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Kalimera Pater. My question is about Judas. He is often vilified in society and the church as the betrayer of Christ. However, I also see him as a key player in the Passion and Resurrection. If he didn’t betray Christ, Christ would have never died for our sins and fulfilled the prophecy. I'm not sure of its authenticity, but going back to a question asked earlier today, there is also a gospel of Judas which claims Judas betrayed Jesus as an act of obedience rather than betrayal. Could I ask your opinion on this?
Answer to Question 430
There is nothing to suggest in the canonical Gospels that Judas betrayed Christ as an act of obedience. Judas had free will but we are told that Satan entered into him and tempted him to betray Jesus. He was not condemned for this because he is not the only Apostle that betrayed Jesus. Peter also betrayed him by denying that he was also one of his disciples three times and also the others betrayed him by running and hiding to save themselves. The difference with Peter is that he repented of his betrayal and wept bitterly. Judas on the other hand also repented but went and hanged himself.
I don’t think that if Judas had not betrayed Christ that this would have stopped the Passion, Crucifixion and resurrection. These were events far more important than Judas and God would have found another way for them to be realized. But these are “ifs” the fact is Judas did betray Jesus as it was prophesied to happen.
The Apocryphal gospel of Judas was rejected by the Church because it tells of a secret conversation between Jesus and Judas. Among the many things they discuss is also the subject of the creation of humanity. Jesus tells Judas about certain ranks of ruling angels. One of these angels called Saklas says to the other angels “Let us create a human being after the likeness and after the image. They fashioned Adam and his wife Eve, who is called, in the cloud, Zoe. For by this name all the generations seek the man, and each of them calls the woman by these names.” What this blasphemous gospel is trying to say is that we were created by angels and not by God.
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