Kiko Arguello inserts a “catechetical message” into each of his significant works of art, and this icon found in the “Catechumenary” of “La Parroquia Del Transito”, in Madrid, Spain is no exception:

Do you notice anything strange or peculiar about it?

No?  We’ll come back to the picture in a minute, but let’s first discuss one of Kiko’s teachings, “The Doctrine of the Necessary Judas”.  This peculiar teaching has three components:

1. Kiko explicitly teaches, “without Judas, there is no Paschal Mystery of Jesus Christ.” ^[1] 
2. Each Christian (read, “member of the Way”) must have their own Judas, whose mission is to “kill” them.  
3. Members will give their blood for their Judas, thereby saving them.  Kiko says, ” In that way, they can all be saved.”

Here is a short recording of a Neocatechumenal catechist teaching this during the fourth night:

We see this “doctrine” clearly outlined in the first volume of the Catechetical Directory of the Neocatechumenal Way^[1], and at first glance, it might seem reasonable to many Christians.

What’s Wrong?

Judas Iscariot certainly had an active role in the Passion of Christ, but was he necessary?  Without him, would Christ have died for our sins?  Did God will that he betray Jesus?

Lino Lista, a prolific critic of the Neocatechumenal Way, responds:

“The decision to kill Jesus had already been taken (John 7:1) and He had already escaped from the hands of his adversaries, escaping from the precipice and stoning (Luke 4: 29-30; John 8:59; John 10: 31-39 ). Had he wanted to, Christ could have escaped capture even in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:53: ” Do you think I can not call on my Father, that would give me more than twelve legions of angels ? “).  It was only up to Christ, therefore, to decide the time (John 7:30), the place and manner of his Passion. Only Christ is essential: Judas is not necessary and not even enough.”

Although Jesus certainly foreknew Judas would betray him^[2],  Judas had free will.  He was not created or predestined by God to sin, but rather, chose that path himself.  The Council of Trent, which Kiko has been known to berate, taught:

“If anyone shall say that the grace of justification is attained by those only who are predestined unto life, but that all others, who are called, are called indeed, but do not receive grace, as if they are by divine power predestined to evil:  let him be anathema.”^[3]

The Doctrine of the Necessary Judas has a sectarian purpose.  It allows Kiko’s followers to tag the label of “Judas” upon anyone who criticizes “the Way”, and to do so quickly with out thinking, and without discernment.

Back to the Icon

Now, back to the picture.

At first glance, it seems to be a picture of the Last Supper, so what’s wrong with it? 

Let’s zoom in on Jesus in the picture:

He’s dressed in a white robe and the wounds of His Passion are visible, one apostle is missing, and the setting is outside, so the picture is not of the Last Supper at all, but rather, is a post-resurrection scene of Jesus and the apostles.  (Matthew 28:16-20).

Studying this icon a bit more, we see that Kiko has copied a Russian Last Supper icon similar to this 15th century icon:

Let’s put them side by side:

In fact, Kiko copied another icon of the Last Supper, his “Ultima Cena (Last Supper) icon, from this same work:

Let’s put them side by side to see _{(click each picture to see a larger version)}:

Now let’s put Kiko’s Post-Resurrection icon and his Last Supper icon side-by-side:

Who is the apostle reaching across the table to put his hand in the dish? 

It’s Judas!  In the Last Supper icons, pursuant to the iconographic tradition of the Eastern Church, Judas is the one portrayed dipping his hand into the dish (Matthew 26:20-23)^[4].  Click here, and here, and here for proof.  Here are other icons from the Eastern Church that portray Judas at the Last Supper, with his hand in the dish.  Note that in the third one, Judas is the only apostle without a halo:

Let’s zoom in on Judas in both of Kiko’s icons:

Here’s the problem:  In Kiko’s post-resurrection icon, Judas is with Jesus and the other apostles after the Resurrection!  How can that be?  The scriptures tell us that Judas killed himself after Jesus’s crucifixion (Matthew 27:3-5).  Jesus himself called Judas the “son of perdition” and said that he was “lost” (John 17:12), and the apostles actually chose a replacement for him (Acts 1:12-26).

Do you think Kiko painted Judas with the resurrected Jesus out of ignorance of Eastern iconography?  I highly doubt it.  Kiko is brilliant and certainly knows the history and traditions of iconography.  So then, what point is he trying to make?

First, Kiko wants to remind his followers of the Doctrine of the Necessary Judas.  This false doctrine allows Kiko’s followers to tag the label of “Judas” upon anyone who criticizes “the Way”, and to do so quickly without thinking, and without discernment.

Second, despite the preponderance of Scriptural evidence to the contrary (e.g. Matthew 26:24, and John 17:12), and despite the fact that the Church has never made a definitive pronouncement on the matter, Kiko teaches that Judas Iscariot has been saved!

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Endnotes