Are You More Like Judas or John?

By: Tasha Moore
Estimated Completion Time
11 min
Are You More Like Judas or John?
Image: Wiki Commons by Juan de Juanes

About This Quiz

It's comforting to know that Biblical figures were people too. We can learn so much from their triumphs and mistakes. This personality quiz focuses on two New Testament favorites: Judas Iscariot and John the Apostle. Are you more like Judas or John? Answer a series of questions in a "What would you do in Judas' or John's shoes?" sort of way. 

Would you even consider taking a bribe so that those in authority might take down your beloved leader? Are you more of a leader than a follower? Do you get bored easily? Does the thought of "status quo" make your insides tingle? Take stock in knowing that there's probably some degree of both Judas and John in us all. Without Judas' major mistake, there would be no such thing as salvation. His major error set things on a wonderful course. Are you able to rebound from mistakes by seeing the bigger picture? And without John the Apostle, how would we know what being a close-to-perfect disciple or follower looks like. 

Yes, there are traces of Judas and John in most of us. Scroll on and see just how much!

Could you write as prolifically as John the Apostle?
I don't retain a thought long enough to write.
I could write a lot but I'd write about many topics.
I could write about Jesus all day and night.
I'd rather read than write.
In the end, Judas wasn't a very loyal follower of Jesus. Are you loyal to your leaders until the very end?
I probably wouldn't be loyal for very long either.
It depends if the leader was worth my loyalty
I'd be loyal to Jesus until the very end.
The "very end" hasn't happened, so I don't know.
Judas showed a huge level of disrespect to Jesus by betraying him. Do you have respect for humanity?
Jesus must have said something slick to Judas on the sly that the Bible didn't catch. I'd also disrespect him for that.
I'd respect Jesus. Everybody else doesn't automatically get a pass.
I respect all of humanity.
You have to earn my respect!

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John the Apostle sacrificed a lot in his life to follow Jesus. Would you sacrifice that much for something in which you believed?
At first, I would, but eventually, I'd lose my will.
There are some things for which it is worth sacrificing, but most things aren't worth the sacrifice.
I would definitely do whatever it takes.
I need to see tangibles. "Belief" is unreliable.
John the Apostle resisted the religious leaders of his time. Are you a fan or a rebel of the status quo?
There's something about leadership that sends tingles up and down my spine, and not in a good way.
It all depends on what leadership is trying to "sell" me.
I rebel against the status quo.
I make my own level of status and follow that.
Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. How much would it cost for you to betray an innocent person?
Thirty sounds like a good number; but no checks, please.
Everybody has a price, and you're not even close to mine.
I would not accept one "red cent" to betray anyone.
Nobody is worth that much mental power. Forget the "innocent person" and whoever is trying to nab them.

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It takes a lot of determination to follow through when your leader is absent, like John the Apostle did after Jesus' Ascension. Do you have that kind of drive and dedication?
I have drive for my own interests and not for the interests of others.
I'd follow through if my leader left me some sort of welcome incentive.
I can definitely relate to that kind of drive.
What kind of "leader" leads in absentia?
Somewhere along the line, Judas became distracted from Jesus'​ very clear message of salvation. Are you easily distracted by competing ideas?
Oh look, a squirrel!
If ever that ideaology sounds shakey, I have no problem ditching it for something better.
I would stay the course, unlike Judas.
I have enough ideas of my own to sort through.
John the Apostle followed Jesus' message of unconditional generosity. Are you more of a taker or are you a giver?
I want more. Give me more! Tell me more about all of that!
A nice balance of taking and giving is good for the earthbound soul.
I believe in unconditional generosity.
Very few people out here are worth giving to; and there's not much out here worth taking.

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John the Apostle and Jesus' other disciples exhibited sound temperament​ even when they observed their leader's unjust punishment. Could you endure that kind of mental anguish?
I wouldn't be able to handle it!!
Earthing, meditation, deep-breathing all would help me to counterbalance the stress.
I would endure for the greater good.
There's no way that John and the rest of those disciples didn't walk off somewhere and mentally snap just a little bit from that kind of stress.
When Judas conspired with religious leaders to trap Jesus, he was quick to ask them: "What will ye give me?" Are you a "what's in it for me?" kind of person?
"What will ye give me" if I answer this question?
I believe in having high principles, but at some point, your bills have the final say in some matters.
I am not that way at all.
I don't interact with anyone to whom I'd even need to ask that question.
Judas was so remorseful of his acts against Jesus that he returned his reward to the chief priests and elders. Would guilt compel you to do the same?
Absolutely!
Common sense, not guilt, would make me give back that ridiculously low amount of money.
It would never even get to that point with me.
Guilt is a powerful force, but not powerful enough to make me give up money that I earned.

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Unbeknownst to Judas, his betrayal of Jesus led to a really great conclusion for Christians! Have you ever made a mistake that, in retrospect, turned out to be a huge benefit.
I can't see that far into the future.
Some of my mistakes ended well, but I still wouldn't want to repeat them.
I've never made that level of mistake.
If it isn't a "great conclusion" for me alone then the mistake wasn't worth it.
John the Apostle demonstrated an extremely high level of faith when he believed and followed Jesus, even before seeing miracles. Are words alone enough to convince you of extraordinary things?
Words go only but so far with me. Miracles aren't enough either, sorry.
Sure. If you talk a good game, I'm entertained. But after a while, I need to see proof.
Words are enough.
Anyone who tells me to follow them without giving me an explanation shall walk alone.
John the Apostle may have been a follower, but he was wise to follow someone he considered wiser. Do you mind following others?
I'll follow someone who is wiser than I am until I come across a better choice to follow.
I would even get others, whom I am wiser than, to follow with me.
I don't mind following someone wiser than I am.
No way! Someone who is wiser doesn't always have good intentions for you.

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Jesus called James, the son of Zebedee, and John the Apostle, his brother, to follow him. Would you feel more or less comfortable making a big commitment if you did so with someone you knew?
I'm a loner; I'd feel more comfortable alone.
I like my family and friends, but there are some things you have to do alone.
I'd feel more comfortable with someone I knew.
That scenario is bogus! John didn't really have a choice with that kind of family pressure.
The 26th chapter of Matthew states that Judas "went unto the chief priest" to plot against Jesus. Does it take a lot for you to do wrong or do you casually pursue "wrong"?
For me, "wrong" is wherever the wind blows, and I'm as light as a naughty little feather.
It takes a whole lot! I know my worth.
I don't answer when "wrong" comes knocking, and I don't seek it out.
There is no right or wrong, just perception.
The 17th chapter of Matthew recounts how Jesus took Peter, James and John up to a high mountain to see him transfigure into a being of light. Could you handle seeing something like that?
Someone like Jesus would know to leave me down in the valley. That kind of thing isn't for me.
If he warned me first and I had enough rest, then maybe.
I am ready for whatever my master has in store for me.
That sounds kind of suspicious going all the way up a mountain just to see something. Besides, I'm afraid of heights.

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The 13th chapter of John's gospel calls John the Apostle "the beloved disciple." Would you be OK following someone if you weren't their favorite?
That doesn't sit too well with me, now that I think about it.
Like they used to say in elementary school: Teacher's pets get threats!
I'm sure I'm the favorite, so I have no problemo!
What kind of leader would openly choose a favorite follower?
Judas not only betrayed Jesus, but he sealed his betrayal with a kiss as a sign for the authorities to capture Jesus. Are you that calculated when is comes to doing misdeeds?
Nothing is as sweet as the taste of betrayal upon my lips.
I like a little drama, but that's cold-blooded!
Hearing that makes me sad.
What's with all the drama? Just hand him over to the authorities, already!
Judas must have maintained a serious poker face in his dealings with the other disciples, who didn't suspect he was capable of betrayal. Are you that hard to read?
I'm a poker champion!
I couldn't hold back my true feelings for so long.
I'm as dense as a hardcover book.
Maybe Judas was an easy read, but the other disciples were just too blinded by "the light" to see it.

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Are you sensitive to receiving spiritual messages?
Do you mean "spritual," as in "$piritual"? Then, YE$!
Yes, I am. But if I ever receive that level of vision, I'm leaving Earth on the next spaceship.
I am that sensitive and it is my duty to share the message!
Is that what they call it now? In the '60s, just about everyone was "sensitive."
Judas suffered a gruesome end as a result of his iniquity against Jesus. Would you be brave enough to reap what you've sown?
I deal with the sowing and couldn't care any less about the reaping.
I always think about the consequences.
I would first seek forgiveness.
What goes up, must come down.
When Judas finally double-crossed his leader, "a great multitude with swords and staves" came with him. Do you need backup to assist you with your treachery?
The more the merrier!
If I do the crime, I must stand alone.
I only side with good.
If Judas needed "muscle" to help him do his dirty work, then "he ain't about that life," as they say.

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John the Apostle was known as a humble and attentive listener. Do you practice humility around influential people?
No. I must be influential, no matter what!
If there's something in it for me, sure!
Yes. That's the only way to be the best follower.
You can't rehearse humility. It's a skill.
Judas gave back his "money bag" in the end, so money may not have been the true reason for his ultimate disloyalty. Are you honest with yourself about your true motives for doing things?
Of course, money was the reason! It's just that the silver pieces weren't the brand new shiny, silvery kind, that's all!! Who wants dirty money?
Every once in a while, methinks I "doth protest too much."
There's not one insincere bone in my closet.
If I'm not honest with myself about why I do the dirt that I do, then what's the point?
Judas was an aggressive and ambitious disciple. Do you think these are good traits for a follower to have for a follower?
Those are the best traits to have. Period!
If you are following an aggressive and ambitious leader, then yes. But Jesus was none of that.
He had the option of having those traits "fixed," but he chose not to.
Those traits are all wrong for the job.

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Jesus referred to John and his brother James as "The Sons of Thunder" because they exhibited agressive ambition. Are you surprised to know that even John erred in the eyes of Jesus?
Why do they get to have the cool title? What does "Iscariot" mean anyway?
I'm a little shocked.
Thank goodness Jesus was there to set things straight!
Thank goodness! For a minute there, I was beginning to think that John was quite a bore.
In the 13th chapter of John's gospel, after dining with his disciples, Jesus says, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me." If you were the guilty party, would you fess up then and there?
Fess up to wait? Let everyone digest in peace, darn it!
I couldn't hold my peace under such tense circumstances. I'd have to confess.
There would be nothing for me to confess.
Jesus doesn't snitch? He's better than me.
Judas shall be synonymous with "traitor" for many years to come. Would you mind having this title for countless generations, until the end of days?
Well, at least "Judas" has made it to the big leagues. "Judas" is now in the dictionary!
That's devastating.
I vividly recall that there shall be a time when time is no more, so even Judas will get a break, in a sense.
Is it too late for Judas to get a do-over?

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