Part of a continuing series featuring a post of theology from my favorite professor"Is Judas the betrayer of Jesus also the unbeliever who sells his soul for thirty pieces of silver? Is the sudden and tragic death of Judas by his own hand a just punishment for his sin of unbelief? Does Judas forfeit all that belonged to him as a follower and disciple of Jesus through that single act?
"If we answer yes to these questions, then what comfort and hope will we have in our darkest moments when unbelief, if not betrayal, comes down like an iron curtain between us and God? Does dialogue with God depend upon our faith, or upon HIs coming to us in the darkness and solitude of even our unbelief? What was never verbalized between Judas and Jesus was written by John: "By this we shall know that we are of the truth, and reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything" (1 John 3:19-20).
"The reconciliation between Jesus and Judas is at least possible from the perspective of the resurrection of Christ, for death no longer has the power to sever humanity from the bond of God's choice through Christ. The resurrection of Jesus Christ means that He is the "first-born of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth" (Revelation 1:5). Death no longer determines the fate and destiny of any human person. Our destiny is finally determined by God, not by our sin nor the consequence of that sin.
"Questions about the fate of those who die without coming to know during their lifetime that Jesus died and was raised for them must not be allowed to displace this truth: death as the enemy of all persons has been overcome in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. There are many ways of dying, but only one kind of death. And the power of this death over the fate of humankind has been nullified through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.
"This is not a declaration of universal salvation outside of personal knowledge of Jesus Christ. However, it is an assurance that God, not death, determines the fate of the living.
"God does not will "that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). Because of Christ, death is no longer an obstacle to God's intention to save those who are perishing. We entrust the fate of all who die into the hands of the God who raised Jesus from the dead, and before whom all live and die.
"This is good news to those who have the opportunity to hear and believe while still living. "God seeks what has been driven away" (Ecclesiastes 3:15).The gospel according to Judas reminds us that there is always an invitation that death cannot remove: Come home - all is forgiven!"
- Ray S. Anderson "The Gospel According to Jesus" p. 81-82 (NavPress)
My Reflection: In class, Dr. Anderson would invariably share insights like these that he wrestled with in real-life not only as theologian, but also as pastor of a local church. These thoughts emerged for him in responses to people dying, either at their own hands or presumably without knowing Christ. Providing comfort to the family of the deceased or facing a funeral to officiate, he would ponder what his response would be. I have borrowed and integrated my own approach to such situations praying for even a small measure of the grace and hope I have found in Ray's own experience, teaching, and ministry.
As such, all funerals I officiate are as a minister of the gospel of Christ, and therefore "Christian" funerals. Regardless of the faith or lack of faith of the deceased, I affirm the hope made real in Christ who has overcome death. But this does not mean "I put everyone in heaven." Whenever I officiate the funeral of someone who was an obvious follower of Jesus, I say we have full assurance through the Spirit that the person enjoys eternal life with God. When the life of the person was more ambiguous, but a known confession of faith occurred at some point in their life, I nevertheless uphold that decision and give the person the benefit of the doubt. But when a person neither confessed their faith in Christ nor displayed any evidence of being a believer, I don't put them in heaven, but neither do I put them in hell. This is where Dr. Anderson's theology is so helpful. The destiny of people is not mine to decide nor pronounce outside the assurance we find in Scripture of those found "in Christ." Instead, as Anderson says, because of the resurrection of Jesus, death is no longer the determiner of our fate, Christ is. It is He who will determine the fate of all who die. As he would put it in class, there are still decisions to be made after death, and Jesus will make them! Because Jesus is far more compassionate, merciful, and just than any of us could ever be, this is a real hope for those swimming in the despair of traditional constructs in which death seals our fate. On the flip side, if Jesus' stories are any indication, I think many will be surprised in the end by his decisions. Some will be there who had no idea, while others won't be who simply assumed and never doubted (Luke 14:15-24, Matthew 25:31-46). In the end, "We entrust the fate of all who die into the hands of the God who raised Jesus from the dead, and before whom all live and die." Including ourselves.
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