"Akeldama" (Field of Blood): Reading Acts with David Gooding

David Gooding (p.52ff) alerts us that the betrayal of Judas Iscariot, known by all to be one of Jesus's inner circle, could have cast an indelible slur on the credibility of Jesus and the gospel of his kingdom.

‘That’s religion for you. Doesn’t matter whether it’s the establishment or some fanatical little sect. When you get to the bottom of it, they’re all after the same thing in the end. Money. Big houses. Fields.’ 

‘You say Jesus is the Son of God, Israel’s Messiah, Saviour and Restorer, come to right our wrongs and to expose the priests’ corrupt abuse of their sacred office for money? How then did he not know any better than to choose a man like Judas to be one of his chief companions, representatives and, if you please, treasurer of his group (John 12:6)? He paid dearly for it in the end by his betrayal and death. But if he really was the Son of God, he ought to have known what Judas was like and not have chosen him. After all, if he didn’t know how to choose better officials than that, what hope would he have of restoring Israel and of bringing in the kingdom of God?’

But when considered in the light of Scripture, what had happened was not a blip in the Messiah's masterplan. On the contrary, it was already foreshadowed in the life and ministry of King David, the anointed one of Israel (cf. Psalm 69 & 109).

In particular, Gooding helpfully draws attention to the foreshadowing of Judas's betrayal in the betrayal of King David by his trusted advisor Ahithophel. Ahithophel "advised Absalom how David could best be tracked down and destroyed (2 Sam 17:1–4), in the same way as Judas advised the high priest how Jesus could be found and arrested" (p.55). Indeed, one can go further than Gooding in drawing further comparison (and contrast) between Ahithophel's betrayal and that of Judas:

• Ahithopel's counsel was ultimately rejected by Absalom, for "the LORD had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom" (2 Samuel 17:14). Upon hearing his advice went unheeded, he hung himself and died (1 Samuel 17:23).
• On the other hand, Judas's counsel was received by the Jewish authorities, for it was part and parcel of God's plan: "the Scripture had to be fulfilled" (Acts 1:16). Upon realising his betrayal had succeeded, ironically, Judas hung himself, and died an awful death (Acts 1:18). 

This by no means justify Judas's betrayal of his Lord (Luke 22:22). Rather, Gooding points out (p.57) :

On the other hand, looking back from the event to the prototypical pattern, it is clear that the event fitted the pattern, hand in glove. Then see what that implies! The fact that one of the apostles whom our Lord himself had chosen had defected and betrayed the Lord was not a weakness in the apostles’ case, undermining the claim that Jesus was the Messiah promised by the Old Testament prophets and foreshadowed in its histories and poetry. The very opposite! It strengthened it.

May we indeed be strengthened in our faith in our Redeemer's love, and in our confidence of testify and boast of indescribable grace to all who would believe in his name.