September 11th

September 11th -- Luke 22:1-13

Please read the passage!

I think if there were a list of "Most Disliked Bible Characters" Judas would be on it for most people. Now, I don't agree with what he did, obviously, but I don't agree with hating him, either. So, then I clearly must have a good reason why to not hate him, right? Right. Firstly, God wants us to love one another, not hate His children - enough said. Secondly, good people do bad things sometimes. If you were suddenly hated eternally for one mistake how would you feel? Even if it was something horrible, you'd probably be upset if it was something you came to regret later (to the point of hanging yourself...) and yet people still hated you, right? I know I would. We are all sinners. So let's not hold something against Judas that could just as easily be held against us. Additionally, someone had to do it. Someone had to betray Jesus. Jesus' death had to happen, so his resurrection could happen, so he could have overcome death and freed us from our sins. Judas didn't pick for it to be him. Nobody would choose that job of betraying Jesus, but someone did have to do it. It just happened to be Judas. I also want to point out that when he did it, he wasn't acting as himself, really. The beginning of verse 3 says "Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot,..." Just like Eve messed up and ate the apple because of the devil, Judas messed up and betrayed Jesus because of the devil. So, just think about that. Try to remember that sometimes people just get the nasty place in history or the horrible title to be remembered by. Judas is just one case. So, yes he sinned and was wrong, but yes he was still God's child, and we are meant to love each and every child of God - NOT hold grudges or hatred against them.

God bless! Shalom!