Conversation between Jesus and Judas

“It would have been better for that person if he had never been born.” Awesome gift; the gift of life! Dangerous gift; you can’t return it, you can’t unborn yourself! Job wished he had never been born, cursed the day he was born, but he chose to live. Judas didn’t, he chose to die. Went and hanged himself.

Why did he do it? He was one of the inner circle of 12 followers, he was the treasurer, and was getting personally rich on the job. Why did he agree to help the people who would come at night to arrest Jesus? Best guess is that he never thought Jesus would let himself be arrested; he thought that by identifying Jesus at night, in the unlit garden, he could trigger the revolt against Rome and bring Jesus and himself into the life of power, prestige and possessions.

Jesus confronted him, “One of the people eating from this dish with me, will betray me.”
“Surely not me.” Said Judas.
“You have said it.” Replies Jesus.
A little later, Jesus looked at Judas and said,
‘Whatever you’re going to do, do it quickly.”
And Judas goes out into the night.

Jesus didn’t try to stop this man from doing the thing that would cause the death of both of them, one from his own hands, and one from the executioners. Why didn’t he? Why didn’t he plead with Judas to think again and save himself from his folly?

Does Jesus still do the same today? Does he allow us to make our own decisions, and choose our own actions? The answer is yes. The only ones who are stopped from their folly and given ability to change their minds are the ones who have asked for his help. Natural man does not want the help of God or his son, he wants to be guided by his own reason, do what he believes to be best.

“It would be better for (Judas) if he had never been born.” Says Jesus. Judas overwhelmed by his part in the crime of killing the innocent, goes back to the plotters and throws his payment on the ground. It makes no difference, the deed is done.

But does he have to end his life? Mocked by the plotters, despised by the friends of Jesus. (In the dark night, Judas showed the soldiers which one of the group to arrest by going up to Jesus and greeting him with a kiss.) how was he to continue living? Pride gone, plans gone.

He never asked for forgiveness, too humiliating I expect. Never prayed for a chance to change his life, too humiliating. Never knew the mental and emotional relief of calling out, “I’ve sinned, God have mercy on me.” To the end he relied upon himself and remained master of himself.

Does God have mercy on people who never ask for it? Yes or we would all be dead of our sins. Did God have mercy on Judas? Jesus says not, “It would have been better for that man, never to have been born.” Judas rushes on into death and resurrection and the judgment day.

Gospel of Matthew chapter 26. Verses 25 to 26
And verses 47 – 49