief – lestes (see Strong’s G3027). This type of thief is prone to violence and takes from others by force. A kleptes however is non-violent and takes only inexpensive items that are not really needed. Many people of otherwise good character have been known victims of compulsive behaviors having a pathologic origin. And who among the other emissaries didn’t have character flaws equal to or even worse than those of Judas? In point of fact, which one of us has been completely successful in controlling our own weaknesses of the flesh? If only those who had finally overcome their apparent or secret quirks had been chosen to join the company of the original emissaries, Yeshua would still be searching to find the first twelve.

The word “betray” is found nine times in Matthew 26 (KJV). It is a word that incites disgust and contempt, particularly as it relates to Judas. However, the Greek word for betray is paradidomi (G3860) and may also be translated: entrust, transmit, bring forth, recommend or deliver. Try substituting any of the several English derivatives of paradidomi for the word betray and a big difference becomes readily apparent. For example, Judas actually said to the priests “I will deliver (paradidomi) him to you (Matthew 26:15 KJV). But notice the translators’ inconsistency when in the very next verse (16) the exact same Greek paradidomi is used, but translated as betray. Perhaps the best and most exhaustive treatment of the Greek word paradidomi is to be found in William Klassen’s great book entitled Judas: Betrayer or Friend of Jesus? According to Klaasen, “not one ancient classical Greek text has so far surfaced in which paradidomi means “betray” or has the connotation of treachery. Any lexicon that suggests otherwise is guilty of theologizing rather than assisting us to find the meaning of Greek words through usage. Nor is the word found with that meaning in the papyri”.

Nevertheless, Judas did deliver Yeshua into the hands of the temple priests. But why? Human justice makes a distinction between crimes committed intentionally and those committed in ignorance. G-d’s justice also makes generous provisions for those who ‘sin through ignorance’ (Numbers 15:25-28). And from the stake, Yeshua (the great High Priest) prayed for His tormentors, saying “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). And is it not significant that Rav Shaul (Paul) himself, who had once persecuted Messiah and His followers, would later write “I was shown mercy, because I acted in ignorance and in unbelief” (I Tim 1:13). Shall Shaul obtain obtain G-d’s mercy in direct proportion to his ignorance and unbelief, but Judas be denied that same mercy? After all, who wouldn’t repent after suffering a “Damascus Road” mauling?

The author is convinced that Judas’ actions in delivering up Yeshua were largely a result of ignorance and I concur. He maintains that virtually all sins committed by human beings can be directly traced to ignorance in one form or another. Ignorance manifests itself in many ways: ignorance of self, ignorance of others, ignorance of sin and, ignorance of righteousness. Adam and Eve surely would not have indulged themselves with the forbidden fruit had they understood the universal consequences of their disobedient acts?

Judas was not the only emissary who ‘didn’t get it’ (John 12:16). Judas’ mission was pre-ordained; one that he didn’t fully understand. But still, every mission has to be motivated. What then could have been Judas’ motivation in delivering up Yeshua? Many have speculated that he misunderstood the Messiah’s mission. That is most certainly true. Judas’ concept of the Messiah would have been consistent with the prevailing teachings of his contemporaries. Among the Jewish people of those days, it was widely held that: (1) the coming of Messiah was imminent; (2) the Messiah would liberate the Jewish people from their Gentile oppressors; (3) the Messiah would judge all nations; (4) the Messiah would establish a theocratic kingdom on earth; (5) all false gods and evil nations would be subdued by the G-d of Israel; and (6) universal peace would ensue; a peace administered by the Messiah from His restored Davidic throne in Jerusalem.

Could it be that Judas sought to precipitate a confrontation between the emerging Yeshua Movement and the old established religious order – one that would eventually lead to a revolutionary overthrow of the despised Roman occupiers? Judas, the only Judean among the twelve, may have had a closer relationship to the Temple priests and their religious traditions that did the other emissaries.

Some commentators believe that Satan, rather than Yeshua, was in ultimate control of Judas in the Upper Room. But to accept as much is to assume that: (1) The Good Shepherd could not protect His own sheep; (2) that some followers of Messiah were expendable; and (3) that Yeshua could not keep all that His Father committed to His trust (John 17:2). I encourage you to read this verse and contemplate its implications.

Judas, while making some very bad choices, may have had some idealistic (but misguided) objectives in mind. How often have well-meaning individuals been duped into doing the wrong thing? The whole of humanity (past, present and future) was in effect actively participating in the betrayal of the Messiah! You don’t believe that you and I killed the Messiah? Have a look at Acts 3:12-20 and especially verse 15. Yes, Judas was deceived, but so too were we all. What Judas did, we all did – Judas is us!

In part two we will discover some amazing facts about the Passover Seder and the Lamb of G-d.