天父剪掉猶達斯 The Father Removed Judas

天父剪掉猶達斯（若15:1-8）

【若望福音】對出賣主耶穌的猶達斯，評價很低，把他說成是一個賊（若12:6）。不知是否出於憐憫還是抗拒權威，二十世紀的媒體，卻不斷地為猶達斯翻案，嘗試找不同的藉口，為他洗脫罪名。例如有學者說十二宗徒中，惟有猶達斯不是加里肋亞人，所以他受到其他十一人排擠；於是他要幹一番事業，出人頭地…；有電影說猶達斯想安排耶穌在公議會前行神蹟，宣佈自己是默西亞；或者猶達斯真的是貪財，又以為能行神蹟的耶穌有本領輕易脫險，透露耶穌的行藏便可賺到三十個銀幣，何樂而不為…等等。

其實，主耶穌何嘗沒有憐憫猶達斯呢？祂在十字架上求天父寬恕罪人的時候，又怎會遺漏了猶達斯呢？（路23:34）即使猶達斯在耶穌釘十字架前已經自縊身亡，未能在生前獲得罪赦，但耶穌不是說過，「信從我的，即使死了，仍要活著」嗎？（若11:25）猶達斯即使死了，也阻擋不了耶穌寬恕他，待末日復活後寬恕他也未遲！但同情憐憫猶達斯，總不可以歪曲真相！

耶穌在最後夜餐所說的「臨別贈言」，是猶達斯離開後纔開始說的（13:31），所以猶達斯沒有機會聽到這個「葡萄樹的比喻」。說不定他聽了以後，會打消賣主求榮的念頭，也未可知。為我們這些有機會賣主求榮的人，這比喻可收「當頭棒喝」之效。因為在比喻的開始，耶穌即時提出嚴厲的警告，這是非比尋常的舉動，大家聽到了沒有：「凡在我身上不結實的枝條，祂（天父）便剪掉」（15:2a）！猶達斯正是一個活生生的例子，我們還可以心存僥倖，為猶達斯洗脫罪名嗎？

葡萄樹和枝條，誰是中心，一目了然。我們領洗以後，真的決心跟隨耶穌，以祂為主，以祂為中心呢？還是依然故我，仍然注視自己的成就，自己的利益，以自我為中心呢？猶達斯愛耶穌，以耶穌為生命的中心，生活在耶穌內，結許多的果實；還是以自我為中心，結果「丟在外面而枯乾了」呢？我們不是天主，「應給天主的忿怒留有餘地」（羅12:19），把審判留給天主吧！
主啊！我的心在這裡，請拿去用吧。亞孟！
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：jesus-story.net

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The Father Removed Judas (John 15:1-8)

The gospel of John has a very low appraisal of Judas the traitor, calling him a thief (John 12:6). We don’t know whether it was out of being merciful or rebellious against authority, media in the 20^th century kept looking for arguments to exonerate Judas. For example, some scholars opine that Judas was not a Galilean among the Twelve. He was ostracized by the Eleven. Thus Judas needed to do something big … Some playwrights have plots in which Judas tried to arrange Jesus to work miracles before the Sanhedrin, declaring Himself the Messiah. Or Judas was really greedy. He thought that Jesus who was able to work miracles would escape easily. Revealing the location of Jesus would earn 30 silver pieces. So why not … etc.

In fact, would Lord Jesus not be merciful to Judas? When He was hanging on the cross, asking the Father to forgive sinners, would He forget Judas (Luke 23:34)? Even though Judas had hanged himself and died before Jesus was crucified, thus unable to obtain forgiveness while he was alive, Jesus had said earlier, “Whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live.” (John 11:25) So even had Judas died, it could not stop Jesus from forgiving him. On Judgment Day when everybody comes back to life, it shall not be too late to forgive him! Being merciful to Judas is no excuse to distort the truth!

Jesus made the Farewell Speech after Judas had left (13:31). Thus Judas missed the opportunity to listen to the parable of the vine. Had he listened to it, Judas would probably have forsaken the intention to betray Jesus. But for us who are potential traitors, this parable is an alarm. It is extraordinary that Jesus begins His parables in such a harsh tone. Have you not heard, “He (the Father) takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit” (15:2a)? Judas was such a vivid illustration. Do you still take the chance to defend Judas and acquit him?

It is obvious which the centre is, the vine or the branches. After we had been baptized, did we decide to follow Jesus, making Him our Lord, our centre? Or do we remain the same, still focus on our achievements and benefits, and are egocentric? Did Judas love Jesus, made Jesus the centre of his existence and bearing much fruit, or was he egocentric and consequently, “be thrown out like a branch and wither”? We’re not God. “Leave room for the wrath” (Romans 12:19). Let God pass the judgment!
Lord! My heart is here. Take it and use. Amen!