I dug this reflection regarding Judas and his role in the crucifixion out of an old journal of mine.
1. No new thoughts about Judas except reading Bible at church tonight, my lines in the play [it was a Maundy Thursday service where 13 of us re-enacted the Last Supper]were Judas’ from the last supper as in scripture, no more or less. (Note: I had carried the idea from a similar church ‘play’ in high school that I was somehow betraying Jesus as Judas did.)
2. Insight from Minister’s Palm Sunday Sermon I got at First Century meeting on May 29th: I was told that Jesus did go to the dark side and rescue Judas and took him to the light. Judas had a role to play which he could not avoid. To Jesus, Judas was the 1st of the lost sheep that he went for after the 99 were safeguarded. Judas is now at rest in my mind. This issue is resolved.
I give you credit: if I were young and had to be in a Passion play, I think it would be tough playing Judas. Also, I may not agree, but it’s really nice of you to give Judas the benefit of the doubt. My take: I think Judas had himself in what he may have thought was a win-win position: if Jesus was the Messiah, he would be the guy who got Jesus to reveal Himself as such; if not, he would be a hero for exposing a false Messiah. It backfired. I think there was a lack of true contrition for what he’d done. The Sanhedrin had no respect for him, he was a traitor in the eyes of those who loved Jesus, and was ruined. Was he sorry about himself, or about what he did to Jesus? Of he were sorry for the right reasons, I believe Jesus would have forgiven him for the betrayal, the embezzling and his suicide as well. He despaired and didn’t ask for forgiveness, at least not for the right reasons... Jesus said he would have been better off if he’d never been born... Just my thoughts...
I would hope that Judas would have somehow made it; but the FACTS are that we just do not know from Scripture his spiritual condition at death.
We DO know that Jesus said if your eye or hand causses you to sin; cut it off.
What if your whole body causes you to sin?