Judas Iscariot, John Barnes, Fulfilment of the Prophecy and That Famous Goal

Judas Iscariot remains a very controversial individual within religious circles. It may not be so far-fetched to state that non-committed Christians or religious people of other faiths may even know something about him. One can go as far as to state that he is as famous as Jesus Christ. The synoptic gospels and John''s gospel tell us he was one of the twelve disciples, hand-picked by Jesus himself. He was also one of the disciples sent out with spiritual powers to...
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Judas Iscariot remains a very controversial individual within religious circles.
It may not be so far-fetched to state that non-committed Christians or religious people of other faiths may even know something about him. One can go as far as to state that he is as famous as Jesus Christ.
The synoptic gospels and John''s gospel tell us he was one of the twelve disciples, hand-picked by Jesus himself.
He was also one of the disciples sent out with spiritual powers to heal and above all cleanse people of their evil spirits; "Mission of the twelve", "Mission of the Seventy".
We also learn that he remained a disciple until he committed suicide after the betrayal went horribly wrong and he repented.
John''s gospel tells us Jesus KNEW Judas Iscariot was a devil right from the beginning, but still allowed him to remain as one of his disciples!
Judas Iscariot not only remained as a disciple till he killed himself, Jesus made him his Chancellor of the Exchequer-"He kept the bag".
Again, we must ask why.
Then comes Jesus'' own prophecy about his impending death; "The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the son of man is betrayed! It had been good for that man if he had not been born."

The effect/fulfilment of that prophetic pronouncement has been with humankind since then.
Judas Iscariot realised he had made an awful mistake, was honest enough to admit it-: "I have sinned..........."Matthew chapter 27 verse 4 and imposed the ultimate punishment on himself.

Jesus rather felt sorry for that person; that person being Judas Iscariot.
Jesus saw his suffering and death as the route he had to travel to fulfil the prophecy.
But, how was the prophecy going to be fulfilled?
The Holy Bible does not tell us how!
Caiaphas, the Jewish High Priest spoke and made it clear Jesus must die. But that was to save Jews from any torture at the hands of the Roman Masters.
It was not to fulfil the Messianic prophecy!

At a point during the eating of the Last Supper, Jesus said to Judas Iscariot; ",that thou doest, do quickly", a statement the other disciples gave various interpretations to.
It becomes very necessary for us to ask why Judas Iscariot did what he did.
Why did Judas Iscariot betray his master to the Religious leaders, his master''s fiercest Religious opponents; an abhorrent act which led to Jesus'' suffering and death. (The resurrection is another point)

But then, we come across a caveat; Jesus'' death had been prophesied, foretold.
Therefore what Judas Iscariot did was in order, that is to say, a fulfilment of an ancient Religious prophecy!
Wasn''t it?
If that was the case, and it was, why vilify him?
Do we condemn him or do we not condemn him?
Do we have to heap praises on him for having been the messenger whose act brought about the fulfilment of the Divine prophecy?
Wasn''t it?
A supposedly wicked act by a disciple had in its wake the fulfilment of the Divine prophecy!
That is why the story about Jesus and his works will never be complete without the mention of Judas Iscariot, the disciple whose betrayal indirectly led to the fulfilment of the Divine prophecy.
Can Christendom reject/condemn Judas Iscariot?
"Jesus died for you"
"Your sins are forgiven".
Those two are some of the very popular statements you hear during Christian Church Services.
But, the realization, fulfilment came about after a condemnatory act by an individual, a disciple, namely, Judas Iscariot!
Can Judas Iscariot be condemned when Christians realise his betrayal led to the fulfilment of the Divine prophecy?

John Barnes is an internationally recognised footballer who played for Watford Football Club, Liverpool and Newcastle.
John Barnes also played for England!
So what has Judas Iscariot''s act got anything to do with John Barnes'' achievement on the field of play?
That is the interesting, unusual analogy.