The whole “betrayal and passion” story, at least in most traditions, passed us by a couple weeks ago. So what I’m going to write about right now might seem a little out of place.

I’m going to write about Judas.

I think it’s a safe bet that most Christians have heard about Judas, but just in case: Judas was one of the apostles, who betrayed Jesus to the Chief Priests and the Elders. Judas was to identify Jesus to them by kissing him. He did, and Jesus was arrested. It’s the lead-up to the passion and the resurrection.

We always focus, perhaps rightly, on Judas as the traitor. But there was more to Judas than just that. The New Testament mentions Judas 33 times. Judas was an apostle.

He was one of the twelve who devoted their lives, left their families and sacrificed their careers to follow Jesus. Judas, as one of the twelve, was one of the twelve people on earth at the time most dedicated to the teachings of the Christ.

I want you to imagine a big room. In that room is every Christian on earth today. Now, I want you to walk through that room and pull aside the twelve most devoted. The people who have made sacrifices for Christ. The people who have listened to and digested Christ’s teachings. The people who have known Jesus most presently in their lives.

I know it can’t be done in your lifetime or theirs. But this is your imagination, remember? Pretend its possible.

OK, you have the earth’s twelve most devoted Christians? Good. From them, pick one man.

That man is Judas Iscariot.

Which leaves me to wonder—how could a man who had so devoted his life to The Way, who had known Jesus in the flesh, have betrayed him. And, as much as I might hate to hear it, I think I know the answer.

Because you and I and billions of Christians nationwide, acting in Jesus’ name, betray him every day. Sure, I can point out examples—from the molestation of children, to the hypocrisy and anger of sites like GodHatesAmerica.com and BibleBelievers.com, to the rationalization of our own selfish behaviors in his name.

Our betrayals come every time we forget to “love our neighbor as ourselves”. Our betrayals often, like Judas’ betrayal, come dressed up as Christian practice. We too often disguise our expressions of selfishness as expressions of love for Christ—but they are not truly loving, or sincere, or honorable to His legacy. They are betrayals of His identity.

But there is hope. Judas’ fault—his betrayal of Jesus—ultimately led to the crucifixion, and the death of Jesus. But God’s plan brought, out of that betrayal and death, the resurrection, which we celebrated a few weeks ago, and which many liturgical churches even continue to celebrate. God used Judas’ faults to bring about the ultimate absolution of all mankind.

C.S. Lewis once said that “Badness is only spoiled goodness.” Judas was clearly at fault for his misdeeds, as we are for ours. But I do believe that God’s plan can harness even our greatest betrayals of His identity. He used Judas to, through a long series of events, bring about the salvation of all mankind.

And I believe that, if we persevere in honesty and sincerity, seeking improvement, God can in time use even our faults to the benefit of ourselves, each other, and even the world.

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