Where In The Bible Does Judas Betray Jesus

Judas Betrays Jesus – Bible Story

The story of Judas betraying Jesus is told in all four gospels, and it is a well-known biblical event. It is widely recognized in Christian theology as one of the most serious instances of treason ever to have occurred. There are various possible theories for Judas’ betrayal of Jesus, including bribery and demonic possession, that differ throughout the gospels. According to the Gospels, Jesus knew about Judas’ treachery and gave his consent to it. One perspective is that Jesus authorized the betrayal because it would allow God’s plan to be realized, while another is that Jesus was ultimately doomed to be crucified as part of God’s plan regardless of the betrayal.

As he sits down to eat at the Last Supper, Jesus predicts that “one of you will betray me,” a reference to Judas Iscariot.

He offers to lead them to Jesus in exchange for a payment of 30 silver coins.

“Greetings, Rabbi!” says the narrator.

1. “Fellow, what is your purpose in being here?” says the speaker.
2. (Matthew 26:49; Matthew 26:50) “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” Jesus asks, responding to his own inquiry.
3. “Should we strike with the sword, Lord?” they inquire of the lord.
4. Malchus’ ear is caressed by Jesus, who uses it to cure the wound.
5. The reason why Jesus is willing to be taken is because, as he says, “How else would the Scriptures be fulfilled that state that it must take place this way?” (See Matthew 26:52 for further information.) This ultimately leads to Christ’s trial and execution on the cross.

Why Is Judas Such a Tragic Character in the Bible?

With his notorious betrayal of Jesus, Judas has become one of the most well-known biblical figures of all time. Even those who are not familiar with the Bible use him as an example of devious behavior in their own lives. When we take into consideration what the Bible says about his time with Jesus, his reputation becomes even more bleak.

Who Was Judas in the Bible?

It is in Matthew 10:1 that Judas is first named, as part of a list of the 12 disciples to whom Jesus presented special gifts and who thereafter became his closest associates. There were 72 disciples who Jesus sent out to undertake ministry, according to what we know. We also know that several hundred individuals were following Jesus at any given time (Luke 10). Some of the 12 disciples were reportedly closer to Jesus than others, and they formed an inner circle within the group of 72. Individual time with Jesus was spent by Peter, James, and John, and the Gospel of John refers to “the disciple Jesus loved” on a number of different occasions.

1. The incident in which he encountered Jesus is not described in the Gospels in the same way as it is for Peter or Philip.
2. In addition, the Gospels do not provide any specific situations in which Judas is seen with Jesus.
3. The writers would have concentrated on repeating the key events (those that are mentioned in many Gospels as important occurrences) as well as their own personal experiences (Peter recalling the Transfiguration, for example).
4. This absence of mention of Judas may also imply that Judas did nothing out of the usual during his time in prison.
5. Nobody would remember him as the “disciple most likely to succeed” since he didn’t accomplish anything particularly cool.
6. He didn’t appear to be any less spiritual or more rebellious than the other lads, despite the fact that he was one of them.
7. The gospels of Matthew 26, Mark 14, and John all agree that when Jesus warned the disciples that one of them would betray him, no one singled out Judas as the one who would betray him.

Even after Jesus recognized Judas as the betrayer and ordered him to go, the other disciples believed something more benign was taking place (John 13:27-30).

Why Did Judas Betray Jesus?

The Bible does not take us directly inside Judas’ thinking, nor does it contain any scenarios in which he attempts to justify his conduct. As a result, it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly what he thought of Jesus when he first began following him, and what happened that caused him to decide to betray his master. However, we do know that in John 6:64-70, Jesus told his disciples that he was aware that some of them did not believe, and that one of them was even a demon. This condemnation shows that there was something basic about Jesus’ teaching that Judas failed to recognize or understand.

1. Due to the fact that others attempted to assassinate Jesus on multiple occasions, Judas must have believed he had something significant to gain by being with Jesus, something that made the danger worthwhile.
2. When it became evident that Jesus was not acting in the manner of a political champion (riding into Jerusalem on a warhorse, murdering Romans), Judas may have rethought his decision about who he wanted to support.
3. He was simply unhappy because if Mary had sold the perfume for the group, he would have accessed the earnings and taken part for himself, according to the author’s interpretation (John 12:6).
4. This scenario implies that Judas was financially gaining from his association with Jesus, and he may have been concerned that Jesus was aware of his stealing because of this association.
5. As blasphemy was claimed by the religious officials (Leviticus 24:16), Judas was probably definitely aware that things were not going to finish with Jesus “making a bargain” and walking away alive from the scene of his betrayal.
6. It was difficult for Pilate to understand what the people were requesting (Luke 23:1-56) (John 19:4-6) because the Romans did not inflict penalties for religious disagreements at that time.

However, it is apparent that Judas was not a psychopath who did not accept responsibility for what he had done in the first place. He eventually came to terms with the truth of his conduct and was grieved by the realization.

Why Is Judas’ Life So Tragic?

Beingtrayal of someone who turns out to be the Messiah is a horrible thing to do, as we all know. However, we don’t usually consider what Judas actually had to accomplish as a member of Jesus’ following, or the circumstances that led up to his betrayal, which made his treachery all the more heartbreaking. When it came to following Jesus, Judas would have given up his lotto do so. According to scholars, Jesus spent around three years in ministry before his death. Because Jesus didn’t have all of his followers with him from the beginning (they aren’t mentioned at the wedding in Cana), we don’t know precisely how much of that time Judas spent with him at the beginning.

• He, like Peter, Matthew, and the other disciples, would have had to abandon his family and his job in order to accomplish this.
• He didn’t come from a well-known or well-respected community (John 1:46).
• In the end, Judas “gave up everything” (Matthew 19:27) in order to follow Jesus, despite the fact that he had no compelling reason to believe that his sacrifice would be fruitful.
• Furthermore, Judas did this despite several warnings, which made the situation much more terrible.
• While speaking at a huge gathering where many followers departed because they could not understand or support Jesus’ teaching, he informed the audience that one of them was “a demon” (John 6:70).
• It’s difficult to determine whether or not Judas could have changed his mind at that point and whether or not anything else would have occurred to bring about Jesus’ execution.
• Still, Judas was informed about the repercussions of his actions in a public setting.
• Judas was given several opportunity to reconsider his conduct, yet he decided to betray Jesus regardless of the consequences.

How Can We Learn from His Mistakes?

While we hope that none of us will find ourselves in the same situation as Judas, we may all take a few lessons from his actions: Please consider our reasons in great detail. Judas’ reasons for following Jesus were corrupted, whether it was because of money, a different concept of what the Messiah was meant to be, or anything else. We all need to take some time to consider what we actually want in a circumstance and whether we are acting out of selfish intentions (and maybe not admitting to ourselves).

• Similar to this, we must acknowledge our selfish reasons and question ourselves whether our desires will ultimately lead to anything positive.
• In a similar vein, what the devil promised Judas appeared to be a fair deal at the time—a chance to silence someone who would expose his illicit activities—but the outcome revealed that it was a horrible deal.
• Recognize that our prior performance does not imply that we are flawless.
• Many of us want to point to our past successes as evidence that we will continue to perform well in the future.
• As long as we remain on this side of the veil, we will continue to be imperfect human beings who are capable of making mistakes.
• Learn more about Judas betrayed Jesus by reading the whole tale in the scriptural text below, as well as articles, videos, and audio sermons that relate to this illuminating event.

Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss in the Collegiata of San Gimignano, San Gimignano, Italy, 14th Century fresco, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Judas Iscariot: The Mysterious Disciple Who Betrayed Jesus with a Kiss

A monument at Rome’s Lateran Palace shows Judas betraying Jesus with a kiss, and the statue is known as the Kiss of Judas. (Photo courtesy of Noyan Yalcin/Shutterstock.com) Known as the betrayer of Jesus, Judas Iscariot was a follower of Jesus who betrayed him in return for a sum of money. William Klassen said in his book “Judas: Betrayer or Friend of Jesus?” that, among the 12 followers of Jesus, “only Peter receives more lines of coverage from the Gospel writers than does Judas” (Fortress Press, 1996).

Although he is well-known in the Bible, little is known about Judas.

The author Susan Gubar, who retired as a professor of English at Indiana University, wrote in her book “Judas” that “no one has succeeded in locating any sources of Judas independent of retellings of the New Testament narratives,” which is why “reputable thinkers” can continue to disbelieve in his historical reality (W.W.

Biblical Stories

The Gospels of Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John, as well as the Acts of the Apostles, all contain accounts of Judas’ betrayal of Jesus (also called the “Book of Acts”). The biblical accounts do not specify where or when Judas was born, and they give several distinct accounts of how he passed away. According to legend, Judas was a follower of Jesus who betrayed him by consenting to hand him up to a mob commanded by the chief priests in return for money — 30 pieces of silver, according to the Gospel of Matthew — in exchange for the death of his master.

The crowd then took Jesus to Pontius Pilate, the Roman ruler of Judea, where he was arraigned.

A 1,200-year-old manuscript written in Coptic — an Egyptian language that employs the Greek alphabet — and newly translated alleges that Judas used a kiss to betray his commander because Jesus had the capacity to change his appearance.

While the four gospels make no attempt to explain why a kiss was used to identify Jesus, they do make some observations.

As recorded in the Gospel of John, Jesus approached Judas during the final supper, warning him, “Whatever you are going to do, do it now.” Several times in the Gospels of Luke and John, Satan is said to have “entered” Judas at different points in his life, which may have affected his choice to betray Jesus.

According to the story, Judas was the treasurer for Jesus and his 12 disciples, responsible for transporting the money bag that the group shared and occasionally stealing from it.

I could have made a year’s salary off of that.’ He didn’t say this because he cared for the poor; rather, he said it because he was a robber who used to help himself to whatever was put into the money bag while he was in charge of it.” John 12:4-6 is an example of a parable.

Death of Judas

The Bible has two separate narratives of Judas’ death, each with its own explanation. According to the Gospel of Matthew, Judas was remorseful for betraying Jesus and attempted to return the 30 pieces of silver that he had been compensated with. In Matthew 27:3-5, Judas informs the chief priests and elders that he has betrayed them “‘I have sinned,’ he confessed, ‘for I have betrayed the blood of innocent people.’ ‘What does that mean to us?’ they inquired. You are solely responsible for this.

Then he walked out and committed himself by hanging himself.” In turn, the 30 pieces of silver were put to use to purchase a parcel of land that would eventually be utilized as a burial cemetery for foreigners – a location known as the Field of Blood.

“After receiving money for his wickedness, Judas went out and purchased a field, where he fell headfirst, causing his body to break open and all of his intestines to stream out.

According to the Acts of the Apostles, a man called Matthias took Judas’ position as one of the twelve disciples.

Gospel of Judas

Several various tales of Judas’ death are found in the Bible, each with its own interpretation. According to the Gospel of Matthew, Judas was remorseful for betraying Jesus and attempted to return the 30 pieces of silver that he had been given in exchange. As recorded in Matthew 27:3-5, Judas addresses the chief priests and elders with the following statement: “In his words, “I have sinned,” since he had betrayed the blood of innocent people. This elicited the response, “What is that to us?” You are responsible for that.’ As a result, Judas tossed the money into the temple and walked away.

As shown in the Acts of the Apostles, Judas is said to have spent the 30 pieces of silver to purchase land, where he was gruesomely murdered before being beheaded.

Because everyone in Jerusalem was aware of what had occurred, they dubbed the area Akeldama, which means “Field of Blood” in their own tongue.” 1.18.19.

Acts of the Apostles records that a man called Matthias took Judas’s position among the twelve disciples.

• Learn about the history of Ancient Israel, as well as who Jesus was and what he did. Learn about the World’s Earliest Christian Engraving in this article.

Owen Jarus is a writer for Live Science who specializes in archaeology and all topics relating to the history of mankind.

A bachelor of arts degree from the University of Toronto and a journalism degree from Ryerson University are among Owen’s qualifications. He loves learning about fresh research and is always on the lookout for an interesting historical story.

Why Jesus Was Betrayed by Judas Iscariot

Judas Iscariot sealed his own fate from the minute he planted a kiss on Jesus of Nazareth in the Garden of Gethsemane: he would go down in history as the world’s most renowned traitor. The identification of Jesus by the Jewish authorities, on the other hand, set in motion a series of events that would become the cornerstones of the Christian faith: Jesus’s arrest and trial, his crucifixion, and ultimately his resurrection, all of which are collectively known as the Passion of Christ. WATCH: JESUS: A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE Vault In light of how little we truly know about Judas Iscariot from the Bible, he continues to be one of the most enigmatic–and important–figures in Jesus’s life narrative to this day.

Who Was Judas Iscariot? What We Know from the Bible

Despite the fact that the Bible provides little details concerning Judas’s upbringing, he is listed as one of Jesus’ closest disciples, or apostles, in all four of the New Testament’s canonical gospels. Intriguingly, Judas Iscariot is the only one of the apostles who is (possibly) identified by his hometown in the Bible, which is a unique distinction. Some academics believe that his surname “Iscariot” is derived from the town of Queriot (also known as Kerioth), which is located south of Jerusalem in the Judean Hills.

The northern section of Israel, or Roman Palestine, is where Jesus hails from.

However, there is nothing in the Bible that links Judas to the Sicarii, and the Sicarii were only discovered to be active after Judas’ death.

Because people are always attempting to justify why he would have done anything like this.

At the Last Supper, Jesus announced his betrayal to the assembled guests. Judas is seen sitting on the other side of the table from where the action is taking place. Images courtesy of David Lees/Corbis/VCG/Getty Images

Possible Motives for Judas Iscariot’s Betrayal

Judas Iscariot is mentioned in all four canonical gospels of the New Testament, and he is considered one of Jesus’ closest disciples, or apostles, despite the fact that the Bible provides scant details about his early life and background. Interestingly, Judas Iscariot is the only apostle who is (possibly) identified by his place of birth in the Bible, making him a unique figure in the historical record. In Judea, a town named Queriot (also known as Kerioth) has been related to his surname “Iscariot,” according to certain researchers.

The northern section of Israel, known as Roman Palestine, is where Jesus was born.” However, his surname might indicate that he is from the southern portion of the country, implying that he is a bit of an outsider.

Photos of 10 Biblical Sites to Inspire Your Exploration Others have proposed that the name Iscariot was used to identify Judas with the Sicarii, also known as “dagger-men,” a group of Jewish insurgents who fought Roman domination and perpetrated acts of terrorism on favor of their nationalist cause around the year 40-50 A.D., according to certain sources.

According to Cargill, “We’re not certain Judas came from the South, and we’re not certain Judas was a Sicarii.” In an attempt to determine whether there was something that separated Judas apart from the rest, these investigations are being conducted.” It’s because people are continually trying to figure out why he did what he did.

What Did Jesus Look Like?

Judas is seen sitting on the other side of the table from where the action is taking place in the scene.

What Happened After That

No matter what his motivations were, Judas led troops to the Garden of Gethsemane, where he recognized Jesus as the Messiah by kissing him and addressing him as “Rabbi.” (Matthew 14:44–46) As recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, Judas instantly repented of his conduct and returned the 30 pieces of silver to the church’s treasurer, declaring, “I have sinned by betraying the blood of innocent men and women.” When the authorities dismissed Judas, he left the money on the floor and committed himself by hanging himself from the ceiling fan (Matthew 27:3-8).

1. The Bible contains several different versions of Judas’s death.
2. The Book of Acts, on the other hand, portrays his death as more akin to a spontaneous combustion than anything else.
3. As a result, he proceeded into a field, where he “fell headlong into the center of it and burst asunder, with all his guts gushing out” as a result of “falling headlong into it” (Acts 1:18).
4. Because of Judas’ treachery, Jesus was arrested, tried, and executed by crucifixion, following which he was raised from the dead.
5. However, the name “Judas” came to be associated with betrayal in a variety of languages, and Judas Iscariot would come to be depicted as the prototypical traitor and false friend in Western art and literature as a result.

MOVE ON TO THE NEXT PAGE: Mary Magdalene: Prostitute, Wife, or None of the Above?

Was Judas Really That Bad?

No matter what his motivations were, Judas led troops to the Garden of Gethsemane, where he recognized Jesus as the Messiah by kissing him and addressing him as “Rabbi” 14:44-46 (Matthew 14:44-46) As recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, Judas instantly repented of his conduct and returned the 30 pieces of silver to the church’s treasurer, declaring, “I have sinned by betraying the blood of the innocent.” Following his dismissal by the authorities, Judas abandoned the money on the ground and committed himself by hanging himself (Matthew 27:3-8).

• When it comes to Judas’ death, the Bible provides several conflicting narratives.
• However, the Book of Acts characterizes his death as more akin to that of a fire that broke forth spontaneously.
• Following his betrayal of Jesus, Judas did not commit himself, according to another canonical biblical source, the Book of Acts (written by the same author as the Gospel of Luke).
• God himself was responsible for many deaths in the Bible, and this type of spontaneous combustion was a typical mode of death at the time.
• Yet in numerous languages, the name “Judas” became associated with betrayal, and Judas Iscariot would come to be depicted as the prototypical traitor and false friend in Western art and literature.
• MOVE ON TO THE NEXT PAGE: Mary Magdalene: Prostitute, Wife, or none of the Above?

What Is the Gospel of Judas?

It was revealed in 2006 by the National Geographic Society that a long-lost document known as the “Gospel of Judas” had been discovered and translated. The text is thought to have been composed about A.D. 150 and subsequently transcribed from Greek into Coptic in the third century, according to historians. The Gospel of Judas was first mentioned in writing by the second-century cleric Irenaeus, and it is one of a number of ancient texts that have been discovered in recent decades that have been linked to the Gnostics, a (mostly Christian) group who were denounced as heretics by early church leaders for their unorthodox spiritual beliefs.

According to this version of the story, Jesus begged Judas to betray him to the authorities so that he may be released from his physical body and fulfill his mission of redeeming people on earth.

Getty Images/Universal History Archive/Universal Image Group Despite the fact that it is a well-known piece of literature, the Gospel of Judas is surrounded by controversy, with some scholars claiming that the National Geographic Society’s version is a faulty translation of a Coptic text and that the public was misled into believing it depicted a “noble Judas.” According to whatever interpretation you choose, given that the Gospel of Judas was written at least a century after both Jesus and Judas died, it offers little in the way of historically reliable information about their lives, and certainly does not provide the missing link to understanding Judas Iscariot”s true motivations.

As Cargill points out, “the fact is that we don’t know why Judas did what he did.” “Of course, the great irony is that without it, Jesus would not have been delivered up to the Romans and executed.

The Crucifixion is the key component of Christianity, because without Judas, there is no Resurrection.”

31 Bible verses about Judas Betraying Christ

It was announced in 2006 by the National Geographic Society that a long-lost text known as the “Gospel of Judas” had been discovered and translated. The text is believed to have been written around A.D. 150 and then copied from Greek into Coptic in the third century, according to historical estimates. The Gospel of Judas was first mentioned in writing by the second-century cleric Irenaeus, and it is one of a number of ancient texts that have been discovered in recent decades that have been linked to the Gnostics, a (mostly) Christian group who were denounced as heretics by early church leaders for their unorthodox spiritual beliefs.

According to this version of the story, Jesus begged Judas to betray him to the authorities so that he may be released from his physical body and fulfill his mission of redeeming mankind.

Getty Images/Universal History Archive/UIG/Universal Information Group Despite the fact that it is a well-known piece of literature, the Gospel of Judas is surrounded by controversy, with some scholars claiming that the National Geographic Society’s version is a faulty translation of a Coptic text and that the public was misled into believing it depicted a “virtuous Judas.” According to whatever interpretation you choose, given that the Gospel of Judas was written at least a century after both Jesus and Judas died, it offers little in the way of historically reliable information about their lives, and certainly does not provide the missing link to understanding Judas Iscariot’ s true motivations.

As Cargill points out, “the fact is that we have no idea why Judas did what he did.” Jesus does not get crucified because he does not surrender to the Romans, which is the great irony, as we all know.

Why Did Judas Betray Jesus after Following Him for Three Years?

However, although hundreds of individuals accompanied Jesus during his career, occasionally giving housing or providing for basic necessities such as food (Luke 8), the majority of us are aware that Jesus had 12 disciples whom he specifically picked. The twelve apostles of Jesus would be comprised of individuals like these. Of these, Judas Iscariot is the most infamous. After three years of following Jesus during the course of Jesus’ public ministry, Judas Iscariot handed his companion over to the religious leaders, who tried him and sentenced him to death.

We may recall close pals from our high school or college years who have remained with us for more than three years if we reflect back on our past experiences.

I certainly hope not.

The reasons why Judas betrayed Jesus will be discussed in this article, as will the reasons why Judas finally took his own life when he learned the consequences of his conduct.

What Does the Bible Say about Judas?

Identifying what the Bible has to say about Judas is essential before delving into the reasons for his betrayal of Jesus. For one thing, as noted out in the Crosswalk piece mentioned above, we don’t have a clear understanding of why Judas did what he did. Theologians have developed a number of hypotheses, which we will discuss in more detail later. The Bible says in Psalm 41:9, “Even my close buddy, in whom I put my faith and who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me. This text, which may be found in the Old Testament, predicts that a close friend of Jesus’ would rise their heel against him.

Judas took a bite out of it.

Judas is one of the twelve disciples that were chosen by Jesus.

But one of his students, Judas Iscariot, who would eventually betray him, objected: “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor?” (John 12:4-6) “It was the equivalent of a year’s pay.” But he didn’t say this because he was concerned about the impoverished; rather, he said it because, in his capacity as the money bag’s custodian, he used to help himself to whatever was placed in it.” During Jesus’ career, it appeared that the apostles played a variety of duties.

1. Judas was in charge of the money, acting as a type of treasurer.
2. However, because Judas betrays Jesus for money, the magnitude of his betrayal is magnified even further.
3. In terms of spiritual possession or tyranny, we’re not sure what we’re dealing with.
4. Judas, on the other hand, had already agreed to betray Jesus before to this night’s events.
5. Despite the fact that Judas had previously devised a plan in his heart to betray Jesus, Satan appears to provide the final push here.
6. ‘When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been sentenced, he was overcome with guilt and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders,’ says Matthew 27:3 (New International Version).

This appears to imply that he did not wish for Jesus to be crucified. Possibly he was bored up with Jesus, or perhaps he was disappointed that Jesus did not turn out to be the insurrectionist that he had hoped. He, on the other hand, is filled with remorse.

Why Did Judas Betray Jesus?

Theologians are divided on this point. In the words of the Crosswalk article referenced above: “At the other extreme of the idea spectrum is the proposition that Judas betrayed Jesus because Judas was a nasty man all along.a wolf in sheep’s clothes.” This idea is primarily based on the image of Judas in the Gospel of John, which paints a highly negative portrait of the betrayed apostle.” When we examine Judas’ guilt in the paragraph above, we can see that this idea falls short at times.

1. Although Jesus foresaw that Judas would eventually betray him, we do not know if Judas really did so.
2. Despite the fact that Satan did enter Jesus’ body, and despite the fact that some may argue that Judas had no autonomy, we observe Judas forming a pact with the religious authorities long before Satan appears during the Last Supper.
3. This appears to indicate that Judas had great expectations for Jesus at the beginning of his mission, but that after three years, he was dissatisfied with what he had witnessed.
4. This is supported by the Crosswalk article: “During the time of Jesus, the people of Israel were subject to the control of the Roman Empire.
5. They were in desperate need of a monarch who had been anointed to guide them on their journey.
6. He was unquestionably selected by God.
7. He talked with authority regarding the establishment of a new monarchy.
8. This might explain Judas’ surprise when he learned that Jesus had been sentenced to death.
9. The religious elders demand that he repay the 30 pieces of silver to them since he has committed sin by “betraying innocent blood.” Whatever the circumstances, Judas was ultimately responsible for Jesus’ betrayal.

How Did Judas Die?

The killing of Judas is described in great detail in the Bible, although in graphic detail. As soon as the religious authorities refuse to take the 30 silver pieces, Judas throws them on the ground and walks to a nearby field where he hangs himself. I won’t go into much more detail than that, but if you want some hyper-realistic depictions, go no further than Acts 1:18, which is available online. The religious leaders then spend the monies to purchase a potter’s field, which allows them to fulfill an Old Testament prophecy that they would do so (Matthew 27:9).

1. After all, when Jesus arrived in Jerusalem, people greeted him with palm branches and shouted “hallelujah.” He was put to death less than a week later, according to the authorities.
2. Judas was predicted to betray Jesus in the Old Testament, and it was through his treachery that Jesus died on the cross for our sins.
3. Even though he was aware that Judas would betray him, Jesus nonetheless bathed Judas’ feet before the Last Supper (John 13), demonstrating his willingness to serve.
4. We betrayed Jesus by our actions.
5. Jesus, on the other hand, chose to wash our feet.
6. And, eventually, to save our lives.
7. Heaven, so close yet so far awayBetrayed!
8. More than 1,200 of her pieces have been published in a variety of journals, ranging from Writer’s Digest to Keys for Kids, among others.
9. Jenkins and Michelle Medlock Adams.

She is also a co-author of the Dear Heroduology, which was published by INtense Publications and is available for purchase online. Her inspirational adult novel Picture Imperfect, which will be released in November of 2021, will also be released. You may learn more about her by visiting her website.

Why Did Judas Betray Jesus?

Assume you’re in biblical times during the week of Passover. In a few days, on Sunday, Jesus made his triumphant entry into Jerusalem for the first time. A massive throng of people gathered along the streets where he was traveling. Some of them lay their cloaks out on the side of the road. Another group of people removed branches from the trees and spread them across the road. “Hosanna to the Son of David!” the crowd exclaimed. A blessing is upon him who comes in the name of the Lord! “Hosanna to the highest degree!” Nonetheless, on this day, Jesus instructs his followers, saying, “You are aware that the Passover is approaching, and that the Son of Man will be handed up to be crucified after two days.” These remarks have caused consternation and confusion among the disciples.

“Can you tell me what you’ll offer me if I surrender him to you?” Judas approaches them and asks them a question.

The Price of Betrayal

They give Judas 30 pieces of money in exchange for his services. One of Jesus’s followers betrays him on Thursday evening, as he and his disciples are having the Passover supper in an upper chamber. “Truly, I tell to you, one of you will betray me,” Jesus says. “Is it really I, Rabbi?” Judas inquires of Jesus. “You have stated as much,” Jesus responds. Judas departs from the upper chamber. After praying in Gethsemane for a few hours, Jesus declares, “Behold, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners.” “Rise, let us get moving; look, my betrayer is right around the corner.” At that point, Judas appears, escorted by a large group of people wielding swords and clubs, who have been dispatched by the chief priests and elders of the community.

They apprehend Jesus and force the disciples to escape.

By the afternoon, he had passed away.

What might possibly motivate one of the twelve disciples to betray their Lord?

Theory 1: Judas actually didn’t betray Jesus.

Towards the other extreme of the theoretical spectrum is a proposal made by Research Professor William Klassen, who passed away in the spring of 2019. Klassen argues in his bookJudas: Betrayer or Friend of Jesus? that Judas tried to construct a connection between the Jewish authorities and Jesus, and that Jesus was fully aware of what Judas was up to at all times. Instead of betraying Jesus to the authorities, Klassen claims that Judas was betrayed by the authorities themselves, rather than by Jesus.

In the words of Klassen, there is “a plethora of reasons to give Judas the benefit of the doubt.” Klassen’s thesis suffers from a main and, in some cases, fatal flaw: he assumes that Jesus was completely unaware of what was about to take place.

He had no desire to die, and he makes no indication that he want to die at any moment. However, he was compelled to submit himself to the authority of those tasked with carrying out the divine will, namely, the religious authorities. Nobody knew what would happen as a result of it.”

Theory 2: Judas was bad from the beginning.

Those who believe that Judas betrayed Jesus do so because Judas was a wicked man all along.a wolf in sheep’s clothing, to put it another way, are on the opposite extreme of the theory spectrum. In particular, this view is predicated on the portrayal of Judas in the Gospel of John, which paints a highly negative picture of the betrayer. Here are a few illustrations:

• Following his statement that they should eat his flesh and drink his blood, Jesus claims that his words are spirit and life, but some of his disciples do not trust him. This is followed by a parenthetical note – “For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.” – which suggests that Judas did not believe in the first place. Immediately following Peter’s statement that they “have believed and come to know that you are the Holy One of God,” Jesus asks, “Did I not chose you, the twelve? ” “Yet one of you is a demon,” says the other. For the record, according to John, “He talked of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot,” because he was one of the twelve who was about to betray him.
• Jesus’ feet are anointed with costly ointment in John 12, and Judas laments that the ointment might have been sold for 300 days’ pay, with the proceeds going to the needy. Judas, according to John, “was a thief,” and “having custody of the moneybag, he used to help himself to whatever was placed into it.”

There is a flaw in the argument that Judas was a terrible guy from the start, which stems from the fact that Jesus picked Judas to be one of his twelve followers. If Judas was actually bad from the beginning, then:

• For what reason would Jesus choose Judas to be a member of his inner circle for three years
• For what reason would Jesus delegate Judas’ responsibility for managing the money bag
• And for what reason would Jesus grant Judas and the other disciples “power and authority to cast out demons, heal diseases, and proclaim the kingdom of God” before sending them out “to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick”? (SeeMatthew 10, Mark 6, and Luke 9 for examples.) Is it possible that Jesus did not reform Judas over the three years that he spent almost every day with him?

Another flaw in this scenario is what Judas did after Jesus was sentenced to death, which is as follows: As soon as Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus had been sentenced, he changed his mind and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the Chief Priests and the Elders, claiming he had “sinned by betraying innocent blood,” according to the Gospel of John. “What does that mean to us?” they inquired. “Take care of it yourself.” Leaving the temple after hurling the silver coins into it, he proceeded to hang himself.

Why would a wicked guy be remorseful for “betraying innocent blood” in this world?

Theory 3: “Satan entered Judas” duringHoly Week.

While John’s Gospel appears to portray Judas as a bad guy from the start, other Scripture passages and early Christian scholars portray him as a genuine follower of Jesus who, at a critical juncture, came under the influence of Satan and turned his back on Jesus. In contrast to Matthew and Mark, who simply state that Judas went to the authorities to make arrangements for a betrayal, Luke adds an important phrase to the statement (which I will emphasize below):

• Then one of the twelve, Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I bring him over to you?” Matthew 26:14-15: “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they gave him thirty pieces of silver in exchange for his services. As a result, Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them, as recorded in Mark 14:10-11. And when they found out, they were overjoyed and offered to give him some money right away. And he was on the lookout for a chance to betray him. After then, Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve apostles, according to Luke 22:3-4. In the meantime, he walked away and discussed with the leading priests and officers how he could betray him to them.

Some early church academics and theologians, such as Origen, held fast to the view that Judas was a legitimate disciple of Jesus until he came under the sway of the devil (184-253 AD). Origen reminds out in his writings that although Jesus said that one of his followers would betray him, none of the disciples realized that it was Judas who had betrayed him. This might imply that Judas had been an excellent disciple who was well-liked by his Master at the time of his death. Judas’ covetousness is seen by Origen to be a major flaw in Judas, and it is possible that Satan took use of this weakness during Holy Week.

According to Origen, his act of contrition was genuine and heartfelt, and he was forgiven.

Is it possible for a loyal disciple of Jesus to turn bad for a few days before regaining his composure as soon as he fell?

Theory 4: Judas tried to force Jesus to rise to power.

In the early church, certain academics and theologians, such as Origen, held the notion that Judas was a legitimate follower of Jesus until he came under the control of Satan (184-253 AD). When Jesus says that one of his followers would betray him, Origen points out that none of the disciples realized that it was Judas who had been betrayed. This might imply that Judas had been an excellent disciple who was well-liked by his Master at the time of his execution. Judas’ covetousness is seen by Origen to be a crucial flaw in Judas, one that Satan may have exploited throughout the week of Holy Week.

According to Origen, his act of repentance was genuine and heartfelt in nature.

Because it does not provide a reason for Judas’ treachery, claiming that he was under the control of Satan is an insufficient explanation for his betrayal. Is it possible for a loyal disciple of Jesus to turn bad for a few days before regaining his composure as soon as he had lost his mind?

What this means for us

Whatever the reason for his betrayal of Jesus, Judas will be known as a traitor for the rest of time. Jesus predicted that “.woe to the man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed!” will happen. For the sake of that individual, it would have been preferable if he had not been born.” (See Matthew 26:24 for further information.) When we follow Jesus, we must do so with diligence and faithfulness, no matter where he takes us. And we need to pray for insight into what his plans are for us at this time.

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