The Judas Paradox?

Question

1. Judas is considered a traitor.

2. It is said that Jesus HAD to die on the cross to save humanity.

3. If Judas had not done what he had done, Jesus would not have died on the cross.

So why then is he considered a traitor??

P.s
please refrain from referring to the gospel of Judas

Answer 1

Jesus knew that Judas would betray him, just as He know that Peter would deny Him. He chose the apostles He needed to fulfill His mission. Judas was not as bad a person as he is usually portrayed, he just didn't get it. He wanted Jesus to be a temporal savior. He wanted Jesus to become a King on earth and free the Jews as Moses had. And Judas thought that by forcing His hand Jesus would rise to the occasion.

Answer 2

Just because God KNOWS all our choices that we would make (Since God dwells outside time) Does NOT mean that He cannot use our OWN FREE WILL choices to accomplish His Will. Judas was a thief. His love of money (the root of all evil) was the main reason behind his betrayal of the Christ. He thought that ALL of them would benefit. Judas would get the money, Christ would be "forced" to either show His true "power" or be able to somehow escape as He had done previously, and the disciples & the rest of the people would most likely have their new "King". (also in which case, Judas being a disciple would greatly benefit) But that was NOT the purpose that Christ came for. Once Judas realized that.....he was devestated. He felt remorse, he returned the money, but he did NOT repent of of love for money, nor did he ask God for forgiveness. He died a guilty man, because of his OWN choices & unrepentant heart.

John 13: 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. "What you are about to do, do quickly," Jesus told him, 28 but no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. 29 Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor. 30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.

who also betrayed him;
that is, Christ, as the Persic version reads it; and which is mentioned, not only for further distinction's sake, but to his great reproach. We learn from hence, that in the purest society on earth there has been an impure person; nor can it therefore be expected it should be otherwise in the best of churches, in the present state of imperfection; yea, that a man may have the highest gifts and attainments, as Judas had, ministerial gifts, and power of performing miracles, and yet be a vile person.

In this world we ALL have choices to make, whether to serve Jesus Christ, or... NOT..in which case we serve the "world" and the one that is "king/prince" of this world is satan..ego if your not a servant of Christ..you serve satan) It can only be one or the other. No matter what people see on the outside (what we choose to display) God sees our hearts.

All things are working for the good of those that love the Lord, and to His Glory! Romans 8:28 even the "bad/evil" choices men make.)

Answer 3

The Gospel of Judas is a fiction anyway. It is based on the Gnostic idea that Judas was in on a plot with Jesus to fulfill the prophecies. It even says in the writing itself that Judas did not write it.

In answer to your question, none of the Apostles really seemed to understand what was going on; they could not see the big picture. Whether Jesus was Divine or not, he had a much broader picture and could see all of the pieces in the game.
Picture a chess match where Jesus is the White Queen. His opponent is manipulated into a position where he can take the queen, the most flexible piece and second most valuable only after the king. After the opponent takes the bait though, the trap closed and he is put into check mate.
The opponent cooperated with the gambit but did it of their own free will, and is NOT innocent.

Answer 4

I've asked that very question a dozen times and never gotten an answer that's not double-speak gibberish...

I figure the truth is that, seeong as how Jesus's divinity wasn't established until more than a hundred years after his death, the bias against Judas developed in the intermediate time - when Jesus was seen as a prophet cut down before his time. Once they decided that Jesus had a "masterplan", they should have forgiven Judas. But by then the bias was too firmly entrenched, I guess.

Though there might be meaningless Bible quotes that can "contradict" me...

Answer 5

Judas is a betrayer, he was not needed to implicate Jesus but he did anyway. He wanted a radical military leader to overthrow Rome and when that did not happen he became disillusioned to what his master was doing and tried to jump start his own vision of how things would go. The Jewish leaders were only looking for an excuse to kill Christ and Judas presented one, but he was not really needed because they could have found another way.

Answer 6

This one got me too.
Only thing I can think of right now is that Jesus already new what Judas was going to do and what was in his heart. It said many times in the bible that Jesus new what was in peoples minds and hearts. So he tolled him to go do it already because he new he was going to anyhow. Judas had a choice but still betrayed him even after Jesus told him he new several times.

Answer 7

it does not matter whether [Judas] betrayed JESUS or not because Jesus knew his divine purpose all the way to the bitter end, in which humanity along played the main part in the crucifixion. Judas was just used as an "example" in the sinister plan to judge and execute our Lord & Shepard.

Answer 8

Jesus actually told Judas to go and do what must be done as was prophesied.

He was a traitor because he chose to betray. He sold Jesus out for 30 pieces of silver - the cost of a common slave in that time.

What do you receive for betraying Jesus?

Answer 9

Jesus knew Judas would betray him. Jesus did not betray Judas, but forgave him. (Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do). Only the others considered him a traitor because they did not understand the "big" picture, if you will. Only Jesus knew.

Answer 10

It is sin for Judas
It is glory for God
It is a confluence of different wills in action
some with evil intent and one with good

it is like the Joseph paradox... Joseph's brothers sold little Joe as a slave and it turned out that their virtual killin' of Joe was their salvation as Joe became Prince of Egypt and saved them from famine. The bro's meant it for evil to get back at Joe, God meant it for Good.. a confluence of wills.

It is the intent of the action. Judas was embittered. He thought the gal who poured the perfume worth a bazillion dollars was a major waste and Jesus was a loony for washing his apatites feet like the perfume lady and telling Judas to wash each other's feet was over the top. Judas wanted to cash in and way undervalued God in the process

God intended to glorify himself, showing mercy to all including a people yet unborn and the hand that held the hammer was virtually the hand of God, the one behind it in a sense and yet in another sense others were behind it but for evil

so it is sin for Judas as he did it out of disrespect, lack of love, put the love of money above Jesus
It is glory for God as he did it to showcase his mercy and save a people for himself