Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Judas' Betrayal

Why did Judas do what he did? Because, as Bonaventure says, he is “hardened”. Judas is usually painted as just some evil person. This is not to say that what he did wasn’t evil—he betrayed his teacher, which was horrible. But at the same time, he knew his teacher was speaking about the destruction of the temple and the overthrow of the priesthood. Which Judas could say was a betrayal of their God-given leaders. The main reason, I think, that Judas betrayed the Savior of the world is because he felt he needed to submit to his government.

Bonaventure wants to emphasize Jesus’ kindness to Judas despite Judas’ betrayal, but I think he goes too far. Jesus didn’t have particularly kind things to say to Judas, just permission to do what he must. Nor did he kiss Judas in the garden, he just allowed Judas to kiss him. All throughout the passion, Jesus is mostly passive, allowing people to do their evil, neither encouraging nor belaying them in their acts of shaming and destroying an innocent, nay, even a man full of good deeds.

“Woe to the man who does not return to the fountain of mercy out of hope of forgiveness but, terrified by the enormity of his crime, despaired!” -Bonaventure

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