thecodercody

Does it really make sense to you guys that Judas, one of the top disciples of Christ, would turn his Master in for such a measly amount of money? Really? I think we shouldn't understand it just how it appears on the surface, and it deserves more thought. If we look at historical texts, we can see a bit of a different story. The Muslims believe that another was made to be crucified in Jesus's place, which at first seems contradictory to LDS doctrine, but is, in fact, not. This is the relevant passage from the Qur'an: "And [for] their saying, "Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah ." And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain. Rather, Allah raised him to Himself. And ever is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise." In the Gospel of Judas, which was discovered in 2006, Jesus ASKS Judas to betray him: National Geographic - The Gospel of Judas In the ancient text, "The Gospel of Barnabas," a proven fake text that derived many things from an earlier, genuine Gnostic text, it states the following: "Whereupon the wonderful God acted wonderfully, insomuch that Judas was so changed in speech and in face to be like Jesus that we believed him to be Jesus. And he, having awakened us, was seeking where the Master was. Whereupon we marvelled, and answered: ‘You, Lord, are our master; have you now forgotten us?’ And he, smiling, said: ‘Now are you foolish, that know not me to be Judas Iscariot!’ And as he was saying this the soldiery entered, and laid their hands upon Judas, because he was in every way like to Jesus. We having heard Judas’ saying, and seeing the multitude of soldiers, fled as beside ourselves. And John, who was wrapped in a linen cloth, awoke and fled, and when a soldier seized him by the linen cloth he left the linen cloth and fled naked. For God heard the prayer of Jesus, and saved the eleven from evil.” Chapter 217: Judas was Crucified “The soldiers took Judas; and bound him, not without derision. For he truthfully denied that he was Jesus; and the soldiers, mocking him, said: ‘Sir, fear not, for we are come to make you king of Israel, and we have bound you because we know that you do refuse the kingdom.’ Judas answered: ‘Now have you lost your senses! You are come to take Jesus of Nazareth, with arms and lanterns as [against] a robber; and you have bound me that have guided you, to make me king!’ … So they led him to Mount Calvary, where they used to hang malefactors, and there they crucified him naked;, for the greater ignominy. Judas truly did nothing else but cry out: ‘God, why have you forsaken me, seeing the malefactor has escaped and I die unjustly?’ *Truly I say that the voice, the face, and the person of Judas were so like to Jesus, that his disciples and believers entirely believed that he was Jesus; …” How can the Gnostics, Christians, and Muslims all be correct? I present an alternative hypothesis: Judas betrays Jesus so that he will owe him his life, and before the crucifixion, their spirits swapped places. We can see this is affirmed in the Gnostic text The Second Great Treatise of Seth, which talks about the Christ who inhabits the body of Jesus: "I visited a bodily dwelling. I cast out the one who was in it first, and I went in." The text continues, "And I was the one who was in the image, not resembling him who was in the body first. For he was an earthly man, but I, I am from above the heavens." It also states: "It was another upon whom they placed the crown of thorns. But I was rejoicing in the height over all the wealth of the rulers and the offspring of their error, of their empty glory. And I was laughing at their ignorance." Some people believe it was Simon of Cyrene who was crucified instead of Christ, though. I'm not trying to prove anything, but just present an alternative hypothesis. If Judas's spirit swapped placed with Christ's, then it can be true that Jesus died on the Cross AND the Son of Man did NOT die on the cross. I favor this viewpoint. Why? Because then it means all of the Christians, Muslims, Gnostics, etc. are correct, so that leaves no reason for anybody to argue and fight or try to convert other people from their own good faith to ours. It is a more tolerant viewpoint and more accepting and loving than the selfish notion that only we have all the Truth. Just my two cents. Curious what y'all think.