So much more than meets the eye

Jesus went up to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer with God. When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called a Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. (Luke 6: 13-17)


Twelve they were, twelve men who were chosen as the intimate companions of Christ. Twelve men who gave up everything they knew to follow Him. Judas Iscariot, however, is always set apart from the others, as should be. Yet this brings up questions, questions which vary well may never be answered. Was he any less than the others? In faith, I say that he was. One can maintain that if Judas did believe Jesus to be the Christ then he would never have handed Him over. Did Judas then become the traitor because he, at least at first, thought himself to be loyal?

"Jesus! You've started to believe the things they say of you, you really do believe this talk of God is true. And all the good you've done will soon be swept away. You've begun to matter more than the things you say"

"Why are we the prophets? Why are we the ones? Who see the sad solution, know what must be done? I have no thought at all of my own reward. I really didn't come here of my own accord. Just don't say I'm Damned for all time!"

"You sad pathetic man - see where you've brought us to. Our ideals die around us and all because of you. But the saddest cut of all -Someone has to turn you in, like a common criminal, like a wounded animal"