Opinions

Transforming the Judas in us

Judas Iscariot was the apostle who betrayed and sold out Jesus Christ to his enemies. The apparent reason for the betrayal was in exchange for 30 silver coins.

During their Last Supper, Jesus identified Judas as the disciple to betray him. The chief priests and scribes were already looking for a way to put Jesus to death, but after “Satan entered Judas,” he discussed with the chief priests and temple officers how he would accomplish the devious act.

However, that plan happened to be part of the larger conspiratorial plot by the religious and secular authorities at the time to get rid of Jesus Christ because they considered him a threat.

Perhaps, unbeknown to Judas, he only contributed to the epochal event which paved the way for the birthing of Christianity, one of the major religions of the world today.

Jesus Christ, with His divine knowledge and power, could have stopped the plot but only played along to fulfil the prophecy and out of obedience to His Father.

Without the passion, crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, there would be no Christianity.

In the grand plot, Pontius Pilate, the reigning king, was conspicuous for his ambivalence in determining the fate of Jesus Christ when He was brought before him on charges of blasphemy – claiming He was the Son of God and King of the Jews.

Pilate tried to escape responsibility by initialling telling the mob/crowd that he could not find Jesus guilty of any offence. He further demanded which of the three “criminals” he could release, and at a stage, even had to wash his hands to profess his innocence of the blood of Jesus Christ. Yet, the same Pilate told Jesus Christ he had powers to either condemn or set him free.

Recall that even among Jesus’ disciples, human frailties such as envy, jealousy, ambition, and lust for power reared their ugly heads. Peter, who had demonstrated some leadership qualities, disappointed Jesus when it mattered most by denying him three times before the crow of the cock.

After his death on the cross, Jesus’ disciples were confused and in disarray. But they soon rediscovered their courage and carried on with evangelism.

Jesus Christ had numerous near misses and life-threatening encounters with the Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, chief priests, and secular authorities. But he navigated the minefields of treacheries to accomplish his earthly mission prefaced by His Passion (suffering), crucifixion and resurrection.

During his three-year mission, Jesus and his disciples were under constant scrutiny of their actions and statements. It was an issue when He saved lives or cast out evil spirits on a Sabbath day; eating when they were expected to fast or without washing hands was considered a problem.

Jesus was tempted by the devil and even accused of performing miracles with the power of the same devil. His divine nature shone through, yet He still took on human nature to prove that He came for salvation.

In this special season, I want us to reflect on and identify ourselves in the trilogy of Jesus’ passion, crucifixion and resurrection, and with the benefit of the lessons therefrom, do things differently for a better society and the world.

Judas was not alone in the conspiracy. The authorities, secular and religious, soldiers, ordinary folks, sympathisers, mobs, and onlookers all played their part.

It might be convenient to single out Judas as the worst “offender,” in the complex web of conspiracy to eliminate Jesus Christ from the scene. After all, he was in charge of money, and his transgression had to do with the exchanging of money.

The passion, crucifixion and resurrection of Christ were preordained, but Judas only made himself “available” for use by Satan.

He probably made it easy for his critics by his refusal to repent and taking his own life in self-guilt. This was unlike Peter, who felt remorse for denying Jesus Christ and became the rock/foundation of Christianity.

God has given us a unique opportunity to learn from the experiences of Judas, Pilate and others.

As members of our families, society, community, nations, and the world, are we prepared to do something transformative about the Judas, Peter, Pilate, Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, soldiers, onlookers, and passers-by of Jesus’ time, in us?

To do so, we must eschew negative, ungodly dispositions, tendencies, and propensities such as hatred, bitterness, envy, jealousy, intolerance, treachery, back-biting, betrayal, denial, covetousness, sitting on the fence, and playing the ostrich or dumb, when we are supposed to speak up.

We must learn to be grateful and satisfied with all that God continues to provide for us, ‘gratis.’

Above all, we must inhabit and radiate love. Scripture enjoins: “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God… God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them” 1 John 4:7;16.

Jesus Christ paid the supreme sacrifice and exhorted us: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends…” John 15:9-17.

Happy Easter and Happy Holiday Everyone!