Judas is blamed even though “Satan entered into him” in John, chapter 13

[Multicolored Lemur]

Bible Gateway passage: John 13 - New Living Translation

Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet - Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. It was time for supper, and the devil had already...

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27 When Judas had eaten the bread, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus told him, “Hurry and do what you’re going to do.”

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No, I don’t think we should blame the guy. We certainly shouldn’t make him this huge villain of all time.

But we humans love black-and-white categories. And we certainly love to strongly condemn. In some of our moods, we love this.

 

[AgnosticBoy]

There are some things to consider here before thinking we have a simple answer.

For starters, I really don't know how spiritual possession works. Does Satan or any spirit entering someone mean that the person no longer is in control? Does the Bible detail anything like that?

Also reread the passage you brought up to see if Jesus was really referring to Judas, and I think vs. 26 makes that even clearer that he was. Then again, there might still be some wiggle room to still blame Judas because we are not sure that Judas also didn't have in mind to eventually betray Jesus on his own, and the Devil just joined in to push that further.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

Then again, there might still be some wiggle room to still blame Judas because we are not sure that Judas also didn't have in mind to eventually betray Jesus on his own, and the Devil just joined in to push that further.

This is possible, but the nearby verses don’t say this.

 

[Scooter]

Satan is not omnipotent. He cannot make anyone do anything they don’t already want to do. Judas was a thief who cared more for money than he did Jesus. So yes, Judas bears the responsibility of betraying Christ.

 

[AgnosticBoy]

Then again, there might still be some wiggle room to still blame Judas because we are not sure that Judas also didn't have in mind to eventually betray Jesus on his own, and the Devil just joined in to push that further.

This is possible, but the nearby verses don’t say this.

Judas was no saint. He was referred to as a thief based on some passages like in Gospel of John 12:3-6:
3 Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.

4 But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, 5 That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” 6 Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.