Why Did Judas Really Betray Jesus?

With Easter right around the corner, Christians are thinking about the death and resurrection of Jesus. The events that took place during what is now called “Holy Week” certainly transformed the history of the world, but they also created a new villain: Judas. As one of Jesus’ closest followers and friends you have to wonder what he was thinking when he betrayed Jesus. What did Judas know that we don’t?

For much of history, we have been led to think that Judas betrayed Jesus for a payout. According to the Gospel of Matthew, Judas received 30 pieces of silver for betraying Jesus. But in modern terms, that’s the equivalent of about six weeks of work for a day laborer: not a huge amount, and certainly not enough money to compensate you for betraying someone you had spent years following. If you were already annoyed and planning on leaving the movement, then perhaps this sweetener could help push you further along the path to betrayal. But the general impression that Judas betrayed Jesus for the money doesn’t make a great deal of sense.

The Gospel of John, which is almost certainly the last of the canonical gospels to be written, doubles down on the idea that Judas was motivated by financial reward. John adds that Judas was a thief who had stolen from the common resources of the group. Some of the gospels introduce the idea of demonic inspiration and possession. According to Luke 22:3, it was during the final week in Jerusalem that the devil placed the idea of betraying Jesus into Judas’s heart. This isn’t just a literary flourish or theological window-dressing; the demonization of Judas has a long history in influencing how people, medieval Christian in particular, have thought about Jews in general. Add this to ahistorical scenes in which the Jews called for the crucifixion of Jesus and say that the blood of Jesus rests on them and their children, and the Jewish people end up as the villains of the piece. The intertwining of antisemitism, the passion narrative, and violence is one of the reasons that it is important we get the historical pieces of the passion narrative correct.


https://www.thedailybeast.com/why-did-judas-really-betray-jesus?ref=home

Surely Judas was part of the plan, as the son of god, Jesus knew he was going to die, maybe Judas was inspired by god in some way to fulfil Jesus destiny and Jesus chose him as a follower for this reason, so Judas cannot be held responsible for doing god's will.
I can't see the devil having anything to do with it unless he was in cahoots with god, why would he want to help in making Jesus believable as the son of god.

Vintage wrote:Surely Judas was part of the plan, as the son of god, Jesus knew he was going to die, maybe Judas was inspired by god in some way to fulfil Jesus destiny and Jesus chose him as a follower for this reason, so Judas cannot be held responsible for doing god's will.
I can't see the devil having anything to do with it unless he was in cahoots with god, why would he want to help in making Jesus believable as the son of god.

Interesting points Vintage, but according to later Christian thinking. It was God that created Satan. Well in the Old Testament they are simple messengers and warriors of God. The notion of the devil was borrowed from Zoroastrianism, There was no notion of hell before ideas were taken from Zoroastrianism.

Lucifer, is actully known as the light-bringer

There certainly is the story told by Enoch, of the 200 fallen angels. Who saw human women as pretty and mated with them. They then taught humanity many traits that helped shape civilisation. Its stated that they produced the Nephilim.

You gain more a knowledge of this, by reading the book of Enoch, which is not found in the Bible, it was ommitted. Its interesting that the phrase found in the bible makes a view to the "sons of Gods" (plural gods) lying with the daughters of men. These are the fallen angels, which as seen are sons of gods. One of the many contradictions found in the Old Testament.

From a historical perspective of course Judas is guilty, for betraying his teacher

I get your point religiously, as he would then be blameless and acting out the plans of a deity.

What I find more interesting is the second name of the many of the apostles. Well its not their surnames, but what group they belong to.

With Judas, he was known as Judas Iscariot. Thought to be a member of the Sicarii, who were opposed to Roman rule and extremists.

Historically it would make sense, if he lost faith in Jesus being the Messiah, to betray him to the Jewish Priesthood

One wierd aspect is how and why the Sanhedrin never executed Jesus. As they had the power to do so. They could hold court over daily lives within even under Roman rule in Judaea.

I have read some interesting views around why they never did and it has to do with Jesus possible being the son of Antipater. The son of Herod the Great. If Jesus was his son and actually then an actual real claim to the throne. Even more, as his father was a friend of Augustus Caesar. Who had been defied upon his death. He had decreed kingship to antipaters sons. This could not be broken and would have caused the wrath of the Romans. I guess this is why, they passed him onto the Romans for trial as a view to him being an imposter. It would make more sense as to why the Romans crucified him. Not for claiming to be the son of god, but the son of Antipater and thus heir to the Jewish throne.

It also makes sense to the stories of the infants being killed at the time of the birth of Jesus. As Antipaters wife was called Marian. If she escaped whilst pregnant, when her husband was murdered by Herod. It would make more sense as to his actions to kill all the first born in Bethlehem.

I think its very possible, Jesus was actually the son of Antipater and a true heir to the throne