I think of the need to commiserate with Judas, to feel his desperation and confusion about what the Christ had promised. John's 6th chapter talks about how many found Christ's words concerning his sacrifice in blood and flesh to be too difficult, and that many left because of the obstacle this teaching posed. But Judas stayed. He heard Christ promise that He would give his flesh for others to eat, and certainly Judas was horrified and dumbfounded by what He could have meant. But Judas stayed.
It doesn't seem that Judas had a lack of love for Christ, but a lack of hope. Thomas was certainly fatalistic, as well. He commented that the Apostles should follow Christ up to Jerusalem in order to die with him. But what about Judas? Thomas was uncertain about the Resurrection, but Thomas' hope made possible his statement of faith, calling Christ his LORD and his God. Judas' lack of hope led to his self-destruction, and the betrayal of his LORD and his God.
When hope is lost, the ability to accept difficulties from God makes us stiff, recalcitrant to grace. When hope is lost, a dying Christ cannot be raised. When hope is lost, it becomes impossible to accept that Christ could give His flesh for h life of the world.
Our faith and our happiness in Christ depends on our hope, always holding on to the promises of Christ, knowing that this God who loved us and redeemed us is infinitely worthy of our trust.
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