Jesus loves the unlovable

 JESUS LOVES THE UNLOVABLE

“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.”

LUKE 6.32

He [Judas] approached Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

LUKE 22.47–48

Based on JOHN 13:1–30

Because God loves justice, He must hate wickedness. But how does this square with the love of Jesus?

The writer of Proverbs lists seven things that God hates, and Judas Iscariot embodies as least four of them (Prov 6.16–19).

We don’t know many details about Judas, but as part of the Twelve, he had made a commitment to follow Jesus, he had received power and authority to preach and perform miracles, he had walked with Jesus, watched His miracles, and listened to His teachings. To onlookers, Judas was one of the chosen.

And indeed he was. Because Jesus chose to love Judas.

Even though Jesus knew from the beginning that Judas would betray Him, He still invited Judas to be with Him and be part of His ministry. Jesus gave him the same opportunities as the others to choose life and obedience. Jesus protected Judas and kept him safe from harm, up to the moment Judas rejected and betrayed Him.

In John 12.1–8, we see a dark foreshadowing when Judas criticises Mary’s expensive anointing of Jesus the week before His death. He scoffs at such an outlandish offering, the little flask of perfume would have cost a year’s salary — the equivalent of £20,000 in our day. In Judas’s estimation, Jesus is not worth such a costly display of affection. In fact, Judas sells Jesus for a fraction of the cost, just four month’s wages — the redemption price for a slave.

Judas didn’t treasure Jesus. And yet, Jesus loved him.

On the last night, in the most intimate setting around the Passover meal, Jesus loved Judas to the very end. Washing the feet of His betrayer was beyond human love. It could only be divine. But it came at great cost.

Jesus was not unaffected by Judas’s intentions, “Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, ‘Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me’” (Jn 13.21). He declared beforehand the tragedy that would follow to reassure His disciples that He was still in control. But He was troubled.

“Who is it?” The disciples wanted to know. They were deeply troubled. Surely none of the men in their tight band of disciples would be capable of such a heinous crime.

Dipping the paschal bread, Jesus offered it to Judas, who was likely seated next to Him in a place of honour. Feeding another person bread was both an intimate act of friendship and an open display of honour. As Jesus was holding out the piece of bread, certainly Judas felt His penetrating gaze offering him one last chance to turn from his wicked plans and cling to Jesus for forgiveness and life. He had just heard Jesus’ words. He still had a choice to repent.

Yet he took hold of the bread, and in that moment, Satan entered into him.

How Jesus’ heart must have broken at Judas’s choice!

Yet He did not rebuke him, nor lash out in anger, nor seek revenge, but simply told him to leave, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” They both knew what He was talking about, though none of the others understood. And in this intimate exchange, Jesus spared Judas public humiliation, showing incredible love.

Even when Judas walked up to Jesus to betray Him with the most intimate expression of love — a kiss — Jesus called him His friend. It’s a heart-wrenching scene. “Judas,” Jesus prods, “are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” (Lk 22.48). Hear Jesus’ sorrow in His words. Hear His love shattered by rejection.

Would Jesus have forgiven Judas even at this point? Without a doubt. Look no further than Saul’s conversion to see that no sin is too hideous for Jesus to pardon for those who come to Him. Jesus’ perfect love extends to the unlovable, but will never force acceptance. Love that does not allow rejection is no love at all — it is dictatorial adulation. And that is not our Jesus. Though He deserves the worship of all and commands the praise of angels, He invites us to respond in love of our own free will.

Prayer 

Lord Jesus, Oh, how great is Your love! That while I was unlovable, Your love sought me still. Thank You that You love me not because of my devotion to You, but apart from my response to You. Help me love those hard to love in my life with the love You Yourself have shown me. 

In Jesus’s name, Amen.

If you want to read more 

Exo 21.32, Psa 41.9, 89.14, Prov 6.16–19, Mt 26.48–50, Lk 22.1–7, 17.12–19, Rom 5.10