How Jesus forgave Judas

What does Judas, the notorious betrayer, show us? He teaches us how God handles sinners and how He loves them. Jesus died for ALL sinners: you, me, your Sunday school teacher, your child, the rapist in the county over, the murderer on death row, and the unrepentant terrorists you hear about on the evening news.

You can read that again if you think you saw the wrong thing, but I mean every word. Even more importantly, God meant to live and die for everyone of them. He is God. He knows who will choose salvation and who won't. He knew when He suffered that He was going through it for those who would never be grateful and never love Him. He knew.

He would also do it all over again.

Why would He do such a thing? God makes commitments to those He loves, and He doesn't make a commitment He's unwilling to carry out.

He committed to His twelve disciples just like He committed to us.

"Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!" John 6:70

It's hard to say how many chances Judas was given to bring his darkness into the light and confess the fact he'd been stealing from their money (John 12:6) or had plotted against the man who repeatedly stated He loved him. In fact Judas, someone Jesus knew was a thief, was in charge of their moneybag. He was given trust for this purpose. Then, Jesus gave him another chance that He knew Judas would still not take.

"After He had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, "Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.” His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him.
Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”
Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”
Jesus answered,“It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor. As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night." John 13:21-30

Breaking bread has been a symbol of friendship, solidarity, and trust since forever. Here, Jesus offers friendship to the man He is saying (though the others don't understand)is the beginning of His end. Another Chance.

When it states that satan entered Judas' heart, it doesn't mean Jesus put satan there, it doesn't state this was the start of Judas' betrayal, or even that something strange and supernatural occurred with the bread. It means that this is the moment Judas finally gave up on love entirely. He'd committed to what he was about to do.

Jesus' heart must've been breaking when He told him, "What you are about to do, do quickly." It's even more heartbreaking that Judas did. Such a strange thing God's love is; it's not our natural way, and it's definitely not the easy way.

Time passed and the plot came to fruition.

"While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.

Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend." Mark 26:47-50

Have you noticed something? Jesus still called Judas friend. Can we take a moment here to recognize that Jesus is showing us not only how to love others but how He loves us? This is a bitter, bitter pill to swallow. I'd have a hard time portraying this level of love to someone like Judas. Yet, here there are, swords at the ready, betrayal of a beloved friend who stands before Jesus, mocking Him with kisses as He is led to His death. Jesus calls Him friend at the end.

Judas still had a chance to ask for forgiveness, but he wouldn't before Jesus' death. Yet, someone else at death's door did ask for forgiveness, which illuminates exactly what Jesus would say to Judas.

"Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”
The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”
There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the Jews.
One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”"

Dying, the one thief confessed and asked for forgiveness. This, Jesus gave without hesitation. He even asked the Father for the forgiveness of the ones who were killing him! So, what happened to Judas?

"When Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was filled with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders. “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said." Matthew 27:3-4

Judas became ashamed, confessed his sins, and didn’t want the money he’d done it all for.

If you are in any doubt that God forgave him, would you re-read this post? Even better, open the Bible and see for yourself. He betrayed himself in the end; he was in such intense pain over what he had done.

To the very end, the very end (I have to say it more than once), God loves you and will forgive you. It's NEVER too late. He knew your sins before He created you. He made you anyway. He never walks away from us; we walk away from him. Yet, the moment we turn back to see His face, He calls us friend and invites us back home.

"And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20

Sources other than the Bible:
https://www.taize.fr/en_article4572.html