In Their Footsteps: Judas

It may not come as a surprise to you, but the name Judas has never made it to the top 200 baby names in the U.S. by the Social Security records by decade which go back to the 1880’s. No one names their child Judas for the very connotations it brings up with this well-known Bible story. I’m sure the same kind of effect happened to the name Benedict after the Revolutionary War. At least in America anyway.

Now just as a disclaimer there is no record of a suicide note left by Judas. I’m sure that once the betrayal happened the disciples quickly learned the details. Talk like that does not stay quiet for long, especially with the population of Jerusalem being multiplied tenfold during the festival season. That I presented his point of view as such was purely for story telling purposes. With that out of the way let us dive in.

Judas was the money keeper for the group. However, the gospels tell that he often used group money for his own benefit. It was common knowledge to the twelve and Jesus. The evidence of this plays out in John 12:1-8 when Mary goes to anoint Jesus with the nard. Judas then complains about why that expensive perfume was not sold, and the money given to the “poor” of which he could take a cut.

Thus, the betrayal was more about what Judas could get out of it rather than the actual thought of the repercussions of those actions. If the right amount of money is involved people will sell out others to get ahead of the game. Take American Survivor Season 40 for example. Twenty past winners were brought back to play for the ultimate title of “the best.” Many of these players already had connections and friendships with one another. After the host announced that the prize money was two million dollars, it was stated at the first tribal council by the tribe that with that much money is on the line, all prior relationships were off.

After Jesus dies, Judas realizes what he has done. The weight of the past forty-eight hours takes its toll. He tries to clear his conscious by taking the money back and admitting his sins to the priests to his dismay the chief priests want nothing to do with it. Judas throws the coins back in their faces, thus forcing them to take back the money.

Now there is significance to the crime Judas admits to “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” According to Mosaic Law anyone who committed a crime could flee to one of six sanctuary cities scattered around the country. However, if the crime was murder, the elders of the city in which one committed the crime had to send for the convicted and hand that person over to whomever was avenging the blood of the victim. In Roman day, however, these sanctuary cities no longer existed. More details can be found in Deuteronomy 19:10-13. Judas turned himself in to face the consequences of death. The priests could not carry out the death sentence under Roman rule. Thus, they told Judas to take care of it himself. Judas then, is forced to hang himself. Suicide in this time was looked down on and even considered a curse. No doubt it brought shame to his family for generations to follow.

There is also significance in the actions of the chief priests. They could not accept the money back since it had been used as blood money. They were just as guilty as Judas yet chose to cover it up by using the money to buy the potter’s field and use it as a cemetery for foreigners. I find it interesting that it that it became known as “Blood Field” almost as if word got around as to what really was going on and why that area was being “rezoned” for a cemetery. What is more interesting is the fact that Matthew connects the dots and confirms a prophecy from Jeremiah 32:6-9 and Zechariah 11:12-13. I am still trying to figure out how the Jeremiah passage fits in, but the passage in Zechariah contains the bit about the potter’s field.

12 Then I said to them, “If it seems right to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.” So they weighed my wages, 30 pieces of silver.

13 “Throw it to the potter,” the Lord said to me—this magnificent price I was valued by them. So I took the 30 pieces of silver and threw it into the house of the Lord, to the potter.

Zechariah 11:12-13

If anyone reading this know how the Jeremiah bit fits in, I would love to know in the comments below.

What can we take away from the character of Judas? I think Joseph in Genesis 50:20 says it best.

You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result—the survival of many people.

Genesis 50:20

Without Judas’ betrayal, Jesus’ death would not have happened in the way that it did. One man dying on a cross to save the rest of the world from sin if we believe in Him. While Judas is known to history as the betrayer, he came to grips with his sin. He turned himself in and carried out the punishment for the crime he committed. Thus, in a way he redeemed himself in the end.

God Bless.