Character Confession: Forgiving Judas

Forgiving Judas.

My author friends are probably thinking up a plot as they read those words, believing it to be a great novel they could draft.

My full-time ministry friends are outlining their sermons and reaching for their Bible.

Me? It’s the topic at hand in one of my non-stop questions with God.

Imagine the child in that why stage. That was me, but the questions never stopped. These days, I use my quiet time to learn from Him and ask. And ask. And ask.

What I love is as tired as my teachers and parents grew of my incessant questions, God never does. We have conversations, not audible chatting of course, but I live to listen for that still, small voice that shows me He loves to share and teach.

One of the topics was Judas and the what-if game. And guess what? It wasn’t me asking the questions.

Here’s what my heart received, and I’m still pondering.

What if Judas’ story was different? What if his heart had been pure at the beginning (which I can’t say was always the case because the reason he was so incensed about the spilled perfume was those were wages he could have had to skim from as treasurer?)

What if his heart hardened for a brief moment–we’ve all been there, right? But that heart hardened long enough for others to see and pounce on the opportunity?

What if after he took the money and pointed Jesus out to His accusers and instantly regretted it?

And repented?

And tried to re-join the others?

Would he have been accepted?

Would his legacy been the one time he made a mistake it changed the course of history forever?

Or would time give him grace?

At the end of the questioning it hit me–what would I do?

What if there was a contemporary Judas who fit those questions?

Could I forgive that man, or woman?

Could you?

 

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