The Mystery of Judas

The Rev. Mike Shupert, pastor of First Baptist Church of Cape Girardeau:"What would you ask Judas if given the opportunity?" I guess all of us would like to know his true motivation for both following Jesus and then betraying him. I wish someone could have gotten to him before he committed suicide to tell him what Jesus said from the cross: "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." Did that include Judas? I believe it did. I believe God's forgiveness is big enough to include Judas. I think he was more than just a pawn in this whole drama and I don't believe he was "evil personified." He was human and gave in to his emotions and made bad choices.

I would also ask him if he knew what the angelic figure standing outside the empty tomb said to the three women who came to anoint Jesus' body. In Mark 16:7 the man in the white robe outside the tomb says "Go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee.'" Peter had denied Christ and betrayed him in his own way too. He must have felt awful. God was sending Peter a special message through this heavenly messenger: Tell the disciples AND Peter. Especially Peter. He needed to hear that everything was OK and that he was still loved and forgiven. If Judas was still alive at this point, would the message have been, "Go tell the disciples, and Peter ... and Judas"?

The Rev. Thomas P. Kiefer, St. Mary Cathedral

"In my distress I called upon the LORD, and he heard my voice." Psalm 18

The question to Judas, "Would you tell us your story?"

Whenever anyone is hurting, hungry, lonely, afraid, feeling isolated, angry or any emotion or situation that they may experience it becomes part of our lives. Jesus never gives up on anyone of us. He knows our stories. He knows what we have experienced in our lives in the past and what we now face and extends the invitation of his strength, compassion and forgiveness to everyone. Knowing Judas' story may be an opportunity for us to understand ourselves or others with an ability to learn how to accept and overcome life's challenges with the knowledge we are not alone. Judas, you are loved and missed. May the love of Christ bind us together.

The Rev. Scott Moon, pastor of Grace United Methodist Church of Cape Girardeau:

"What was your intention?"

This is the basis for the question; it shows that intentions do figure into the moral effect of an action. There is much speculation about Judas. He played an interesting role in the execution of Jesus.

I can let my imagination go, but it is helpful to realize when a person is speculating and when a person is dealing with a reliable account.

What was your intention? It's a question parents ask their children when something happens that has a dire consequence. Maybe it should be "what were you thinking?"

The Rev. Phil Roop, pastor of Bethel Assembly in Cape Girardeau

Judas, knowing that Jesus was always giving people new life, didn't you feel he would have given you a second chance if you had repented either before or after your betrayal? His grace and mercy are incredible!

The Rev. Grant Gillard, pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Jackson:

"Why didn't you have more patience to let this thing work out?"

In my perspective, we paint Judas as a bad guy. I think he was a good guy with good intentions, but good intentions pave the road to hell in a hurry.

I think he was trying to speed this thing up and force Jesus' hand. I really think he was more politically minded than spiritually minded. Why didn't he choose to be a little more patient? Maybe three years of following Jesus was too much.

On the other hand, all these predictions Jesus was making that "somebody is going to betray me," if not Judas, then who?

The Rev. Rob Hurtgen, associate pastor, First Baptist church in Jackson:

This question is of particular interest to me this Easter season because I am playing the role of Judas in our annual Easter Pageant here at First Baptist Church Jackson. In playing these scenes I have wondered how Judas would approach these conversations. What was his pace of motion and dialogue? What was his posture? How did he hold his hands? Did he speak with an accent or lisp? As I have thought about how to best portray this man these are some of the questions that have probed my mind.

How did you approach the chief ppriests? I wonder if there was boldness in your steps or if your voice quivered when you spoke the words of betrayal.

What did you feel when you were dining with Jesus in the upper room and he began speaking saying, "One of you will betray me." Did he look you in the eyes? Were you surprised that he knew? Did you wonder if anyone else knew?

How did you approach Jesus in the garden? Was there intentionality in your steps or did you stumble?

What did you think was going to happen to Jesus after he was arrested? The gospels say that it was not until the night trials were over that you felt remorse for your actions. Did you think that when he was arrested he would call down legions of angels, which he said he could do, to rescue him? How did you feel when you heard the accusations, witnessed the injustice of the kangaroo court and see him do nothing but stand in silence as a sheep before the slaughter?

In order to portray Judas in our Easter pageant these are some of the questions I have pondered.

lredeffer@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 160