Today I want to write about the life and death of the Apostle called Judas Iscariot. I want to give you information that I have found in my research, and the conclusions I have made concerning this man who lived and ministered with Jesus and the other eleven disciples. Some of which may not agree with mainstream teachings, but it is based upon my understanding of what I have read and studied in the Bible. This will be a three or four part letter as it’s going to be wordy to say the least.
Just who was this man called Judas? What does the Bible have to say about him? How often was he mentioned? Is he in heaven or hell? These are the main questions I will endeavor to answer as I write down what is my opinion and what the word of God says also.
Matthew wrote about him three times in chapters 10, 26,and 27. Mark wrote about him twice in chapters 3 and 14. Luke also
mentions him twice in chapters 6 and 22. John wrote the most about him as he knew him personally in chapters 6, 16, 13, and 18. Luke also writes about him in Acts 1: 16-18, and 25, as most Bible scholars believe Luke to be the author of the book of Acts.
So let’s start with Matthew’s account of this often hated man called Judas. In chapter 10 we find Jesus giving his disciples power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of diseases. Then he names all those to whom Jesus gave this power. Judas was listed at number twelve. (Judas is always listed last whenever the disciples are listed by the writers.)
Matthew 26:14-16- Judas makes a deal with the Chief Priest to sell out Jesus to them.
Matthew 26:24- Jesus prophesies about Judas without telling them who he was talking about.
Matthew 26:25- Judas ask Jesus the question, Is it I? Jesus answered Yes.
Matthew 27:3-10- Judas is sorry for his actions which allowed the Chief Priest to capture Jesus, and he takes the money back. The Chief Priest buy a cemetery with the blood money. Then in verse 5 we see that Judas went and hanged himself, as he was so overtaken with remorse for his actions.
Mark 3:15-18- we see the disciples receiving their ordination by Jesus to heal the sick and cast out devils. He list all of them and we once again find Judas listed last in verse 19.
Mark 14:10-11- Judas betrays Jesus to Chief Priest.
Luke 6:16- Jesus chooses his inner circle of disciples. This was after a night of intense prayer by Jesus as he chose his inner circle of disciples.
Luke 22:3-6- Judas becomes possessed by Satan and makes a deal with the Chief priest to betray Jesus. Then in verses 47-48 we see him betraying Jesus with a kiss.
So now we are at the last gospel writer John, and we get a first hand or eyewitness account of Judas from the only writer of the gospels that personally knew him as friend and companion for over three years as they ministered with Jesus during his ministry to the Jews.
John 6:70-71, Jesus informs his followers that one of is a devil. Verse 71 gives us the name of Judas father as Simon. Verse 64 tells us that Jesus knew which of his followers did not believe who Jesus was and also who should betray him. No one else could betray Jesus except one of his closest disciples.
John 12:3-5, this is the story of Mary and a pound of ointment. Judas raised the question of why such a waste of resources and also informs us that he was the treasurer of Jesus evangelical team and that he used to dip his hand into the bag for his own use or a thief in other words.
John 13:10 & 30, Jesus tells his disciples that they are all clean except one. In verse 21 Jesus is prompted in his spirit and tells his group that tonight is the night of his betrayal. John asked Jesus who it was? He answered in verse 26. Verse 27 Judas becomes possessed by Satan. Verse 28 they are all dumbfounded as to why Judas left, as he leaves to inform the Chief Priest where Jesus is.
The last time Judas is mentioned is in John 18:2-5 as he informs us that Judas knew the places where Jesus liked to spend time at. He is no longer mentioned in John’s version of the life of Jesus and his friends. But he is written about in the book of Acts 1:18 where Peter tells us of Judas fate and how he fell and burst open his guts.
So all this together is a lot of information about this man called Judas. He was like any other Jewish man of his time that was looking for the long promised deliverer or Messiah. No one understood Gods plan, they all thought it pertained to the physical realm and the deliverance of the Nation of Israel from their oppressor. A King who would lead them to everlasting freedom. Could this have been the reason he betrayed Jesus when He started talking about his death confuse Judas?
Or did he see another way to make some money to cover his withdrawals? Jesus always got away before! Why would this time be any different? (Luke 4:30, John 8:59, John 10:39) My views are not common place among other Bible commentators, but I believe they are worth at least some thought. Judas was a human being who walked with Jesus just as the other eleven men. Not one of them was born again, they were all fallen men.
Judas chose a different end, one of remorse and overwhelming guilt, that took his emotions to the breaking point of despair and he ended his own life prematurely by suicide.
Was Judas one of the ones to whom Jesus preached to in Abrahams blossom, or Hades? Did he die forgiven? What about the yearly sacrifice the High Priest made for the Nation? (Leviticus 16:34) So far I have asked about nine questions and answered three of them with the Bible and what it reveals to us. Next week I will answer the other 6 and probably ask that many more. This subject has long been one of interest to me and others. It is purely my view on this man who followed Jesus and died too early by his own hands.
We are all in this race together but each one is only competing against themselves. It is your race to the winners circle and please remember, you will make, just don’t give up! Hope you enjoyed this first letter of my thoughts on this interesting story of Judas. See you next week.
In His Service As Kilted Priest
The Kilted Priest 