Judas Iscariot the Apostle - Montage

A glimpse at Judas' critical hour. Please do comment, and feel free to express yourself.

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Oscar Wilde once described a cynic as one who knows the cost of everything and the value of nothing. Herein lies the reason perhaps for Judas' eventual corruption and downfall. He failed to 'see' with his eyes, the greatness which lay before him. He was more concerned about what authorities thought and the movement countering the Romans, rather than Who it was who called him and loved him unto the end. At some point or another, we have all betrayed the Lord.. all have 'lost faith' and gone astray. We're probably still betraying him now. Jesus prayed for Peter, so that after his fall he would rise, and be the help his brother apostles would need in the hard times ahead. Jesus is counting on US as well to not despair, but to rise up in faith and holiness before the Father, so as to be witnesses to others of his precious and liberating love.

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"Judas? The Apostle who betrayed his Divine Master. The name Judas (Ioudas) is the Greek form of Judah (Hebrew "praised"), a proper name frequently found both in the Old and the New Testament. Even among the Twelve there were two that bore the name, and for this reason it is usually associated with the surname Iscariot [Hebrew "a man of Kerioth" or Carioth, which is a city of Judah (cf. Joshua 15:25)]. There can be no doubt that this is the right interpretation of the name, though the true origin is obscured in the Greek spelling, and, as might be expected, other derivations have been suggested (e.g. from Issachar).
Very little is told us in the Sacred Text concerning the history of Judas Iscariot beyond the bare facts of his call to the Apostolate, his treachery, and his death. His birthplace, as we have seen, is indicated in his name Iscariot, and it may be remarked that his origin separates him from the other Apostles, who were all Galileans. For Kerioth is a city of Judah. It has been suggested that this fact may have had some influence on his career by causing want of sympathy with his brethren in the Apostolate. We are told nothing concerning the circumstances of his call or his share in the ministry and miracles of the Apostles. And it is significant that he is never mentioned without some reference to his great betrayal. Thus, in the list of the Apostles given in the Synoptic Gospels, we read: "and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him". (Matthew 10:4. Cf. Mark 3:19; Luke 6:16). So again in St. John's Gospel the name first occurs in connection with the foretelling of the betrayal: "Jesus answered them: Have not I chosen you twelve; and one of you is a devil? Now he meant Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon: for this same was about to betray him whereas he was one of the twelve" (John 6:71-2).

In a very true sense, all sin is a mystery. And the difficulty is greater with the greatness of the guilt, with the smallness of the motive for doing wrong, and with the measure of the knowledge and graces vouchsafed to the offender. In every way the treachery of Judas would seem to be the most mysterious and unintelligible of sins. For how could one chosen as a disciple, and enjoying the grace of the Apostolate and the privilege of intimate friendship with the Divine Master, be tempted to such gross ingratitude for such a paltry price? And the difficulty is greater when it is remembered that the Master thus basely betrayed was not hard and stern, but a Lord of loving kindness and compassion. Looked at in any light the crime is so incredible, both in itself and in all its circumstances, that it is no wonder that many attempts have been made to give some more intelligible explanation of its origin and motives, and, from the wild dreams of ancient heretics to the bold speculations of modern critics, the problem presented by Judas and his treachery has been the subject of strange and startling theories. As a traitor naturally excites a peculiarly violent hatred, especially among those devoted to the cause or person betrayed, it was only natural that Christians should regard Judas with loathing, and, if it were possible, paint him blacker than he was by allowing him no good qualities at all. This would be an extreme view which, in some respects, lessens the difficulty. For if it be supposed that he never really believed, if he was a false disciple from the first, or, as the Apocryphal Arabic Gospel of the Infancy has it, was possessed by Satan even in his childhood, he would not have felt the holy influence of Christ or enjoyed the light and spiritual gifts of the Apostolate." ("Judas Iscariot" from newadvent(dot)com with some alterations)

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[fifalacious]

@jamool2009 Evangelical professors to not qualify to be referenced as theologians or scholars of theology. Just like people come out with all sorts of crazy theories about the Koran, so too as regards the Bible. The truth is there for you if you but search and not gloat over what some wacko individual says about Scripture. There are gonna be many changes from one version of the bible to the other. That's precisely Y there's different versions, because there's different interpretations. Wake up!

[fifalacious]

@yeshuahfullofit lol.. the beards were an attempt I guess. Still, I prefer this over Mel Gibson's attempt at 'realism' any day. This was a masterpiece. You managed to watch it and escape unscathed?? :Oo

[fifalacious]

@jamool2009 if all the proofs for Jesus' divinity in the bible don't convince you, then i'm sorry, God gave you a brain for nothing. DECEIT is something based on SATANIC VERSES!

[fifalacious]

@jamool2009 Jesus said, 'I am the Alpha and the Omega'. Jesus said to Philip, 'Philip have I been with you this long and still you do not recognize me? Anyone who sees me, sees the Father.' Jesus also said, 'Before Abraham was, I AM." The Jews understood him well, and picked up rocks to stone him for he was making himself equal to God. Thomas called him, 'my Lord, and my God'. Jesus did not say, 'What? wait wait, did you say I am God?" So many others. How many times do people KNEEL b4 Jesus???

[jamool2009]

@fifalacious Google video: "Misquoting Jesus" to see the truth from an EVANGELICAL professor of NT in NC. Check the document called Mark. Where does end: at verse 16:8 or 16:20? Does the FAMOUS story of the adulterous woman exist or not? Does the verses 5:7-8 exist in 1John or not? Compare the KJV prior to 1952 with bible copies after 1952. U will find 300 CHANGES which were fabricated by dishonest, deceptive churchmen. Just Google: 300 changes in the bible. Check ur own Christian sources.

[fifalacious]

@jamool2009 I would consider your points if I found them to be A) intellectually honest, and B) unbiased by some other false man-made, soul deceiving religion! The gospels, for your information sir, although are not titled 'The Gospel of Mark' for example, don't have to be so for scholars to determine that it was MARK who wrote that gospel, and each evangelist their respective gospel. That is FAR from fabrication. You are a DECEIVER. Jesus DID say he is God in MANY places. READ, and WAKE UP.

[jamool2009]

@fifalacious u are avoiding my points. Christian scholars, NOT Muslims, say that the names: Mark, Mathew, Luke and John are fabricated by the church. These documents had NO names. The church is deceiving u. Just Google it. U do NOT even know who wrote these documents. Google video: Misquoting Jesus. Jesus said:"I'm going to MY God"; he prayed to HIS God. Jesus NEVER said I'm God or divine or god-man. He said he is a HUMAN Messiah. u believe in the Catholic Creed, not of Jesus. Google it.

[fifalacious]

@jamool2009 As soon as something doesn't fit in with their UNRESEARCHED wishful thinking, people like you accuse of fabrication! Fortunately for Christianity, the Apostles had successors, something ISLAM cannot claim. John had a desciple named Polycarp. Polycarp then had a desciple named Irenaus. etc etc. Where's Islam's successsion? Fabrication is a scripture which came about in the 7th Century, based on SATANIC VERSES. My friend, waking up, is something you should have done long ago.

[jamool2009]

@fifalacious The so called John gospel came about 120 yrs after Jesus. What would u say before that time? We do NOT know who is John; it's just a name fabricated by the church, and the same goes for Mathew, Mark and Luke. What so plain about:"the word was WITH God, the word WAS God"! God with himself! Nonsense, wake up. The word here meant WISDOM; read the OT. The NT only says Jesus is a human Messiah, a MAN born of a woman; not a god-man. Jesus NEVER said I AM God or divine. Wake up.

[fifalacious]

@jamool2009 There's nothing plain english about that at all which proves YOUR point. Plain english (an utter explanation of Jesus' divinity) would be John 1:1. "In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, the Word WAS God.... and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw his glory." MANY other texts can be cited which are PLAIN ENGLISH refereces to Jesus' divinity. So question is, how dare YOU deny it?

[jamool2009]

Jesus told Marry to tell the disciples that he is going to his father and their father and HIS GOD and their God. Can't you see it in a plain English? Jesus is going to HIS GOD. HOW CAN YOU DARE SAY he IS GOD?