Print
One of the most enigmatic characters in the Bible is Judas Iscariot. His name has become synonymous with betrayal. Even among those who are quite ignorant of the Biblical account of this man's life, his name is still used to express the concepts of disloyalty and betrayal.
What makes his life and ultimate demise of such interest is the fact that he was chosen by Jesus Christ to be one of Jesus' disciples. Like Saul in the Old Testament, Judas' life had so much potential for good but he is almost universally known for betraying his master and his fellow disciples.
Is it possible to trace the life of Judas and identify the point of no return? Was there one specific moment when Judas made a choice and crossed over to the "dark side"?
In a previous entry I wrote about the point of no return (in aviation parlance) being that point when the commitment is made to press on because it is no longer possible to return to the airfield where the flight originated. Was there such a time or point in Judas' spiritual journey where he could no longer turn back? The die was cast. The commitment was made.
There is much we don't know about Judas. However, we are told that he was the 'treasurer' of the small band of disciples, that he was a thief and that he often stole some for himself (John 12). I think it is altogether reasonable, then, to expect that Judas' point of no return (PNR) would somehow be connected to this area of temptation and weakness in his life.
Was Judas' PNR reached and passed the first time he made the conscious decision to put his hand in the money bag and help himself to that which was not his? Subsequently that choice became less of an issue of conscience as he continued to defraud his "brothers in ministry".
Could it be that his PNR came when his focus on money and his desire for more took him to the leading priests where he negotiated a deal for 30 pieces in return for his betrayal of Jesus? (Matthew 26). It's a long way from pilfering the group funds to actively looking for ways and means to betray the Son of God. But Judas had made the journey. Somewhere he passed the point of no return.
Maybe that point of no return was reached in the Upper Room on the night of Jesus' betrayal. (John 13). We are told that, in the first instance, the devil had already prompted Judas to betray Jesus but what is really terrifying is that when Judas had eaten the bread of the Passover the devil then entered into him. Was this the moment?
Whenever we may think that PNR may have occurred, I believe it was well and truly passed by the time Judas tried to turn around, undo the damage he had done and repent of his actions (Matthew 27). His attempt to return the 30 pieces of silver failed to arrest the unfolding events. Like Saul in the Old Testament, the life of Judas ended in ignominious suicide.
I can't help but wonder if the Apostle Paul was thinking of Judas when he wrote
But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. 1 Tim 6:9-10 NLT
I began this series of reflections by noting that this idea of "the point of no return" also has a positive application in our lives. This is no more clearly seen than in the life of Jesus Christ.
I need to further reflect on that in my next entry.
