So, I've been doing a lot of research on Jesus Christ Superstar lately and any controversy attached to it. Like the whole thing where some churches thinks it sympathizes with Judas too much and stuff. Growing up in the church, Judas has always seemed like the bad guy. Like the devil in the Jesus version of God vs. The Devil (only different but also the same because Jesus is God... But yeah). Judas did the unforgivable, unfathomable, inconceivable thing and betrayed Him. I mean, who does that!? And then he just hangs himself? I mean, come on! How awful.
But I gotta say, I think we might be missing the big thing here. Imagine that! The world that missed the big picture that Jesus was preaching about, still might be missing the bigger picture.
Before I go on, if you've read my Lenten Promise Blog last year, you know that I wrote about Judas in a similar context. I just really am intrigued by Judas. If Jesus loved him enough to be best buds and trust him with any and all things the 12 did, I think he can't be an awful guy. I'll explain.
Jesus, on the cross, says "forgive them for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). Later, He says "It is finished." As in striking someone because of sin. As in the whole pay-lots-of-money-to-have-the-high-priests-burn-animals-for-you-sins-to-be-forgiven thing is done. As in just because you sin, does not make you horrible in God's eyes. As in all punishment on this earth for sin is done.
Why, then, for 2,000 years, has Judas been the exception to that forgiveness? Why has the church come to love all....but Judas? If Jesus, the man Judas actually betrayed, can forgive him (and all of us), why can't we?
Yes, Jesus is our savior. Jesus is the holiest of holy, the King of Kings, and absolutely is betraying Him horrible. But do we really think Judas is unforgivable? If we blame Judas for Jesus' crucifixion (an awful, horrible, just-about-the-worst-legal-punishment-used-by-a-government), should we bless God even more for turning an awful, horrible, tragic event and turning it into 2,000 years of beauty? I have to say, though I mourn the death of our Christ, His resurrection renews a sense of absolute hope and love and excitement. Which God has turned the tragic event into. To show that death is, indeed, not the last thing. Should we not rejoice completely in the glory of a God that can turn That into something so profoundly beautiful?
Not to mention that Judas was a human conflicted profoundly by the law and the man who is God. But that's another story for another time.
And what does Jesus say about our enemies, if we are to continue to look at Judas as the enemy? That we must love our enemy. Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespassed against us.
Judas might (maybe, still not totally convinced) be the villain in Jesus' story. But if Jesus can forgive that, should not the church do the same? Shouldn't the church focus on the amazing power God has to make beauty out of tragedy?
My opinion: absolutely.
"Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, 'What you are going to do, do quickly.'” --John 13:27
Love always,
Mary Taylor
But I gotta say, I think we might be missing the big thing here. Imagine that! The world that missed the big picture that Jesus was preaching about, still might be missing the bigger picture.
Before I go on, if you've read my Lenten Promise Blog last year, you know that I wrote about Judas in a similar context. I just really am intrigued by Judas. If Jesus loved him enough to be best buds and trust him with any and all things the 12 did, I think he can't be an awful guy. I'll explain.
Jesus, on the cross, says "forgive them for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). Later, He says "It is finished." As in striking someone because of sin. As in the whole pay-lots-of-money-to-have-the-high-priests-burn-animals-for-you-sins-to-be-forgiven thing is done. As in just because you sin, does not make you horrible in God's eyes. As in all punishment on this earth for sin is done.
Why, then, for 2,000 years, has Judas been the exception to that forgiveness? Why has the church come to love all....but Judas? If Jesus, the man Judas actually betrayed, can forgive him (and all of us), why can't we?
Yes, Jesus is our savior. Jesus is the holiest of holy, the King of Kings, and absolutely is betraying Him horrible. But do we really think Judas is unforgivable? If we blame Judas for Jesus' crucifixion (an awful, horrible, just-about-the-worst-legal-punishment-used-by-a-government), should we bless God even more for turning an awful, horrible, tragic event and turning it into 2,000 years of beauty? I have to say, though I mourn the death of our Christ, His resurrection renews a sense of absolute hope and love and excitement. Which God has turned the tragic event into. To show that death is, indeed, not the last thing. Should we not rejoice completely in the glory of a God that can turn That into something so profoundly beautiful?
Not to mention that Judas was a human conflicted profoundly by the law and the man who is God. But that's another story for another time.
And what does Jesus say about our enemies, if we are to continue to look at Judas as the enemy? That we must love our enemy. Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespassed against us.
Judas might (maybe, still not totally convinced) be the villain in Jesus' story. But if Jesus can forgive that, should not the church do the same? Shouldn't the church focus on the amazing power God has to make beauty out of tragedy?
My opinion: absolutely.
"Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, 'What you are going to do, do quickly.'” --John 13:27
Love always,
Mary Taylor
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