Probably because it’s such a compelling aspect to the salvation narrative–or perhaps, deviation from it, might be more accurate. Christ spent 3 years preaching forgiveness, and declaring and demonstrating God’s infinite mercy–e.g.–the Prodigal Son parable, the episode involving the harlot ("…let he that is without sin cast the first stone"), the thief on the cross, “…Father forgive them, for they know not what they do…”
…and then there’s Judas, standing as an outlier, as an afront to all of this–not to mention, the inevitable juxtaposition of his case, vs. St. Peter, who has denied him 3x.
“…it would be better for this one [the one who betrays the son of man], never been born”.
That’s pretty powerful language.
While it’s true that the Gospels don’t expressly tell us why it would be better that he had never been born–thus perhaps leaving it to be discerned by the faithful (or the Church, if you prefer)–yet, it does leave us with a pretty strong suggestion as to his final fate. *** After all, if Judas could have made it to heaven, then how pray tell could it ever be said that it would be better for him that he had never been born??? ***What possible disgrace, humiliation, pain, suffering, challenge, disaster, or what have you, could anyone possibly endure, that would render it “better that [they] never be born”, if after their brief, wink-of-an-eye temporal life…they were rewarded with eternal life in Heaven, with God???
Personally, I can’t reconcile those 2.
IMO, Judas is a sympathetic character. He commits a grave error due to a grave lapse of judgment–AFTER having served Christ faithfully for 3 years (presumably). He regrets his error almost immediately–or at least shortly–afterwards, when he starts to realize the consequences of his lapse of judgment–or just flat out sin (no need to sugar coat things). Yet notwithstanding the totality of the circumstances/his life…, “…it would be better that he had never been born”.
Presumably the fact that Judas took his own life stands for the proposition that his fatal sin was due to the failure of his faith–not the betrayal itself–but again, this is not spelled out in the Gospels–leaving it as mostly conjecture–however apparent it may be. For my part, I can only guess that the Judas episode stands as a testament to the reality of Hell, and the severity and gravity of Christ’s teachings.
But the bottom line, with all due respect, the challenge people find regarding Judas, oughtn’t be amusing; it should be respected, and contemplated with the sincerest and gravest of prayer–for who amongst us, could dare judge even Judas?
Imho, it is one of the most challenging episodes in all of the Gospels. The ‘good thief,’ ‘the prodigal son’, ‘the Harlot’, the petition for forgiveness of his executioners, St. Peter…make sense. They are all consistent with Christ’s message of forgiveness, and infinite mercy–and even more consistent with the greater salvation narrative (captured so succinctly by John 3:16)…
…then there’s Judas.
So much more than just a speed bump along the way…
Rather, a significant detour in the salvation narrative, that demands of even the most seasoned and versed theologian, cause to stop and ponder…and ponder very hard.
Jmho/fwiw.
