Peter and Judas: Part Two

Introduction
In the first part of this soon-to-be series, we took a look at some comparisons between Judas - insert boo here - and Peter - insert cheer here. It seems that the overwhelming view of these two men is characterized in exactly the same way as how I just presented them. Judas is hated and Peter beloved. Yet, I believe that the case for both men is not as cut and dry as we try to make it, with us having the benefit of hindsight. If we were to zoom back to their time, would we be so sure of the outcome?

One possible KEY difference
John 13:27 reads, "After he (Judas) received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, "Do quickly what you are going to do" (NRSV). Similarly, "Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve" (Luke 22:3, NRSV). Luke 22:31 states, "Simon, Simon (Peter), listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you (Peter), when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers" (NRSV). These accounts point out one similarity and one difference between Judas and Peter. All of the disciples were tempted, Peter included, in a spiritual way to abandon Jesus in crunch time. However, Satan only seems to be able to tempt Peter. John and Luke both tell us that Satan actually entered into Judas. What a difference!
First of all, what must Judas's spiritual condition have been like in order to have been able to have been possessed? Second, what must Peter's have been like if he wasn't possessed? This might be the very answer to the overriding question about Judas. While demonic possession is mentioned extensively in the gospels, save for John, in no other case is it stated that Satan entered into someone directly. By the way, as a side note, I've often wondered how someone, particularly a Christian, could think that Satan doesn't exist. He seems to be very real in the gospels!
It would almost be fair to say that Judas wasn't fully under his control during the betrayal. We're not told when or if Satan left Judas, either. Possibly, just speculation here, but perhaps Judas acted under his own power in Matthew 27, when it is stated that Judas repents and seeks to take back the silver to the priests.

Back to Matthew 27:3-4 for a moment
In this text, as mentioned above and in part one, Judas is spoken about as being repentant for his actions. He feels, rightfully, culpability for his role in the betrayal of Jesus and seeks at least some form of restitution for his actions. It should be noted that perhaps Judas was acting in response to Deuteronomy 27:25, which called for a curse to put upon anyone who betrayed innocent blood for money. This is certainly a possibility as Judas specifically mentions that he betrayed innocent blood. So once again, we must notice here that Judas possesses at least a modicum of repentance - at least as much as Peter, perhaps even more.

Getting it
Another issue that has been raised throughout the interactions based on part one is the idea that somehow Peter understood the gravity of his situation more so than Judas did. Honestly, I can't really find much scriptural basis for this. I do tend to agree that in the long run Peter came to understand more than Judas did. Yet, in the immediate days of both Christ's death and resurrection, this doesn't seem to be completely accurate.We know from the text in Matthew 27:5 that Judas went and hanged himself after being unable to cope with his guilt. Later in Acts 1:18-20, Peter himself explains that scripture had to be fulfilled in regards to Judas. We may then ascertain that while Judas didn't get the concept of Jesus as a suffering messiah, he also is acting under direct satanic possession, yet all the while under God's provincial knowledge, hence the fulfillment of prophecy.
But before we slap Peter on the back, we need to do a Lee Corso (college football guru) - "Not so fast, my friend". Peter was obviously slow in some areas of acceptance of Christ. While he is applauded by Christ for acknowledging him as Lord, he is in the next moment HARSHLY rebuked - the get behind me, Satan quote of Matthew 16:23. Additionally, it must be noted that the account of Peter's threefold restoration in John 21 is the THIRD time that Jesus appears to Peter after the resurrection. Three times! John 20:19 and 26 account for the first two times. Additionally, it is recorded that Thomas - the doubting Thomas - is in fact restored BEFORE Peter. The man who said he'd only believe if he touched Jesus is restored prior to Peter. Is this to imply that unbelief is less of a sin than denial?In any way that you look at it, Peter just doesn't seem to grasp the situation. He never ACTIVELY seeks forgiveness and restoration. It sort of comes to him. Looking at the threefold restoration, some debate has arisen about the language that is used during the exchange.
It may be postulated that Jesus in both the first and second instances of "Do you love me?" is using a higher form of love, in the Greek text, than is Peter. Only in the third statement are both words for love the same. Does this imply that Peter didn't quite get it? Furthermore, does this show that Christ was willing to work with Peter, so to speak? I seem to have more questions than answers on this.

Conclusion
What I want to point out in this second part is that although we are quick to dismiss Judas as hellbound and clueless, the Bible itself paints a slightly different picture. Likewise, while we love to see that Peter is forgiven and restored, we tend to miss out on the fact that he was fairly slow in accepting that Jesus had to and needed to suffer as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. We may WISH to see Peter as one who was forgiven, like us, so we readily identify with him; foibles and all. Yet, why are we so quick to distance ourselves from Judas? Is it because he couldn't absorb his guilt and merely was repentant and not truly desiring of forgiveness? Or is it because, as Lora Mae and others commented, it's hard - and even painful to identify with Judas in any way? I'll continue this next post, but I'd really love to hear your take on these issues. Thanks for reading and bringing up valuable points and comments! Have a blessed day!