Loving Judas
Loving Judas
To be honest, I’ve been avoiding this blog topic for a bit. I really don’t know why other than timing. In our current cultural season, I think this topic of loving Judas is extremely important. Why? Because Judas could be anybody.
In fact, Judas is everybody. We all have some Judas inside of us. We were all born into a fleshly sinful world. Born as enemies of God. The only ones who chose sin instead of being born into it was Adam and Eve. So, for the rest of us, we’ve all got some Judas tendencies… if we’re honest with ourselves.
And by the way, Judas doesn’t have to represent betrayal. Judas can represent a falling out. Judas can represent a differing of opinion. Judas can represent opposing ideologies. Judas can represent opposite political isles and arenas.
We all know a Judas or two… and many of us have probably even been a Judas to one or two.
The hardest part about Christianity isn’t loving Jesus… it’s loving Judas. Everyone loves Jesus. Everyone wants and needs a savior. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say that Jesus was a bad guy. That His teachings were bad or immoral. Even if they don’t believe in Jesus, who doesn’t love the idea of Him?
Christianity is about loving Jesus, yes; but one measure of Christianity isn’t loving Jesus, it’s loving Judas. Even Mahatma Gandhi understood this when he said, “I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” Even from Gandhi, that one stings pretty good.
It isn’t Christ that people have a problem with, it’s Christians. But why? Maybe because we could really stand to do a better job with love. We could really stand to do a better job loving the Judas in our life. Jesus did. Why should we get exempt?
Think about this… Jesus handpicked Judas to follow Him. Jesus handpicked Judas to be called one of His disciples. Jesus handpicked Judas to be in His ministry.
Everything Jesus did Judas witnessed.
Everything Jesus did Judas experienced.
Everything Jesus did Judas partook in.
Jesus knew all along and still allowed Judas to follow along.
So where does that leave us with the Judases that reside in our daily lives? Perhaps it’s worth considering that they maybe have been placed there for a purpose. Maybe that purpose is for you. Maybe that purpose is for them.
The Judas in your life just might bring the opportunity to be Jesus that the world around you needs to see. People who think differently than you need the Jesus within you. People who live different lives need Him. People who disagree, vote differently, act differently, and believe differently need Jesus too. The Judas around you needs the Jesus within you.
The Judases you know also present an opportunity for you to see within yourself. It is when we are faced with opposition that our true selves come to the surface. Or, hopefully, the Holy Spirit within us comes to the surface.
It takes a very strong person to practice love perfectly. It is difficult, to say the least, to apply perfectly all of the attributes of love found in 1 Corinthians 13 to those around us. Especially to those that we may consider our enemy. But one thing Jesus did to His enemies was serve them.
In the night He was betrayed, Jesus humbled Himself in one final but powerful act of servanthood - He washed all 12 of His disciples’ feet. Only after the foot washing did Judas leave to sell out his Savior.
And Judas betrayed Jesus with clean feet. Dirty hands, but clean feet. And in a unique twist of irony, Judas fulfilled the prophesy in Isaiah 52 that says, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.” Now I’m not saying that Judas was innocent or had beautiful feet, but I am saying that the beautiful news of our redemption and salvation through Christ came swiftly from a man with clean feet as he sold out his Savior.
The measure of your Christianity may not be how much you love Jesus, but by how much you love Judas. To be Christian is to be Christ-like. To be Christ-like is to like Christ. To be like Christ is to do what He did.
Honestly, I think oftentimes I relate to Judas more than to Jesus. I certainly haven’t saved anyone or died for anyone’s sins. I haven’t lived in perfection. I haven’t performed miracles. Those things are so amazing, and maybe one day I will. But I’ll tell you… I’ve betrayed my Savior. I’ve nailed Him to that old rugged cross. I’ve turned my back on Him. I’ve made mistake after mistake.
So why should we love Judas? Because we all have been him one time or another… and Jesus loved us anyway.
To be honest, I’ve been avoiding this blog topic for a bit. I really don’t know why other than timing. In our current cultural season, I think this topic of loving Judas is extremely important. Why? Because Judas could be anybody.
In fact, Judas is everybody. We all have some Judas inside of us. We were all born into a fleshly sinful world. Born as enemies of God. The only ones who chose sin instead of being born into it was Adam and Eve. So, for the rest of us, we’ve all got some Judas tendencies… if we’re honest with ourselves.
And by the way, Judas doesn’t have to represent betrayal. Judas can represent a falling out. Judas can represent a differing of opinion. Judas can represent opposing ideologies. Judas can represent opposite political isles and arenas.
We all know a Judas or two… and many of us have probably even been a Judas to one or two.
The hardest part about Christianity isn’t loving Jesus… it’s loving Judas. Everyone loves Jesus. Everyone wants and needs a savior. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say that Jesus was a bad guy. That His teachings were bad or immoral. Even if they don’t believe in Jesus, who doesn’t love the idea of Him?
Christianity is about loving Jesus, yes; but one measure of Christianity isn’t loving Jesus, it’s loving Judas. Even Mahatma Gandhi understood this when he said, “I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” Even from Gandhi, that one stings pretty good.
It isn’t Christ that people have a problem with, it’s Christians. But why? Maybe because we could really stand to do a better job with love. We could really stand to do a better job loving the Judas in our life. Jesus did. Why should we get exempt?
Think about this… Jesus handpicked Judas to follow Him. Jesus handpicked Judas to be called one of His disciples. Jesus handpicked Judas to be in His ministry.
Everything Jesus did Judas witnessed.
Everything Jesus did Judas experienced.
Everything Jesus did Judas partook in.
Jesus knew all along and still allowed Judas to follow along.
So where does that leave us with the Judases that reside in our daily lives? Perhaps it’s worth considering that they maybe have been placed there for a purpose. Maybe that purpose is for you. Maybe that purpose is for them.
The Judas in your life just might bring the opportunity to be Jesus that the world around you needs to see. People who think differently than you need the Jesus within you. People who live different lives need Him. People who disagree, vote differently, act differently, and believe differently need Jesus too. The Judas around you needs the Jesus within you.
The Judases you know also present an opportunity for you to see within yourself. It is when we are faced with opposition that our true selves come to the surface. Or, hopefully, the Holy Spirit within us comes to the surface.
It takes a very strong person to practice love perfectly. It is difficult, to say the least, to apply perfectly all of the attributes of love found in 1 Corinthians 13 to those around us. Especially to those that we may consider our enemy. But one thing Jesus did to His enemies was serve them.
In the night He was betrayed, Jesus humbled Himself in one final but powerful act of servanthood - He washed all 12 of His disciples’ feet. Only after the foot washing did Judas leave to sell out his Savior.
And Judas betrayed Jesus with clean feet. Dirty hands, but clean feet. And in a unique twist of irony, Judas fulfilled the prophesy in Isaiah 52 that says, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.” Now I’m not saying that Judas was innocent or had beautiful feet, but I am saying that the beautiful news of our redemption and salvation through Christ came swiftly from a man with clean feet as he sold out his Savior.
The measure of your Christianity may not be how much you love Jesus, but by how much you love Judas. To be Christian is to be Christ-like. To be Christ-like is to like Christ. To be like Christ is to do what He did.
Honestly, I think oftentimes I relate to Judas more than to Jesus. I certainly haven’t saved anyone or died for anyone’s sins. I haven’t lived in perfection. I haven’t performed miracles. Those things are so amazing, and maybe one day I will. But I’ll tell you… I’ve betrayed my Savior. I’ve nailed Him to that old rugged cross. I’ve turned my back on Him. I’ve made mistake after mistake.
So why should we love Judas? Because we all have been him one time or another… and Jesus loved us anyway.
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