Although four Gospels describe the betrayal of Judas in common, there has been little in-depth researches of it for about two thousand years of church history. In fact, the Gospels do not speak cleary why Judas betrayed Jesus. They do not reveal Judas...
Although four Gospels describe the betrayal of Judas in common, there has been little in-depth researches of it for about two thousand years of church history. In fact, the Gospels do not speak cleary why Judas betrayed Jesus. They do not reveal Judas’ mentality or personality and describe his process to betrayal. However, scholars have so far inclined to continue their researches in their own interests by focusing on reconstruction of biblical texts or on an etymology of his last name, “Iscariot.” In these scholarly environments, this discussion about motives of Judas’ betrayal cannot but be driven by imagination and inference to a conclusion inevitably.
In the early church the existence of Judah hardly understandable in relation to Jesus’ perfection, must be very burdened to authors of the Gospels. So they have attempted to overcome it in various ways and endeavored to re-interpret it theologically. Those theological interpretations having their intentions regarding Judas, could not help representing their perspectives of Judas in the Gospels. In this big picture this thesis focuses on ‘Judas’ perspectives of the Gospel authors who dealt with the being of Judas rather than on the person of Judas. In this direction this thesis aims to discover the theological intentions of the text related to Judas Iscariot.
In the Synoptic Gospels, common materials are used in the texts related to Judas except the text of his death. Despite different positions of the Judas narrative, the flow of the narrative is the same. However, emphasis were slight different according to the authors’ stress in spite of the same flow of the narrative. But still common intentions in them are found. Those common intentions are followed below.
First, the authors have approached in the perspective of the fulfillment of biblical prophecy in order to understand Judas’ betrayal having embarrassed to early Christians. Therefore, they have attempted to reveal everything is in God’s providence, showing Judas’ betrayal incidents lie in the divine initiative. Second, the authors have used Judas to give early Christians hope in difficult situations. Early Christian communities where the gospels were written suffered in persecution of Jews. There were occurrence of a lot of traditor in the persecution and a potential risk of renouncing the Christian faith under the enormous pressure of economic difficulties caused by the persecution. To empower the persecuted Christians to overcome the difficulties, the authors have tried to inform that God has leaded everything in his Providence as Jesus has reached to a surprising mystery of Resurrection through his passion and death, as a result of a disciple, Judas’ betrayal. In other words, the authors have wished Christians were able to hope in God’s providence rather than Christians were sorrowful and confused even though Christians were in incomprehensible suffering. Lastly, the author have called for Christians’ perpetual faith and conversions. The authors have tried to present through Judas, who has got along, received teachings, witnessed miracles, and sent empowered by divine authority reserved in Jesus, that anytime Christians might come in the way of betrayal. So to speak the authors have hoped Christians to always examine their faith and strive to live a repentant life. Judas’s miserable end is like an alarm bell toward believers.
The Gospel according to St. John has dealt comprehensively and effectively with Judas than the Synoptic Gospels. First, John also has demonstrated that Judas’ betrayal incidents lied in the divine initiative like the Synoptic. It gave an impression that Judas’ betrayal has little influenced in the Passion of Christ. Second, having equated Judas with “Jews” who has led to the death of Jesus and has not reached the true faith, he has attempted to reveal that “Jews” who has persecuted Christians(John’s community) went forward not to not Life of Jesus but to darkness(death). At the same time, he has helped his community recognize that his community members were beloved disciples of Jesus as sons of Light. Thus, John has wished the early Christians to overcome the persecution well and have hope. Lastly, John has represented what the way to the eternal life was by describing Judas as a representative of unbelief has chosen Satan and went forward to world of death/darkness. Namely, John has called for the perpetual faith as well as reflection on the faith.
Living present days we may face difficulties like Judas’ betrayal any time. However, it is not the end of Judas’ betrayal. Because God ultimately has given us the gift of resurrection as using even evil for good with Divine initiative. In this reason we are able to have hope regardless of any trouble. In addition, John has showed we ourselves may fall into the temptation of Satan anytime in the life of faith, describing one of twelve disciples, Judas’ betrayal of Jesus. In consequence, Judas’ incident acts as an warning that we should go forward to the way of Life through a lasting trust in God and continue reflections on our faith.
The Gospel authors has wished the readers to look back themselves through the Judas narrative. Considering intentions aforementioned together, this thesis is concluded that the authors’ intentions beyond past and present for us as true believers to come closer to God, may have been revealed in the Judas narrative.