Judas – Servant of God?

I am indebted to a recent leading article in the Daily Mail for the information that the Vatican is currently reconsidering its official position on the status of Judas and his role in the gospel story – apparently the Roman Catholic Church has always considered him as something as an outcast. I am astonished that it has taken them some 2,000 years to reach this point – for me the gospel story, and my own faith, is one of great simplicity – Jesus died on the cross to free us from our sins and to rid us of the fear of death by giving us the promise of everlasting life. The gospel story and my faith have a number of simple steps – without the betrayal of Jesus by Judas there would have been no trial before Pilate. Without the trial there would have been no sentence of crucifixion. Without the crucifixion, Jesus would not have died on the cross for us. Without His death Jesus would not have risen again and defeated the powers of sin and death. The starting point in this simple (over simplified I will admit to fit the space available) story and progression is the treachery of Judas. Given that it was God’s will that His son should be sacrificed for us, it is evident, to me at least, that Judas was a part of God’s plan and of God’s will. Amazingly, the Vatican has now taken this on board and Judas is close to rehabilitation – surely not before time – his sins were only too familiar to many of us – he was motivated by greed and the desire to ingratiate himself with more powerful authority, but Jesus forgave him and Judas himself expressed contrition for his sins, so who are we to condemn?

May God bless you all

Keith Brown