Jesus Told Me
Judas seems to be the strong one. Except for one thing.
Last year the National Geographic Society published an ancient Egyptian text called The Gospel of Judas, translated from a leather bound copy discovered in an Egyptian tomb in the 1970’s. In it, Judas apparently makes the claim that Jesus gave Judas direct instructions to kill him. That’s because Jesus wanted to escape his burdensome, evil body and let his perfect, pure soul meet its potential.
Doesn’t really line up with anything else in all of the Scriptures, does it? That’s why you won’t find The Gospel of Judas in your Bible today. As a matter of fact, you’ll find the opposite. Jesus didn’t tell Judas to kill him, the devil did. And Judas is no hero. Peter, on the other hand, now there’s a hero.
Sad to say, that’s not how many people see it. Christian author Eugene Peterson points out that among the apostles the only absolutely stunning success story was Judas (a success as defined by what normally impresses people). Judas was successful both financially and politically – he cleverly made arrangements to manage the checking account of the apostles, and he skillfully manipulated the political power brokers of the day to help him get what he wanted.
And Peter, well, what can you say about a man who, at the moment Jesus needs him the most, swears he doesn’t know the man? What kind of failure is a person with whom Jesus walks on water, but that person can’t handle the dreadful weather and begins to sink, swallowing pride and sea water? Peter stumbled and bumbled with words at critical events in the life of Jesus like the Transfiguration and always spoke before he thought, tossing out bold proclamations that sound as synthetic as tabloid headlines. “Jesus, I will never leave you!” Yeah, right.
Judas seems to be the strong one.
Except for one thing. The grace of Jesus Christ.
Jesus called Judas with that grace – again and again – imploring him to stop, inviting him to repent. “One of you will betray me … Judas, why are you doing this? I am your Savior. I forgive even you.” But Judas was too strong for Jesus. A self-made man.
Jesus called Peter with that same grace. Called him “Cephas,” which also means “Peter” which also means “rock” which implies strength and certainty. Jesus told the women on Easter morning to announce his resurrection to all the apostles, and especially Peter. Jesus inquired of Peter on the shores of Galilee if Peter loved him, and then told Peter to feed his lambs and sheep.
With the passing of time the passing of judgment on these two apostles has reversed. Judas is now a keyword for betrayal. Peter is an honored name.
All because Jesus told Peter that’s how it would be. And Peter, desperately discovering he wasn’t a self-made man, believed it.
PRAYER: Help me define success in your terms, God, and not my own, not those forced on me by my friends and family, and not those manipulating my mindset to be shaped by popular opinion. When I doubt, let such doubts be in me and my ability to do what you ask, and when I believe, let my faith find its mark in you and your words. With your forgiving and renewing love, turn my sinful mistakes into new paths of opportunity to believe, to serve, and to succeed. Amen.