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Millstones, Judas Iscariot, and the Little Ones

Millstones, Judas Iscariot, and the Little Ones

Last updated on: March 20, 2017 at 5:03 am by nathanrinne

Millstones, Judas Iscariot, and the Little Ones 2017-03-20T05:03:42-06:00 nathanrinne

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“If anyone causes one of these little ones–those who believe in me–to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” — Matthew 18:6

Post by Nathan Rinne

As I hope you know, despite what you might hear from your Calvinist friends, Lutherans (and Luther) do not believe in double predestination. Even for Judas.

So, what should we think about Judas’ tragic demise? What lessons can we gather from it? The season of Lent is a good time to think about this. Years ago, I wrote this short piece, which I’m republishing at this time…

Thanks be to God that the Church is called to administer the His Word and Sacraments – and not millstones. With relief, we leave that job to God, in the mystery of His Providence. The Church does things like judge (like your dentist judges) – and sometimes even “hands members over to Satan” (!) – only so that they may be saved – to turn from their sin to Christ and His forgiveness, life, and salvation. In fact, we are told that God desires all people to be saved (I Tim 2:4, II Peter 3:9, Romans 11:32).

But when it comes to this salvation, what about Judas, one of the 12 disciples – chosen by Christ Himself (see John 6:70,71)?

That this is such a common question should not surprise, given his very tragic and sad story…

Lutherans believe that God’s Word is “efficacious“, meaning He creates faith in the hearts of people when and where He pleases. But, one may ask, if He really desires *all* people to be saved, why did God allow Judas, whom He chose, to damn himself? Why did He not turn him again (presuming Judas at some point believed), as He did, for example, King David? After all, one may argue, if I have no intention of acting to prevent a murderer from utterly deceiving, maiming and destroying the one I say I love – or if I have no intention of acting to save the one I say I love after they have destroyed themselves – when I am the only one who has the power to do so – what kind of lover would I be? (see I Cor. 13 here)

Really now, if Judas really was truly sorrowful and broken by his sins (“I have betrayed an innocent man!”) – as he certainly appeared to be – why did God allow those to whom he confessed to say “that’s your problem” (i.e. “its not our burden” – see Gal. 6:2)? And if none of those who sat in “Moses’ seat” (Mathew 23) were willing to lift a finger to offer Judas any words of comfort, why did the Lord not save Judas like he did Paul – by perhaps at least sending an angel?

Ah, the mysteries of God, who yes, really does desire all men – even the one Jesus called “a devil” – to be saved. In one sense, such questions: “Why are some saved and not others?”, cannot be answered. We can say that God gets all the glory when someone is saved, and that a man gets all the blame when he is not – but that is about all we can say with certainty. This is commonly called the “crux theologorum“, or the cross of the theologian.

But still, as ones who follow the One who said “Father forgive them….” must we not wonder about – and mourn for – this man, who God created in His image? Why… why then did God not just turn Judas to Himself – creating faith in him where and when He pleased? (like He restored Peter or converted Paul, the persecutor?)

I tread lightly here, but I suspect it is because God means for us to see Judas as a sign against spiritual apathy. When we sin, it is God’s Spirit who turns us again, convicting us, breaking us, and leading us to Christ (see John 16). We would not do this apart from Him. And yet – we dare not presume on such kindness and grace… God may not renew. While God’s redeeming grace is always free and unearned, there is indeed a “cutoff” point… we must all face our final judgment or the Final Judgment… Therefore, we disciples must be wise about how we walk, so a loss of faith does not result – we walk in danger all the way. Don’t say of sin “its something I want… yeah, I know its wrong, but…”. Instead, always huddle close by the Shepherd! Could Judas be a sign that God may indeed, at some point, give us over to the un-Life we, in our flesh, are prone to seek?

But do you say “Why?” again? Consider this: when we seek un-Life, we become the odor of death, devoid of the Gospel and its power. We rob God, rejecting His will for us and our neighbor. “God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you”, Paul asserts, echoing the Old Testament. Understandably, God desires that His people to point to Him. He desires that we be hot or cold, not lukewarm. “Why” again? Perhaps for the sake of our neighbor? He desires that they to be saved, for they, like us, are among “the whole world” for whom He died for, and is, in fact, already reconciled to. As those who are either “hot” or “cold”, we can be seen as “clearly with Him” or “clearly against Him” – for the sake of the world.

Judas was not damned because God didn’t deeply care for him. The Son of God wept over Jerusalem, and I believe He weeps for Judas – for He never desires the death – especially the eternal death – of the wicked. God takes no pleasure in the millstones administered for the sake of the children, but perhaps, He simply does what He needs to do.

So perhaps, for the sake of the children, God administers not only millstones, but Judas’ fate as well.

In which case, better to have never been born indeed. May this not be the case with us. Lord have mercy.

FIN

Images: Millstone: “This work has been released into the public domain by its author, Cdogsimmons” ; Judas: Basilique-cathédrale Notre-Dame de l’Annonciation de Moulins; vitrail néogothique du XIXe siècle. La Cène. Détail: Judas.

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