"It is not unusual to hear people expressing sympathy for Judas. They feel he was given an unfair deal in his lifetime and has had unfair press ever since. 'After all,' they say, 'if Jesus had to die, somebody had to betray him. So why blame Judas? He was but the tool of providence, the victim of predestination.' Well, the biblical narrative certainly indicates that Jesus foreknew the identity of his betrayer. (John 6:64,71; 13:11) and referred to him as 'doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled' (John 17:12; cf. Acts 1:15-17, 25). It is also true that Judas did what he did only after Satan first 'prompted' him and then actually 'entered into him' (John 13:2, 27; cf. Luke 22:3).
Nevertheless, none of this exonerates Judas. He might be held responsible for what he did, having no doubt plotted it for some time previously. The fact that his betrayal was foretold in Scripture does not mean he was not a free agent, any more than the Old Testament predictions of the death of Jesus mean that he did not die voluntarily. So Luke referred later to his 'wickedness' (Acts 1:18). However strong the Satanic influences on him were, there must have been a time when he opened himself to them. Jesus seems clearly to have regarded him as responsible for his actions, for even at the last minute in the upper room he made a final appeal to him by dipping a piece of bread in the dish and giving it to him (John 13:25-30). But Judas rejected Jesus' appeal, and his betrayal has always seemed the more odious because it was a flagrant breach of hospitality. In this it fulfilled another Scripture which said, 'Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me' (Psalm 41:9). Judas's ultimate cynicism was to choose to betray his Master with a kiss, using this sign of friendship as a means to destroy it. So Jesus affirmed his guilt, saying, 'Woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born' (Mark 14:21). Not only did Jesus thus condemn him, but Judas came in the end to condemn himself. He acknowledged his crime in betraying innocent blood, returned the money for which he had sold Jesus and committed suicide. Doubtless he was seized more with remorse than repentance, but at least he confessed his guilt." - pgs 58-59
- John R. W. Stott
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