Could Even Judas Have Been Forgiven? Series

Monday of Holy Week 2025

St. John the Evangelist probably had three or four decades or more to contemplate the life and fate of his fellow disciple, Judas Iscariot. He then wrote his clear and crisp description of the man’s moral character. The incident described Mary of Bethany ministering to the Lord on the sixth day before Passover, that great Passover when Jesus would give His life for the life of the world. The summation: “Judas was a thief and cared nothing for the poor.” Mary of Bethany had taken a costly vessel of spikenard, an aromatic oil, very special, and poured all of it on Jesus. Jesus interpreted the action as Mary’s gift to Him before His execution. Judas interpreted it as a waste of funds that could have been used for the many destitute they encountered. Ultimately we’ll not know in this life just why Judas betrayed his loving Master to the authorities, but we do know that when he recognized the gravity of his sin, he tried to give back the money given him by the Caiphas gang, and then went out to hang himself.

John, who clearly had one or more friends aware of what was going on among the Jewish elite and got information from them, tells us that the plot to kill Jesus was well along in the days before Passover. The raising of Lazarus from three days after his death was the final nail in the coffin. Caiphas and the other leaders heard about more and more of their reliable donors and supporters going out to see Jesus and Lazarus. They could see their power and influence trickling away, and they feared the future. So they decided that not only Jesus, but also Lazarus, had to die.

The Church gives us one of the most revealing paragraphs from the prophet Isaiah to set up Holy Week. It is so predictive of what happened to our Lord that it has long been read at this time of year in our worship. God Himself, at the Baptism and Transfiguration, called Jesus His “chosen” in whom He delights. God’s Spirit descended on Him at the Jordan. Jesus was not known for yelling, even at His enemies. The bruised reeds who came to Him with leprosy, blindness, severe orthopedic deformities, speech or hearing problems were healed, not abused. He criticized the systemic abuse of the poor, showing His dedication to justice. He never sinned, was a model of righteousness. He was the Messiah and Son of God. That should have been obvious to Judas and everyone else who had eyes wide open.

One question we might ask ourselves, something you may not have thought about before. Did Judas have to lose hope? On the third day after Jesus died, when the apostles gathered in the Upper Room, would there have been room for Judas Iscariot? He was, after all, one of the Twelve, chosen by Christ.

Except for the money Judas got, which he ultimately discarded, was his betrayal any worse than the other apostles who fled after Jesus was arrested? Jesus forgave Simon Peter, the man who denied even knowing Jesus not once or twice, but three times. Could Jesus have forgiven Judas, and empowered him with the Holy Spirit to forgive sins, if the traitor had repented of his crime? Of course He could have done that. He is the embodiment of the hesed, loving compassion, of the Blessed Trinity. Judas could have gone out with his story just as Peter did, but he chose the path of despair.

Our psalm today also seems written about Jesus and His followers. Evildoers assailed Him all the way to the cross, which He accepted without reservation, complaint or curse. He believed in His ultimate vindication and victory and was not disappointed when the cross led to His resurrection, ascension, and enthronement in the honor and power of the Blessed Trinity. So should we all when we are reviled and persecuted. All of this is in the plan of Almighty God, blessed be His Name.