Kichijiro, the Judas
Everyman
One
of the main themes that stands out in the Gospel of John is the betrayal of
Judas. Today we will explore Judas’ betrayal of Jesus and learn from it. Before
we dive into the Scriptures, I would like to first tell you a story, Shusaku
Endo’s novel Silence. It’s a novel
based on the true history of 17th century Japan. At that time Japanese
Christians had to endure severe persecution. In the story we meet Kichijiro. He
and his family were found to be Christians, and they were ordered to trample on
a fumie, an image of Christ. Kichijiro
trampled; the rest of his family refused. He watched them die. Later he confessed
to a priest and had conversion experience. But due to external pressure he denied
God publically three more times throughout the story. He even sold out Father
Rodrigues and received 300 pieces of silver, 10 times Judas’ price for the deed.
Kichijiro cries out in despair, “I am weak! Where is the place for the weak man
like me?” Although he keeps falling and is traumatized by his failure, he continually
seeks forgiveness. As we hear this story, we are tempted to easily scorn
Kichijiro. But in fact, Kichijiro is a
kind of Christian-disciple Everyman. The author presents us with a moment
for self-examination about our own relationship with Jesus.
The Love of Jesus for
Judas
John
13 clearly tells us how much Jesus loved his disciples, including Judas Iscariot. It begins in this way: “Before the
Passover celebration, Jesus knew that
his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his
ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end” (NLT). Jesus
chose Judas Iscariot as one of his disciples. They had spent at least three years
living together, working together. They had been through a lot together. In
fact, Judas was the group’s treasurer, a trusted follower of Jesus, a close
friend of Jesus.
But
somewhere Judas made a wrong turn and pressed ahead; Jesus showed him the full
extent of his love right to the end. In the Upper Room Jesus washed Judas’
feet. Think about it. He knew Judas was plotting to betray him. What was it
like for Jesus to wash this man’s feet? What was it like for Judas? Even this
footwashing didn’t change Judas’ heart. So after this, Jesus said the word in
the way only Judas could understand, saying, “And you are clean, but not
everyone of you” (11). He wanted to give Judas a chance to repent. “Abandon your way of life, your way of
thinking. Come back to me now!” But he didn’t. So Jesus said for the second
time by citing from Ps 41:9, David’ lament over a betrayal from his close
friend, “He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me!” (18). But Judas
didn’t change his course. So now Jesus was troubled in his spirit and said for
the third time in a more direct way, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you
will betray me!” (21) “That’s the pain, Judas! You have been with me
for three years. After all we’ve been through. After all I’ve done for you.
After all the wonder you’ve experienced.” Judas kept pressing ahead.
Jesus
then gave a piece of bread to Judas (26). Here it would be helpful to know
Jewish tradition at the time of Jesus for our better understanding. Jews used a
low three-sided U shape table, which was necessary for them to recline. The
body was supported with the left arm (or elbow), the right hand was used for
eating, and the feet were extended away from the table. If we read today’s
scripture closely, we find that Judas was sitting to the left of Jesus (host),
in the place designated for the most honored guest. At that time, it was common
for the host to serve the honored guest a morsel from the table. Jesus was
serving as a host, Judas, his honored guest, the piece of bread, the sacred
elements of the last supper. This gesture of love and respect was the last thing
Jesus could do for Judas. He didn’t humiliate Judas in the presence of the
other disciples. Even after Judas went out, they didn’t know who the betrayer
was. It was between Jesus and Judas. Jesus
loved Judas to the end.
The Choice of Judas
It’s
striking that Satan put it into Judas’ heart to betray Jesus. John 13:2 says,
“During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas
Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him” (ESV). That’s how the enemy works in our
lives. Satan puts his evil thoughts into
our hearts. That’s why the Bible says, “Above all else, guard your heart,
for it is the wellspring of life” (Proverbs 4:23, NIV). For the same reason,
Martin Luther said, “You cannot keep birds from flying over your head but you
can keep them from building a nest in your hair.” In verse 2, although the
devil had already put his evil thoughts into Judas’ heart, Judas was not yet the object of the devil’s work.
But unfortunately, he chose to allow
evil thoughts to come in and cherish them in his heart. He chose not to repent. He chose
not to change his course. He was persistent. Then what happened? In verse
27 Satan entered into him. From that moment, Satan controlled Judas’ fate. And
Jesus dispatched him to pursue the course he had set for himself. This is the
judgment. The light has come into him. But Judas loved the darkness rather than
the light. He hated the light and didn’t come to the light (John 3:19-20). Jesus
is the light. He abounds in love and grace. But he withdraws his outstretched
loving arms to hold us if we continue to reject his grace. Romans 1:28 says, “And
since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done (ESV).
This is the judgment.
The
Voyage of Life
As
I was meditating on today’s passage over the past week, what came to mind was Thomas
Cole’s four-painting series, The Voyage
of Life. It is an allegory for the four stages of human life, filled with
both warning and promise about what lies ahead for each of us as we journey
through our lives. In the first painting of the series, Childhood, the young traveler launches out from a cave (birth) onto
a placid stream. The sun is rising in the distance, and a guardian angel stands
with in the little boat. In Youth,
the second painting in the series, the youth holds the tiller and the angel
watches from the shore. The boat is headed down the river toward a ghostly
castle, representing his dreams and ambitions. The third painting, Manhood, reminds us of the troubles and
travails of existence. The little boat is now entering menacing rapids, and the
traveler is trying to navigate without its tiller. The sky is stormy, but the
journey must go on. The angel has not forsaken him, though, still watching him
from a distance. The traveler folds his hands in prayer. The final painting is Old Age. Our traveler has survived the
trials of life and now draws near to the end of his journey: death. The
guardian angel draws close to him and guides him to heaven.[1]
“While You Have the Light”
[1]
Terry Glaspey, 75 Masterpieces Every
Christian Should Know (Baker Books: Grand Rapids, 2015), 155-56.
No comments:
Post a Comment