Judas: the one who could have been saint

12 July 2023 Reflection

…and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus. - Matthew 10:4

Ah, the great commissioning, the period when twelve unassuming, somehow uneducated people, were given power by none other than Jesus Himself to carry out His mission of preaching, teaching, healing, and casting out demons.

Each apostle was named and given the authority. And from among the twelve, Judas’ name was also included. While the other eleven’s names became famous in history for their works and missions, Judas made a name for himself — as the infamous betrayer of Jesus.

Why did Jesus choose Judas? Surely Jesus had a foresight on things that are about to happen to Him, and He knew full well that He will endure suffering and death. Did He choose Judas just so that the Old Testament prophecies will be fulfilled? For some, they may assume that this is most likely the answer. But there is likely a deeper reason than merely fulfilling the prophecies.

So, did Jesus make a mistake that He chose Judas? No.

Jesus chose Judas because, like any other disciples He had chosen, He saw in Judas the potential to be like Him and to be transformed and restored from a sinner into a saint.

Like also the other disciples, Jesus gave Judas a choice — to be for Him or against Him.

On the night that Jesus was about to be betrayed, He gave Judas the option:

“What you are going to do, do it quickly.” - John 13:27

This was the turning point for Judas to turn things around, to either embrace Jesus’ grace or to walk away from it. Sadly he chose the latter, and his fate was sealed at that moment.

The gravity of Judas’ sin is basically of the same gravity as that of Peter’s. Judas betrayed Jesus, Peter denied Jesus not once but thrice. Peter then should have been tagged as ‘Peter, who denied Jesus three times,’ just the same as Judas being tagged as Jesus’ betrayer. Yet, though they had the same weight of sin, Peter acknowledged and repented, while Judas chose to end his life in remorse.

Had Judas also done the same as Peter, that is, acknowledging his sin and repented on it, perhaps he would have one of the greatest testimony that proclaims Jesus’ love and forgiveness.

Yet somehow, the betrayal of Judas also gives us an insight to learn from. The rise and fall of Judas shows humanity’s brokenness, of how man can easily be swayed to do things against God’s will, which, in the end, will make him suffer the consequences. Jesus did not condemn Judas for the act that he did; even when he committed the betrayal he still had the opportunity to repent like Peter. Instead, he chose what seemed to be an easy way out but in reality was the culmination of his own condemnation.

Judas chose to condemn himself.

But in all of these, one thing is of certain:

Jesus loved Judas.

It is the same love Jesus gave to Peter or Andrew or James or John that He gave Judas. And He was willing to forgive him just in the same way how He willingly forgave Peter, had he only repented. Jesus would have loved to see Judas continue His mission of spreading the Good News. He would have loved to see Judas joining the other apostles in His eternal kingdom. Where Judas is right now, nobody really knows, but surely Jesus’ heart was broken, not because of the betrayal, but because of Judas’ deliberate decision of not choosing Him when he had the chance.

So, rather than condemning Judas, let us learn from his life. Let us learn from his mistake. He would have become a great saint, but chose not to. Maybe that is his main role, as a reminder for us to not repeat the same mistake that he did. It may be too late for him, but it is not for us. There is still time, there is still a chance. May we embrace that chance and persevere to become saints we are created to be.

Dear Papa,

I praise and thank You for calling Your apostles and giving them authority to be messengers of Your salvation. I thank You for Judas who, despite betraying Your Son, was still called to share in Your love.

Papa, I do not condemn Judas, because in reality, I have been doing far worse things against You than him. I acknowledge my faults and ask for Your forgiveness and mercy. Do not turn away from me.

I pray for those who have betrayed me and spoke ill of me. May I love them like how Jesus loved His betrayer. May I forgive them just how Jesus forgave His oppressors.

May Jesus be reflected in everything I say and do, so that despite the pain of betrayal and rejection, I will still choose to love and forgive.

All these I pray in the name of Brother Jesus, my Lord and Saviour, together with the Holy Spirit, my Advocate, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

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