[phoenix_fire]

Quote by: Technosoul Judas was the one who offered the Lamb as the burnt offering for the rest of us. Who else among men was willing to offer the spotless lamb to be sacraficed? None of them. Should we not be thankful to Judas for bringing the Lamb to the alter? Do any of you have actual scriptures that speak directly about the motives of Judas? Other then a unfounded report that he got paid some silver coins being offered as reward money.

If you read the Gospels, you will see that all along, the priests intended to kill Jesus. They would have found a way with or without Judas. The thing about Judas that makes his betrayal particularly ghastly is that he was Jesus' friend. He had heard everything Jesus taught. He had been extremely priviledged among men to have the company and love and instruction of the Son of God. And knowing and experiencing all of this, he rejected it all, turned against Jesus and the other disciples, and betrayed them. Jesus says clearly in the verse I cited above that this man was in for it bad. He would not be receiving a hero's welcome. He was the tool of the devil. Period. Thanking him for salvation would be like thanking Hitler for the technological innovations that came out of WWII. You can't in your right mind bring yourself to do it.