The Gospel of Judas is, much like the Gospel of Mary, canon
divergent. I was surprised by its portrayal of Jesus as a figure who is much more
distant from his disciples than I imagined that he might have been in the
accepted bible. Jesus laughs at his disciples’ attempts to pray and tells them
that they are not part of the “holy generation” that will be able to enter
heaven. It also shows Judas as Jesus’s main confidant (in contrast to the
Gospel of Mary, in which Mary herself fills this role) and true best friend to
the very end of his life.
The main difference between the Gospel of Judas and the bible
is that, in his gospel, Judas acts on Jesus’s orders when he turns him over to
the Romans rather than betraying him. This is a huge bombshell; in history, Judas
is “the betrayer,” the practical stereotype of a sinner. It is widely accepted
that he betrayed Jesus and was sent to Hell as a result. Even I know that. If
this gospel were to come to light, it would have a profound effect on religions
“of the book.” This is very similar to The Gospel of Mary, which similarly contradicted
accepted biblical history. This is really intriguing to me as someone who
follows no religion because I can completely see the bible as a tool for people
to use to promote their own ideas of morality. There are several lost works
that may have similar abilities to upheave what Christians believe to have formed
their moral code.
I have no idea if the history of the bible is true or not.
If it is, more proof needs to come to light to explain the incongruencies
between canon and the lost gospels of the bible. I appreciate having read the
Gospel of Judas because it gives me a slightly better understanding of Judas’s
role in the bible and whether or not this is true.