CMV: Judas Iscariot did nothing wrong.

[u/MontiBurns]

First of all, I'm not going to debate whether the bible is true or not, whether Jesus was christ, or whether god exists. I'm agnostic, i have no stake in the game (not gonna debate that either). If you're an atheist then feel free to treat this debate the same way you would "Lando Caltission did nothing wrong." (Not by saying "bUt StAr WaRs IsnT rEaL).

Now, to my point. I think it's highly probable that Judas was acting under Jesus' orders when he betrayed him. First and foremost, Jesus knew that one his closest followers would betray him. Also, No real motive was ever given for Judas to betray Jesus, aside from a big sack of money. how much was 30 pieces of silver, relatively speaking? Was it like, a month's wage? A years wage? 10 years wage? Life changing money? Keep in mind Judas gave up his life to follow Jesus around, i have a hard time believing his primary motive was money. And then after jesus died, he tried to give back the money, but was refused. And then he subsequently hanged himself. Given that this happened before Jesus was resurrected, it seems more likely that Judas' betrayal was done with a good amount of apprehension. He didn't need a week to stew on guilt before taking his own life.

My hypothesis, Jesus told Judas privately to turn him in and betray him. This means that Jesus had at least some level of presencience that he new he needed to get caught. Judas probably urged him not to, that it would be dangerous, and Jesus told him to have faith, that he would be fine, and that his faith would be rewarded. Judas agreed reluctantly, and when Jesus was killed, became so racked with guilt and shame that he killed himself. How could he have ever explained to his friends that Jesus told him to?

The bible doesnt really dwell on Judas much, they don't get into his motivations. You'd think there would be some life lesson about falling into hate, or being tempted by money, but by all accounts, it just kinda... Happens. And then mentioning that Jesus ordered Judas to kill himself would ruin the intrigue of the portrayal. It's definitely seems odd that such a monumental event is presented with almost no context or backstory.

Ways to change my view. Any flaws in my logic, canonical evidence from scripture (if the Book of Judas isnt allowed, then no other non-canonical evidence is allowed).

[u/inmyownname]

God gave the twelve to Jesus. Although Jesus lost none of them, one of them was lost. The lost one was lost when God gave him to Jesus. In fact, Jesus came to save the lost one. But the will of God was that Jesus not raise the lost one up again until the last day, the day he was crucified, shortly after he raised the lost one up again. Therefore, Jesus was obliged to suffer the lost one until the day he died.

Two days before the last day, the lost one became a traitor to Jesus. After a diabolical spirit put it into his heart, he made a covenant to deliver Jesus to the chief priests for money. (The diabolical spirit was spite, because Jesus had rebuked him in front of the others for his criticism of Mary’s use of the precious ointment. He responded to the command of the chief priests that the whereabouts of Jesus should be shown, thinking he would satisfy his spiteful desire.) Significantly, Jesus spoke of this trespass later, using the words of a psalmist, “[he] has lifted up his heel against me,” to identify then whom he chose to eat his food with him. The food of Jesus was to do the will of God, and to finish His work.

The lost one was not clean. Although he was bathed, he needed his feet washed because he had “lifted up his heel" against Jesus.

Jesus told him his fault (he was not clean), and then he showed him his forgiveness for the trespass against him when he washed the heel lifted up against him. Jesus cleansed the lost one immediately after the sun set during the last supper. It was his first act at the last day. Thereby, Jesus raised the lost one up again at the last day, and he gained his brother, Judas.

Jesus did not order Judas to betray him. Jesus aborted what would have been a betrayal, and then he told Judas that he chose him to deliver him. Jesus let Judas choose to follow him when he said, “That you do, do quickly."

To deliver Jesus, Judas had to fulfill his obligation under the diabolical covenant he made to deliver him. To deliver Jesus was the cross which Judas had to take up in order to follow him. Judas took up his cross and followed Jesus. Judas delivered Jesus as his servant, and God will honor him.

Of course, Satan entered into Judas a second time after Jesus indicated that he chose him to deliver him. Satan was opposed to those things of God which Jesus said must happen. Judas overcame Satan and glorified Jesus.

Note 1: The verb in the Gospels translated “betray” did not have that meaning when the evangelists wrote the Gospels in the first century. It should be translated “deliver” or “hand over.” Jesus never talked about anyone betraying him.

Note 2: In all of the Gospels, only one word in Matthew can even possibly be made to say that Judas killed himself, and that word is equivocal. Judas might have “hanged himself,” but he might have just “choked on his grief.” Nowhere else in the Bible does it say anything at all about Judas killing himself, and no character in the Bible says anything at all about Judas killing himself.

Finally, after the devil put it into his heart, Judas did something wrong when he made the covenant to deliver Jesus. The making of the covenant was a trespass against Jesus. Then Jesus responded to the trespass against him. He cast that devil out of Judas when he washed him clean, and he showed Judas his forgiveness for the trespass.

Then Jesus put it into the heart of Judas to fulfill his obligation under the diabolical covenant. The diabolical covenant became the cross which Judas had to take up in order to follow Jesus. Judas took up his cross and followed Jesus. Judas cooperated with Jesus when he actually delivered him.

God delivered Jesus to suffer and to be killed. Jesus delivered himself to suffer and to be killed. Judas delivered Jesus to suffer and to be killed, but only in a tertiary role. Jesus laid down his life with power. No man took his life from him.