Rev. Dr. Kristin Johnston Largen
There is no more miserable figure in the Bible than Judas. His name is synonymous with betrayal and treachery, and for his part in the crucifixion narrative, Dante (following traditional Christian logic) puts him in the very center of the devil’s grip in the lowest level of hell.
The fact that Judas regrets what he has done and repents of his evil act, doesn’t count— the damage is done, after all. And, the further fact that he so despairs of his inability to make things right that he hangs himself also does not count in his favor; in some Christian circles, it just exacerbates his sin. Judas, then, serves only as a warning, a cautionary tale, an example of just desserts. What hope is there for Judas, and who cares, anyway?
I care, because personally, I believe very strongly that if there is no hope for Judas, there is no hope for any of us. Judas is neither the first nor the last Christian who will succumb to temptation and put money (or fame, or self-interest, or one’s own principles) before faith in God. Let’s be honest: all of us have betrayed Jesus to one degree or another; all of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. So, I say again, if there is no hope for Judas, there is no hope for any of us.
Thankfully, there is a whisper of protest that came down through the ages, a myth that holds out hope for Judas. There is medieval legend that I repeat every chance I get (I first came across it in A World According to God, by Lutheran theologian Marty Stortz), which recounts how, when Jesus first descended into hell, before rescuing anyone else, he sought out Judas and forgave him. No way of knowing, of course, but wouldn’t that be just like Jesus?
As I said, it’s a myth, but it is compelling because it gives voice to something fundamentally true: the radical love of Jesus Christ that leaves no one out; the radical inclusivity of God’s forgiveness and mercy; and the astonishing, breathtaking lengths to which Jesus will go to redeem the lost and forsaken from the deepest, darkest hells in which they find themselves—the hells in which we find ourselves.
I believe with my whole heart that absolutely nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, and therefore hope, reconciliation and redemption are always possibilities for all us, in even our worst moments, no matter what we have done.
Gracious God, we give you thanks for your persistent love that will not let us go. In Jesus Christ, you seek us not to punish but to forgive, not to judge but to restore. Give us the courage to return to you in confidence, again and again, trusting that you will wash us clean and make us whole. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
