All right. It's my understanding that the crucifixion of Christ was part of God's plan. C.S. Lewis, among others, claims that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the defining moment of Christianity. The defeat of death, itself.
Given that, why are those instrumental to Christ's crucifixion (e.g. Judas, Pilate, Caiaphas, "the Jews") often cast as villains? If the crucifixion was according to God's will, and fulfilling God's plan (and, in fact, had been prophesized)... then weren't Judas and the others simply serving God and God's plan, just as much as Christ and Peter and the others?
The whole approach to the crucifixion confuses me, to be quite honest. If it was a wonderful thing (Good Friday, after all), where man was allowed redemption from sin through Jesus Christ, then why don't we treat it like a wonderful thing? We act as though the crucifixion were a crime and a tragedy, but God the Father thought it was a good idea, and without it, we'd have no redeemer. Right?
2006-10-26 06:58:32 · 11 answers · asked by tylerism 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Mark 14:21 "...but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born."
That being said, I wonder if Judas Iscariot had a choice. Christianity depends on the death and resurrection of Jesus without which we would still be bound to the Levitical laws (which are impossible to obey).
Another question for you is one of Lucifer. In the book of Job, there is a reference to Satan reporting to God as if he were one of God's staff and even suggesting to/betting with God about what Job would do under bad circumstances.
Good question. I've presented that one to several 'preachers' and so far have no sensible responses.
2006-10-26 07:16:19 · answer #1 · answered by credo quia est absurdum 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are right with out the crucifixion we would not have a redeemer. In the book of Matthew it tells of the last supper and during that meal satan himself entered into Judas's heart.
Pilate isn't exactly an enemy as much as he is a coward. He knew Jesus was innocent but he washed his hands of the whole situation by dunking them into a bowl of water in front of the whole mob. Instead of being a man and law enforcer he handed over an innocent man. Judas later tried to return the silver to the pharises saying "I have handed over an innocent man." It did no good.
The cross was a bad day, but without it the glory that awaits would be harder to get to, we would still all be sacrificing sheep and goats.
2006-10-26 08:17:44 · answer #2 · answered by JaimeM 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It all depends on one's own belief's . Yet I will tell you what I believe. I believe that what Jesus meant when he told his followers that he would be crucified for there sins. Is that because of the sinners (the one's whom did negative acts), he would be crucified so that they might be saved from his power of Anger. For if he were to have fought back, he would be able to raise up enough army of followers that there would have been enough bloodshed to fill the ocean. Yet he did not want death and bloodshed, Especially in His name.
Judas was one whom acted out of intention, and what ever his intention was when he gave Jesus over to the authorities, was of no betrayal to Jesus, for Jesus knew that he would survive the physical death.
Wether Jesus was crucified or if he had been saved, does not determine wether our souls would have been saved or not. The bible scriptures are read and defined by the maturity of today's people. New definitions will reveal other thoughts and bring up other followers of different belief in the future. As it did so in the past.
Think of how an adult and a child view the clouds.
A little child will look at the clouds and see a dragon or another picture. While the Adult will not give it a second thought, or look up and say "its going to rain".
2006-10-26 07:19:06 · answer #3 · answered by stuart_slider 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When you read the bible, both old and new testament, a common theme will emerge.
That theme is the heart. All the men who served God also disobeyed him (sinned). What set them apart from the guy next door was what was in their hearts. Even when they sinned, they still had a heart and faith in their creator (God).
What made Judas different than these other men and women was what was in his heart. Even though he followed Jesus during his ministry here on earth, Judas' heart was set on himself and his greed, not on Jesus Christs message. Judas saw his position as a job in which he controlled the finances of the ministry.
For this reason itself is why Judas was chosen to be one of the Apostles right from the start. Jesus knew that Judas heart was set upon himself and not Jesus. So, yes, Judas had a heart of greed and self fulfillment and this is why the bible declared there is a special place in hell reserved specifically for the one who not only could , but would betray our Savior.
2006-10-26 07:09:15 · answer #4 · answered by cindy 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Finally a GOOD question - thank you so much!
People who have read and studied their Bible have asked this/these questions before. Many feel Judas was a trader - but there are others who feel Judas was believed Jesus was here to destroy Rome and rule the Earth - so Judas betrayed Jesus thinking Jesus would use His powers and destroy them - and many think this is why Judas betrayed Jesus.
Special note - Jesus was in control the whole time He was here on Earth - at any time He wanted He could have destroyed those who sought to kill Him - He chose to die and now we have the chance of eternal life.
To all these people who complain about Christians and them pushing their beliefs off on you - Eternal life is a present from God - you do not have to choose it - but by not choosing it you still have mad a choice - eternal death.
2006-10-26 07:13:02 · answer #5 · answered by Gladiator 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
What you're saying is that Judas did not act out of free will in the betrayal of Christ.
Not true.
God gave all of us FREE WILL. We are all able to make our own decisions. Although God had the power to put someone else in Judas' place (who wouldn't betray Christ), he allowed Judas to act in Judas' own self interests and go thru the betrayal.
Yes, it was predicted and forseen. So what? If I know that YOU are almost certainly going to over-eat if I put a cake on the table, am I required to NOT put cakes on the table? Or, do I allow you to exercise your free will and make your own decisions?
Yes, it was God's plan (and gift). Yes, He knew who was going to do what. No, He didn't interfer with the decisions being made. He allowed the exercise of free will.
The sacrifice IS a wonderful thing. It's what allows us salvation. Christians do, in fact, celebrate this.
2006-10-26 07:07:33 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Judas carried out pre-meditated betrayal, which shows he was self-centered and disloyal. What could have happened is something like this: there needed to be someone who would turn Jesus over to the guards. Perhaps God, knowing this long in advance, and knowing Judas's character flaws, called Jesus to handpick Judas as one of His disciples. Or maybe Jesus knew this himself - He did seem to know a lot about people. For example, when He knew that Lazarus died in Bethany two days prior to their embarkment to see Lazarus - Jesus waited for Lazarus to die so that God could get the glory (resurrecting a dead man is a greater miracle than healing a sick man). Additionally, many Jews were comforting the mourning Mary and Martha, and they were witnesses to this miracle, and wouldn't have been there if Lazarus was merely sick. Jesus set that up. He also set up his disciples to go to town to purchase food, saying that He was going to rest at a well. So they all left, and He was alone when the Samaritan woman who had been married five times came to draw water. There is a lot more to that particular story, but Jesus set it up so He could speak to the woman that He knew would visit the well in private, and spare her dignity.
2006-10-26 07:11:44 · answer #7 · answered by Iamnotarobot (former believer) 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Depending how you want to look at it. Yes you could say that it was part of Gods plan because God knows all.
The reason that the Crucifixion is viewed as "bad" is because of what he went through just to give us forgiveness for our sins.
This is why Christians love Jesus so much. He choose to go through it, know what it was going to be like.
2006-10-26 07:05:26 · answer #8 · answered by Messenger 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, I guess that would mean that the Pharisees and Pontius Pilate are as much servants of God as Judas too, according to your logic. Heck, everyone could be considered servants of God in that respect, even Jeffery Dahmmer
2006-10-26 07:08:13 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Someone had to betray Jesus. Judas was that man, so he had to carry out God's will.
2006-10-26 07:02:14 · answer #10 · answered by athbstuk05 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋