Some how today's topic, the death (or is it life) of Jesus is too morbid to deal with in any way except material. Nothing struck me in the passage. Nothing seemed uplifting. Or Spiritual. Just doom and destruction.
This chapter in particular has been difficult for me...I think because I know I have things to think through to be sure that I don't deny Christ.
Some comfort for me has been that I have heard of theology research that now says that the word we know as "betrayed," was actually originally, "hand-over." This implies that Jesus knew about it. Judas is also the only disciple that Jesus calls friend (he calls John his brother), which theologians say may mean that they were boyhood friends. Also, that Jesus may have asked Judas to do this for him...who else, but a friend? I've always had issues with the idea of Judas betraying Jesus. Why would Jesus want to keep someone for three years to remind him everyday of what was to come? Makes more sense to me that Jesus would have known, and picked someone he felt he could trust. I think that if Judas was an Essene (theologians, again, speculate...was even in MyBibleLesson notes a while back), that he may have thought, as some other disciples did, that he was going to jump down off the cross and/or fight. It's too bad that Judas did not have the wherewithal to stick it out and see the real demonstration...that there is no death. Hope this helps. Have you read any of the Gnostic Gospels...the Gospel of Judas is very interesting.
I've heard this before about Judas but it didn't stick in my thought apparently. Thanks for mentioning it. That does make it a bit easier to deal with.
You are second person in a week that has mentioned the Gnostic Gospels. I went looking for it a few years ago in the local library. It's on the top shelf which is funny because I'm not tall enough to reach it and didn't want to ask for help to get it down. Suppose I should change that.
Hi Dina:
ReplyDeleteThis chapter in particular has been difficult for me...I think because I know I have things to think through to be sure that I don't deny Christ.
Some comfort for me has been that I have heard of theology research that now says that the word we know as "betrayed," was actually originally, "hand-over." This implies that Jesus knew about it. Judas is also the only disciple that Jesus calls friend (he calls John his brother), which theologians say may mean that they were boyhood friends. Also, that Jesus may have asked Judas to do this for him...who else, but a friend? I've always had issues with the idea of Judas betraying Jesus. Why would Jesus want to keep someone for three years to remind him everyday of what was to come? Makes more sense to me that Jesus would have known, and picked someone he felt he could trust. I think that if Judas was an Essene (theologians, again, speculate...was even in MyBibleLesson notes a while back), that he may have thought, as some other disciples did, that he was going to jump down off the cross and/or fight. It's too bad that Judas did not have the wherewithal to stick it out and see the real demonstration...that there is no death. Hope this helps. Have you read any of the Gnostic Gospels...the Gospel of Judas is very interesting.
Hi Anon,
ReplyDeleteI've heard this before about Judas but it didn't stick in my thought apparently. Thanks for mentioning it. That does make it a bit easier to deal with.
You are second person in a week that has mentioned the Gnostic Gospels. I went looking for it a few years ago in the local library. It's on the top shelf which is funny because I'm not tall enough to reach it and didn't want to ask for help to get it down. Suppose I should change that.
Again, thanks.