Judas, The Obscure
Biblical Studies
At Odds With God
Adult Bible Study And Sermon Resource
Judas' problem is that he doesn't have any excuse for the
thing he does; he has reasons, but no excuses. Have you ever
acted in a way you yourself couldn't understand? Dostoyevski
noted: "All self-examination ends up as self-justification." But
does it?
Concerning Judas' problem: Is he deceiving himself or is he
deceiving God?
(Please read Matthew 26:14-25;
Luke 22:3-6; John 6:57-71 and 10:14-18)
Judas
(Judas sits alone in a dark corner.)
This is a confession and I tell you that from the first Judas
was an onion of a man. His personality revealed transparent
layer-upon-layer, and peeled apart, there was nothing in his
center. He had so many motives and excuses for doing what he did
that you knew he was making up his life as he lived it.
But did he have to live a lie? Matthew remembers our Lord
telling us, "Let your words be, 'Yes, Yes' or 'No, No'; anything
more than this comes from the evil one." But Judas was never able
to be that direct, never so uncomplicated. Satan had gotten the
best of Judas from the beginning and so Judas often devilishly
twisted things to mean something they weren't supposed to mean:
an evening meal became a setting for betrayal, not communion; a
kiss was not a sign of love but a signal for capture.
Judas was doomed because Judas didn't know how to say, "Yes"
and mean it or say, "No," and mean no. He was drowning in
"maybes," "Could bes," "What ifs." I'll explain this puzzle of
Judas ... if I can.
I confess Judas was a puzzle to himself. He was at a loss to
know what he himself really felt or thought about anything. How
then, not knowing himself, could he have a solid understanding of
the Messiah, the Christ, God on earth, our Rabbi, Jesus of
Nazareth? At times Judas seemed trustworthy enough. He received
the disciples' common purse as treasurer. Perhaps the love of
money was the root of his evil? Yet to attribute to 30 pieces of
silver this treachery of a pupil to rabbi, creature to creator,
man to God is preposterous; God's life should not be had so
cheaply.
Why did he betray God-in-the-flesh? I keep wanting to find
excuses for him. Maybe Judas was disappointed in Jesus being the
eternal God and not a resurrected King David? Maybe Judas sought
only to get Jesus out of the way in the confused
52
political situation? Maybe Judas was motivated by his zealous
desire for a political overthrow of the Roman occupation?
For his betrayal there are so many reasons and no excuses.
Brother John remembers Jesus telling us, "... among you there are
some who do not believe." As always, Jesus was two steps ahead of
us. Maybe that was the reason Judas killed him. Someone once said
that if a teacher is only one step ahead of the pupil, the pupil
will be fascinated by the teacher's insight. But if the teacher
dares to be two steps ahead, the pupil will resent and hate the
teacher. The student will seek a way to humiliate the teacher.
Maybe Judas felt this way. Jesus called Judas "a devil," and knew
from the beginning who was going to betray him. Maybe our Teacher
saw the hatred of the false student who would purposely miss the
teacher's point out of evil spite.
Yet I know now our Creator Lord never gave up control of the
situation -- of creation, even though he was betrayed and killed
by this creature and his muddled motives. Jesus said, "For this
reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order
to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down
of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power
to take it up again. I have received this command from my
Father." What would have happened to us all at the death of God?
The death of Judas will change nothing because he is already
nothing. Listen to me, for in this, my confession, I defend
someone who is not here but has already departed from us. He has
no hope except in my despair for him.
Judas reveals himself to be at once a traitor, and at the same
time someone who is not able to believe his own duplicity. At the
last meal, when Jesus announced, "Truly I tell you, one of you
will betray me," Judas had exclaimed at the table, "Surely, not
I, Rabbi?" He must have felt like he was watching himself in a
nightmare, betraying his Lord and admitting his guilt with his
own words of denial. "You have said so," Jesus replied. Judas had
betrayed not God but himself.
53
Poor Judas. He removes himself farther and farther from God
who is everywhere, from God who is life.
Excuses rush to me for Judas: Judas, separated from hope, from
life. Judas was a child of light and yet ran to the darkness. He
was a shadow who could only exist because of the light.
It will be said of poor Judas who cannot be excused, of me who
makes excuses for Judas, "Let his homestead become desolate, and
let there be no one to live in it."
And so it is already true: The homestead to protect me from
the dark is open to the dark. Judas is desolate, no one any
longer lives in Judas. I no longer live in Judas. I long to die
away from my God for I am so ashamed. Yet still could I flee to
him; but I will not, for I confess that I cannot bear to see him
or myself again.
54
Questions About The Story
Questions For You
(The soliloquy is fictional, based on the scripture quotations
found in it. However, the basic conflict between God's will and
the will of humanity is not fictional. The following questions
based on this conflict may help you see that your conflict with
God is real because: You're real and God is real.)
1. Why do you think Judas betrayed Jesus?
2. After reading the Bible passages, why do you think Judas
killed himself? Who is the last "him" in the soliloquy?
3. How could one see Judas as a good man?
4. Could Jesus forgive Judas after all?
5. When did you last betray Jesus' command to love God?
6. When did you last betray Jesus' commandment to love
others?
7. When you don't do the "right thing," what is your reason
for not doing it? Is that a reason or an excuse?
8. How can keeping your answers limited to "Yes" and "No"
help you tell the truth?
9. How can answering only "Yes" and "No" help you to know the
truth about yourself and your motives and values?
10. How does the church help you to be honest?
11. How do the sacraments help you to be good?
12. How does society help you to be honest?
13. What sin do you think God could not forgive?
14. Who must you forgive? From whom must you seek forgiveness?
Reflection By A Famous Christian On:
Deceit
"... the words of Cicero so move the heart of everyone, and
provoke a sigh: 'There are no snares more dangerous than
those which lurk under the guise of duty or the name of
relationship. For the man who is your declared foe you can easily
baffle by precaution; but the hidden, intestine and domestic
danger not merely exists, but overwhelms you before you can
foresee and examine it.' "
-- St. Augustine in The City of God, Book XIX "The Error of Human
Judgments" quoting Cicero, In Verrem ii. 1. 15
A Prayer Starter
Dear God, you not only speak words but you also speak things.
When you say, "Let there be light," then light comes into being.
When you love us, you send your only Son to show us your eternal
love. Help me through the power of your Word in Christ, to
realize the power of words in my life. Help me to be a good
steward of words and to say what I mean and mean what I say. Help
me to know you better and myself better and serve you and my
neighbor honestly and truly.
Suggestions For Practicing Your Prayer
1. Practice saying "Yes" or "No" to questions asked of you.
2. When you say "But" you mean you've lied in what you said
before you said "but." Go one day without saying "But ..."
3. Do you do what you say and say what you do? Find a time
each day to examine your words and deeds.
4. Read and memorize 1 John 1:8-9 "If we say we have no sin,
we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. (Whenever) we
confess our sin, he who is faithful and just will forgive our sin
and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Use this as the
beginning of your confession each day.
56
A Suggested Order Of Worship For Judas, The Obscure
(Note: You may want to break into small groups for discussion of
the story and then join together again for the closing worship.
If so, select discussion leaders to help people reflect on the
questions in the book. Or, you may want to stay together and
reflect silently as the questions are read.)
Opening: Greeting and introduction of "The Conflict Of The Will:
Our Violent Opposition To God's Will."
Hymns: "Jesus, Your Blood And Righteousness" or "Just As I Am"
Read: Introduction to Chapter Five, page 51
Reading: Matthew 26:14-25; Luke 22:3-6; John 6:57-71 and 10:14-18
Meditation: Judas, The Obscure
Discussion: Break into discussion groups and follow "Questions
About The Story/Questions For You" or read aloud for group silent
reflection. When finished, quietly return to worship setting.
Read: "Reflections By A Famous Christian"
Read: "Prayer Starter"
Invitation: Invite people to add their own prayers
Read: "Suggestions For Practicing Your Prayer"
The Lord's Prayer
The Apostles' Creed
Hymns: "Take My Life, That I May Be" or "Rock Of Ages"
Benediction And Dismissal: "Go in peace and serve the Lord."
thing he does; he has reasons, but no excuses. Have you ever
acted in a way you yourself couldn't understand? Dostoyevski
noted: "All self-examination ends up as self-justification." But
does it?
Concerning Judas' problem: Is he deceiving himself or is he
deceiving God?
(Please read Matthew 26:14-25;
Luke 22:3-6; John 6:57-71 and 10:14-18)
Judas
(Judas sits alone in a dark corner.)
This is a confession and I tell you that from the first Judas
was an onion of a man. His personality revealed transparent
layer-upon-layer, and peeled apart, there was nothing in his
center. He had so many motives and excuses for doing what he did
that you knew he was making up his life as he lived it.
But did he have to live a lie? Matthew remembers our Lord
telling us, "Let your words be, 'Yes, Yes' or 'No, No'; anything
more than this comes from the evil one." But Judas was never able
to be that direct, never so uncomplicated. Satan had gotten the
best of Judas from the beginning and so Judas often devilishly
twisted things to mean something they weren't supposed to mean:
an evening meal became a setting for betrayal, not communion; a
kiss was not a sign of love but a signal for capture.
Judas was doomed because Judas didn't know how to say, "Yes"
and mean it or say, "No," and mean no. He was drowning in
"maybes," "Could bes," "What ifs." I'll explain this puzzle of
Judas ... if I can.
I confess Judas was a puzzle to himself. He was at a loss to
know what he himself really felt or thought about anything. How
then, not knowing himself, could he have a solid understanding of
the Messiah, the Christ, God on earth, our Rabbi, Jesus of
Nazareth? At times Judas seemed trustworthy enough. He received
the disciples' common purse as treasurer. Perhaps the love of
money was the root of his evil? Yet to attribute to 30 pieces of
silver this treachery of a pupil to rabbi, creature to creator,
man to God is preposterous; God's life should not be had so
cheaply.
Why did he betray God-in-the-flesh? I keep wanting to find
excuses for him. Maybe Judas was disappointed in Jesus being the
eternal God and not a resurrected King David? Maybe Judas sought
only to get Jesus out of the way in the confused
52
political situation? Maybe Judas was motivated by his zealous
desire for a political overthrow of the Roman occupation?
For his betrayal there are so many reasons and no excuses.
Brother John remembers Jesus telling us, "... among you there are
some who do not believe." As always, Jesus was two steps ahead of
us. Maybe that was the reason Judas killed him. Someone once said
that if a teacher is only one step ahead of the pupil, the pupil
will be fascinated by the teacher's insight. But if the teacher
dares to be two steps ahead, the pupil will resent and hate the
teacher. The student will seek a way to humiliate the teacher.
Maybe Judas felt this way. Jesus called Judas "a devil," and knew
from the beginning who was going to betray him. Maybe our Teacher
saw the hatred of the false student who would purposely miss the
teacher's point out of evil spite.
Yet I know now our Creator Lord never gave up control of the
situation -- of creation, even though he was betrayed and killed
by this creature and his muddled motives. Jesus said, "For this
reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order
to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down
of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power
to take it up again. I have received this command from my
Father." What would have happened to us all at the death of God?
The death of Judas will change nothing because he is already
nothing. Listen to me, for in this, my confession, I defend
someone who is not here but has already departed from us. He has
no hope except in my despair for him.
Judas reveals himself to be at once a traitor, and at the same
time someone who is not able to believe his own duplicity. At the
last meal, when Jesus announced, "Truly I tell you, one of you
will betray me," Judas had exclaimed at the table, "Surely, not
I, Rabbi?" He must have felt like he was watching himself in a
nightmare, betraying his Lord and admitting his guilt with his
own words of denial. "You have said so," Jesus replied. Judas had
betrayed not God but himself.
53
Poor Judas. He removes himself farther and farther from God
who is everywhere, from God who is life.
Excuses rush to me for Judas: Judas, separated from hope, from
life. Judas was a child of light and yet ran to the darkness. He
was a shadow who could only exist because of the light.
It will be said of poor Judas who cannot be excused, of me who
makes excuses for Judas, "Let his homestead become desolate, and
let there be no one to live in it."
And so it is already true: The homestead to protect me from
the dark is open to the dark. Judas is desolate, no one any
longer lives in Judas. I no longer live in Judas. I long to die
away from my God for I am so ashamed. Yet still could I flee to
him; but I will not, for I confess that I cannot bear to see him
or myself again.
54
Questions About The Story
Questions For You
(The soliloquy is fictional, based on the scripture quotations
found in it. However, the basic conflict between God's will and
the will of humanity is not fictional. The following questions
based on this conflict may help you see that your conflict with
God is real because: You're real and God is real.)
1. Why do you think Judas betrayed Jesus?
2. After reading the Bible passages, why do you think Judas
killed himself? Who is the last "him" in the soliloquy?
3. How could one see Judas as a good man?
4. Could Jesus forgive Judas after all?
5. When did you last betray Jesus' command to love God?
6. When did you last betray Jesus' commandment to love
others?
7. When you don't do the "right thing," what is your reason
for not doing it? Is that a reason or an excuse?
8. How can keeping your answers limited to "Yes" and "No"
help you tell the truth?
9. How can answering only "Yes" and "No" help you to know the
truth about yourself and your motives and values?
10. How does the church help you to be honest?
11. How do the sacraments help you to be good?
12. How does society help you to be honest?
13. What sin do you think God could not forgive?
14. Who must you forgive? From whom must you seek forgiveness?
Reflection By A Famous Christian On:
Deceit
"... the words of Cicero so move the heart of everyone, and
provoke a sigh: 'There are no snares more dangerous than
those which lurk under the guise of duty or the name of
relationship. For the man who is your declared foe you can easily
baffle by precaution; but the hidden, intestine and domestic
danger not merely exists, but overwhelms you before you can
foresee and examine it.' "
-- St. Augustine in The City of God, Book XIX "The Error of Human
Judgments" quoting Cicero, In Verrem ii. 1. 15
A Prayer Starter
Dear God, you not only speak words but you also speak things.
When you say, "Let there be light," then light comes into being.
When you love us, you send your only Son to show us your eternal
love. Help me through the power of your Word in Christ, to
realize the power of words in my life. Help me to be a good
steward of words and to say what I mean and mean what I say. Help
me to know you better and myself better and serve you and my
neighbor honestly and truly.
Suggestions For Practicing Your Prayer
1. Practice saying "Yes" or "No" to questions asked of you.
2. When you say "But" you mean you've lied in what you said
before you said "but." Go one day without saying "But ..."
3. Do you do what you say and say what you do? Find a time
each day to examine your words and deeds.
4. Read and memorize 1 John 1:8-9 "If we say we have no sin,
we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. (Whenever) we
confess our sin, he who is faithful and just will forgive our sin
and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Use this as the
beginning of your confession each day.
56
A Suggested Order Of Worship For Judas, The Obscure
(Note: You may want to break into small groups for discussion of
the story and then join together again for the closing worship.
If so, select discussion leaders to help people reflect on the
questions in the book. Or, you may want to stay together and
reflect silently as the questions are read.)
Opening: Greeting and introduction of "The Conflict Of The Will:
Our Violent Opposition To God's Will."
Hymns: "Jesus, Your Blood And Righteousness" or "Just As I Am"
Read: Introduction to Chapter Five, page 51
Reading: Matthew 26:14-25; Luke 22:3-6; John 6:57-71 and 10:14-18
Meditation: Judas, The Obscure
Discussion: Break into discussion groups and follow "Questions
About The Story/Questions For You" or read aloud for group silent
reflection. When finished, quietly return to worship setting.
Read: "Reflections By A Famous Christian"
Read: "Prayer Starter"
Invitation: Invite people to add their own prayers
Read: "Suggestions For Practicing Your Prayer"
The Lord's Prayer
The Apostles' Creed
Hymns: "Take My Life, That I May Be" or "Rock Of Ages"
Benediction And Dismissal: "Go in peace and serve the Lord."
