Jesus-Judas Iscariot 

Around July 7, 26 CE, the six apostles had completed their first official preaching tour, going two by two, to teach the glad tidings of the kingdom in the surrounding towns. But, before they left for those two weeks, Jesus instructed each apostle to choose one man from among their converts to be a member of the apostolic party of twelve. Nathaniel chose Judas Iscariot, who at that time was interested in the preaching and work of John the Baptist. Before that, Judas lived and worked in his father's various business enterprises. But because of his attachment to John, Judas’ parents disowned him. He was looking for employment in these regions when Jesus' apostles found him, and mainly because of his experience with finances, Nathaniel invited him to join their group.

Judas met Jesus and the apostles at the fisher-boat landing at Tarichea, and Thomas led the party to his nearby home. When Nathaniel presented Judas Iscariot to Jesus as his nominee for apostleship the Master said: "Judas, we are all of one flesh, and as I receive you into our midst, I pray that you will always be loyal to your Galilean brethren. Follow me."

Andrew appointed Judas treasurer of the twelve, a position which he was eminently qualified to hold, and up to the time of the betrayal of his Master he discharged the responsibilities of his office honestly, faithfully, and most efficiently. He was in charge of the money, he kept the budget, and he handed out funds on Andrews’ authorization. Eventually, Andrew, Matthew, and Judas developed into a general managerial committee of three, although each of these three also did considerable religious work.

Judas had no outstanding trait of personal strength, though he had many outwardly appearing traits of culture and habits of training. He was a good thinker but not always a truly honest thinker. Judas did not really understand himself; he was not really sincere in dealing with himself.

Judas was a good businessman. It required tact, ability, and patience, as well as painstaking devotion, to manage the financial affairs of such an idealist as Jesus, to say nothing of having to deal with the chaotic business methods of some of his apostles. Judas really was a great executive, a farseeing and able financier. And he was a stickler for organization. None of the twelve ever criticized Judas. As far as they could see, Judas Iscariot was a matchless treasurer, a learned man, a loyal (though sometimes critical) apostle, and in every sense of the word a great success.

The apostles loved Judas; he was really one of them. He must have believed in Jesus, although it’s hard to imagine that he really loved the Master with a whole heart. But he did always execute his duties as treasurer faithfully. Judas was always financially loyal to his Master and his fellow apostles. Money was never the motive for his betrayal of the Master.

Judas had exaggerated ideas about his self-importance. He was a poor loser. He had distorted ideas about fairness; he indulged in negative feelings of hate and suspicion. He was an expert at misinterpretation of the words and acts of his friends, even Jesus. All through his life Judas had cultivated the habit of getting even with those whom he imagined had mistreated him. His sense of values and loyalties was defective.

Judas became increasingly a brooder over personal disappointment, and finally, he became a victim of resentment. His feelings had been many times hurt, and he grew abnormally suspicious of his best friends, even of the Master. Here’s an example:

In August, 29 CE, just before Peter’s confession took place, Jesus counseled the apostles to “beware the leaven of the Pharisees” as they went out on a preaching mission. Judas took personal offense at that warning because he was from Judea, where the Pharisees were highly respected. He was sure that Jesus was making a reference to him when he made that statement. Judas saw offense where there was none

Time and again, when Jesus would send his apostles off by themselves to pray, Judas, instead of engaging in sincere communion with the spiritual forces of the universe, indulged in thoughts of human fear while he persisted in nurturing subtle doubts about the mission of Jesus as well as giving in to his unfortunate tendency to harbor feelings of revenge.

Soon after the gathering of the twelve apostles on July 12, 26 CE, Jesus spent a quiet Sabbath with them at the home of Zebedee and Salome who had turned their home over to Jesus and his apostles. It was this same evening that Judas Iscariot took Jesus aside to inquire why nothing was done to get John out of prison. And Judas was not satisfied with Jesus' attitude about that.

The apostles all loved and respected Nathaniel, but Judas did not think Nathaniel took his apostleship sufficiently seriously and had the nerve to go secretly to Jesus and lodge a complaint against him. And this in spite of the fact that it had been Nathaniel who nominated Judas to apostleship. Said Jesus: "Judas, watch carefully your steps; do not overmagnify your office. Who of us is competent to judge his brother? It is not the Father's will that his children should partake only of the serious things of life. Let me repeat: I have come that my brethren in the flesh may have joy, gladness, and life more abundantly. Go then, Judas, and do well that which has been entrusted to you but leave Nathaniel, your brother, to give account of himself to God." And the memory of this, with that of many similar experiences, long lived in the self-deceiving heart of Judas Iscariot

Judas was never able to rise above his Judean prejudices against his Galilean associates; and that included Jesus. The one who eleven of the apostles looked upon as the perfect man, this Judean often dared to criticize in his own heart. He really entertained the notion that Jesus was timid – afraid to assert his own power and authority.

Judas became a subconscious critic of Jesus when John the Baptist was beheaded by Herod. Deep down in his heart Judas always resented the fact that Jesus did not save John. Keep in mind that Judas had been a disciple of John before he became a follower of Jesus.

Every time Judas allowed his hopes to soar high and Jesus would do or say something to dash them to pieces, there was always left in Judas’s heart a scar of bitter resentment; and as these scars multiplied, presently that heart, so often wounded, lost all real affection for the one who he blamed for his bitterness – Jesus.

Judas did not realize it, but he himself was a coward. Because of this, he tended to see in Jesus that which he disliked in himself. He was always inclined to accuse Jesus of being a coward as the motive which led him to refuse to grasp for power or glory when they were apparently within his reach. And everybody knows how love, even when once genuine, can, through long-continued resentment, be eventually turned into actual hate.

The Master many times, both privately and publicly, had warned Judas that he was slipping, but divine warnings are usually useless in dealing with embittered human nature. Jesus did everything possible, consistent with man's moral freedom, to prevent Judas' choosing to go the wrong way.

After the supernatural miracle of the feeding of the five thousand on March 27, 29 CE, there was an effort to make Jesus king – not only by those who had witnessed the miracle, but by some of the apostles as well. The apostles who favored this attempt to proclaim Jesus king were Peter, John, Simon Zelotes, and Judas Iscariot. The efforts failed, though. Jesus would not submit to being their king.

Around this time Jesus became preoccupied and uncommunicative. All of the apostles wondered what was going on with him and what would happen next. Judas Iscariot thought that possibly Jesus was oppressed with regrets that “he did not have the courage and daring to permit the five thousand to proclaim him king of the Jews.”

About a month later, on April 30, 29 CE, Jesus gave his epochal sermon in the Capernaum synagogue.As they sat there in the synagogue that afternoon before Jesus began to speak, everybody was wondering: "Why did he deliberately and effectively turn back the tide of popular enthusiasm?" It was after this sermon in the synagogue, when Jesus publicly refused to be made king, that Judas Iscariot entertained his first conscious thought of deserting. But he did, for the time being, manage to put all such thoughts aside.

On the Sabbath, one day before Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, there was a feast held in Jesus’ honor at Simon of Bethany’s home.

Near the end of the meal, Mary the sister of Lazarus stepped forward and, going up to where Jesus reclined as the guest of honor, proceeded to open a large alabaster jar of very rare and costly ointment (spikenard); and after anointing the Master's head, she began to pour it upon his feet. Then she took down her hair and wiped his feet with the oil. The whole house became filled with the odor of the ointment, and everybody present was amazed at what Mary had done. Lazarus said nothing, but some of the people murmured, offended that so costly an ointment should be used that way. Judas Iscariot stepped over to where Andrew reclined and said: "Why was this ointment not sold and the money used to feed the poor? Tell the Master that he should put a stop to such waste."

Jesus, knowing what they thought and hearing what they said, put his hand upon Mary's head as she knelt by his side with a kindly expression upon his face. He then defended Mary's actions, saying that she had done a good thing and had shown faith in his teachings about his death and ascension. He also said that her act would be remembered throughout the world wherever the gospel was preached.

It was because of this gentle reprimand, which he took as a personal offense, that Judas Iscariot finally made up his mind to seek revenge for his hurt feelings. He now dared to think such wicked thoughts in his open and conscious mind.

The next day, Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey – a symbolic gesture that had special significance to Jesus. But to Judas, it was a disgrace.

Judas Iscariot was not happy about this processional entry into Jerusalem. He was still upset because of the Master’s rebuke the preceding day in connection with Mary’s actions in Simon’s house. And he was disgusted with the whole spectacle. To him, it seemed childish, if not indeed ridiculous. As this vengeful apostle looked upon the proceedings of this Sunday afternoon, Jesus seemed to him more to resemble a clown than a king. He resented the whole performance. He shared the views of the Greeks and Romans, who looked down upon anyone who would consent to ride upon an ass or the colt of an ass. By the time the triumphal procession had entered the city, Judas had about made up his mind to abandon the whole idea of such a kingdom; he was almost resolved to abandon all such absurd attempts to establish the kingdom of heaven.

But then he thought of the resurrection of Lazarus, among other things, and decided to stay on with the twelve, at least for another day. Besides, he carried the money bag, and he would not desert with the apostolic funds in his possession. When it came to money, Judas could always be depended upon. On the way back to Bethany that night his attitude did not seem strange since all of the apostles were equally downcast and silent.

Judas was tremendously influenced by the ridicule of his Sadducean friends. Just as Jesus reached the gate of the city a prominent Sadducee (a friend of Judas’s family) rushed up to him in a spirit of gleeful ridicule and, slapping him on the back, said: “Why are you looking so troubled, my good friend? Cheer up and join us all while we acclaim this Jesus of Nazareth the king of the Jews as he rides through the gates of Jerusalem seated on an ass.” Judas had never shrunk from persecution, but he could not stand this sort of ridicule. With the long-nourished emotion of revenge, there was now blended this fatal fear of ridicule, that terrible and fearful feeling of being ashamed of his Master and his fellow apostles. No other single factor exerted such a powerful influence on him in his final determination to desert Jesus.

At heart, this ordained ambassador of the kingdom was already a deserter; it only remained for him to find some plausible excuse for an open break with the Master.

Early the next morning (April 2, 30 CE), by prearrangement, Jesus and the apostles assembled at the home of Simon in Bethany, and after a brief conference they set out for Jerusalem. The twelve were strangely silent as they journeyed on toward the temple; they had not recovered from the experience of the preceding day.

As this group journeyed down Mount Olivet, Jesus led the way, the apostles following closely behind in meditative silence. The one absorbing thought of Judas was: What shall I do? Shall I go on with Jesus and my associates, or shall I withdraw? And if I am going to quit, how shall I break off?

This morning Jesus greeted each of the twelve with a personal salutation.To Judas Iscariot, he said: “Judas, I have loved you and have prayed that you would love your brethren. Be not weary in well doing; and I would warn you to beware the slippery paths of flattery and the poison darts of ridicule.”

At the conclusion of Jesus’ last discourse in the temple on April 4, 30 CE, the apostles once more were left in confusion and consternation. But it’s unfortunate that Judas missed the first part of Jesus’ discourse where he offered mercy to all those who meant him harm. As it was, he only heard the last part of the discourse because he was having lunch with a certain group of Sadducean relatives and associates at the time. Judas was discussing with them the best way for him to dissociate himself from Jesus and his fellow apostles. And by the time he returned to the temple, all he heard was the Master’s powerful denunciation of the Jewish rulers

And it was while listening to the Master’s final indictment of the Jewish leaders and rulers that Judas finally and fully made up his mind to forsake the gospel movement and wash his hands of the whole enterprise. Nevertheless, he left the temple in company with the twelve, went with them to Mount Olivet, where, with his fellow apostles, he listened to Jesus’ fateful discourse on the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the Jewish nation, and remained with them that Tuesday night at the new camp near Gethsemane.

Judas had finally confirmed his decision to abandon his associates.

On Wednesday, April 5, 30 CE, while Jesus was away in the hills with John Mark, Judas, ignoring his Master's specific request to stay away from Jerusalem, went to keep an appointment with Jesus' enemies at the home of Caiaphas the high priest. This meeting was called to discuss the nature of the charges which should be brought against Jesus and to decide upon the procedure to be employed in bringing him before the Roman authorities so they could get the necessary civil confirmation of the death sentence which they had already passed upon him. They wanted to apprehend him with the least amount of trouble.

On the preceding day, at his lunch meeting, Judas had disclosed to some of his relatives and to certain Sadducean friends of his father's family that he had reached the conclusion that, while Jesus was a well-meaning dreamer and idealist, he was not the expected deliverer of Israel. Judas stated that he would very much like to find some way of withdrawing gracefully from the whole movement. His friends flatteringly assured him that his withdrawal would be hailed by the Jewish rulers as a great event, and that nothing would be too good for him. They led him to believe that he would receive high honors from the Sanhedrin, and that he would at last be in a position to erase the stigma of his well-meant but "unfortunate association with untaught Galileans."

Judas could not quite believe that the mighty works of the Master had been connected to the power of the prince of devils, but he was now fully convinced that Jesus would not exert his power even to save himself; he was at last convinced that Jesus would allow himself to be destroyed by the Jewish rulers, and he could not endure the humiliating thought of being identified with a movement of defeat. He refused to entertain the idea of apparent failure. He thoroughly understood the sturdy character of his Master and the keenness of that majestic and merciful mind, yet he derived pleasure from even the partial entertainment of the suggestion of one of his relatives that Jesus, while he was a well-meaning fanatic, was probably not really sound of mind; that he had always appeared to be a strange and misunderstood person.

And now, as never before, Judas found himself becoming resentful that Jesus had never assigned him a position of greater honor. All along he had appreciated the honor of being the apostolic treasurer, but now he began to feel that he was not appreciated; that his abilities were unrecognized. He was suddenly overcome with indignation that Peter, James, and John should have been honored with close association with Jesus, and at this time, when he was on the way to the high priest's home, he was bent on getting even with Peter, James, and John even more than he was concerned with any thought of betraying Jesus.

But over and above all, just then, a new and dominating thought began to occupy Judas’ conscious mind: He had set out to get honor for himself, and if this could be secured at the same time that he was getting even with those who had contributed to the greatest disappointment of his life, all the better. He was seized with a terrible conspiracy of confusion, pride, desperation, and determination. And so it must be plain that it was not for money that Judas went to the home of Caiaphas to arrange for the betrayal of Jesus.

As Judas approached the home of Caiaphas, he arrived at the final decision to abandon Jesus and his fellow apostles; and having made up his mind to desert the cause of the kingdom of heaven, he was determined to secure for himself as much as possible of that honor and glory which he always thought should be his. All of the apostles once shared this ambition with Judas, but as time passed, they learned to admire truth and to love Jesus, at least more than did Judas.

The traitor was presented to Caiaphas and the Jewish rulers by his cousin, who explained that Judas, having discovered his mistake in allowing himself to be misled by the subtle teaching of Jesus, now wished to make public and formal renunciation of his association with the Galilean. At the same time, he wanted to rejoin the fellowship of his Judean brethren.

Judas’ cousin went on to explain that Judas recognized it would be best for the peace of Israel if Jesus should be taken into custody, and that, as evidence of his regret in having participated in such a movement of error and as proof of his sincerity in now returning to the teachings of Moses, he had come to offer himself to the Sanhedrin as one who could arrange it so that Jesus could be taken into custody quietly, thus avoiding any danger of stirring up the multitudes or the necessity of postponing his arrest until after the Passover.

When his cousin had finished speaking, he presented Judas, who said: "All that my cousin has promised, I will do, but what are you willing to give me in return for this service?" Judas did not seem to discern the look of disdain and even disgust that came over the face of the hardhearted and vainglorious Caiaphas; his heart was too much set on self-glory and the craving for the satisfaction of self-exaltation.

And then Caiaphas looked down upon the betrayer while he said: "Judas, you go to the captain of the guard and arrange with that officer to bring your Master to us either tonight or tomorrow night, and when he has been delivered by you into our hands, you shall receive your reward for this service." When Judas heard this, he left the chief priests and rulers and talked with the captain of the temple guards as to the manner in which Jesus was to be apprehended. Judas knew that Jesus was off in the hills with John Mark that day, and so they agreed among themselves to arrest Jesus the next evening (Thursday) after the people of Jerusalem and all of the visiting pilgrims had retired for the night.

At last, the chief priests and elders could breathe easily for a few hours. They would not have to arrest Jesus in public, and the securing of Judas as a traitorous ally ensured that Jesus would not escape from them as he had so many times in the past.

Judas returned to his associates at the camp intoxicated with thoughts of social importance and glory such as he had not had for many a day. He had joined with Jesus hoping to someday become a great man in the new kingdom. Now, he realized that there was to be no new kingdom such as he had anticipated. But he felt that he had been very smart to trade off his disappointment in failing to achieve glory in an anticipated new kingdom for the immediate realization of honor and reward in the old order, which he now believed would survive, and which he was certain would destroy Jesus and all that he stood for.

His betrayal of Jesus was the cowardly act of a selfish deserter whose only thought was his own safety and glorification, no matter what might be the results of his actions upon his Master and upon his former associates.

But it was ever just that way. Judas had long been engaged in this deliberate, persistent, selfish, and vengeful consciousness of progressively building up in his mind, and entertaining in his heart, these evil desires of revenge and disloyalty. Jesus loved and trusted Judas even as he loved and trusted the other apostles, but Judas failed to develop loyal trust and to experience wholehearted love in return. And how dangerous ambition can become when it is once wholly wedded to self-interest and motivated by vengeance!

It is sad when someone becomes so attached to worldly things that they are blind to real values and spiritual realities. It’s so easy to be disappointed in worldly things when that’s all one sees as worthwhile. Judas craved worldly honor in his mind and grew to love this desire with his whole heart. The other apostles craved this same worldly honor in their minds, too, but with their whole hearts, they loved Jesus and were doing their best to learn to love the truths which he taught them.

David Zebedee, through the work of his secret agents in Jerusalem, was fully advised concerning the progress of the plan to arrest and kill Jesus. He knew all about the part of Judas in this plot, but he never disclosed this knowledge to the other apostles nor to any of the disciples. Shortly after lunch, he did lead Jesus aside and boldly started to ask him whether he knew about it, but he never got further with his question. The Master, holding up his hand, stopped him, saying: "Yes, David, I know all about it, and I know that you know, but see to it that you tell no man. Only doubt not in your own heart that the will of God will prevail in the end."

About this time Philip came to the Master and asked him about preparations for the Passover supper. When Judas heard the Master speaking with Philip about these matters, he drew closer so that he might overhear their conversation. But David Zebedee, who was standing nearby, stepped up and engaged Judas in conversation while Philip, Peter, and John went to one side to talk with the Master.

Jesus wanted to be sure he would have this one last meal undisturbed with his apostles, and believing if Judas knew beforehand of their place of meeting, he might arrange with his enemies to take him, he made a secret arrangement with John Mark to use the upper room for the supper. It was not until he actually arrived with the other apostles that Judas found out where the last supper was to be held.

David Zebedee had a good deal of business to do with Judas so that he was easily prevented from following Peter, John, and Philip, as he so much desired to do. When Judas gave David a certain sum of money for provisions, David said to him: “Judas, might it not be well, under the circumstances, to provide me with a little money in advance of my actual needs?” And after Judas had reflected for a moment, he answered: “Yes, David, I think it would be wise. In fact, in view of the disturbed conditions in Jerusalem, I think it would be best for me to turn over all the money to you. They plot against the Master, and in case anything should happen to me, you would not be hampered.”

(This demonstrates the curious fact that, even while Judas was already steeped in the plot to betray Jesus, he still was loyal to his trust as treasurer of the apostolic party. He could not tell David that he was part of the plot, but he knew even then, that his plans might prevent him from continuing as treasurer.)

As the apostles gathered in the upper room of John Mark’s home on Thursday, April 6, 30 CE, they expected the Master to arrive any moment, but they were in a quandary as to whether they should seat themselves or await his coming and depend on him to assign them their places. While they hesitated, Judas stepped over to the seat of honor, at the left of the host, and signified that he intended to recline there as the preferred guest. This act of Judas immediately stirred up a heated dispute among the other apostles.

This supper is their last dinner with Jesus, and even in such a solemn setting, because of Judas’ example, the apostles once more gave in to their old desires for honor, preference, and personal exaltation.

As the Master knelt to wash the feet of the Apostles, all twelve arose as one man to their feet; even the traitorous Judas so far forgot his infamy for a moment as to stand up with his fellow apostles in this expression of surprise, respect, and utter amazement.

The dramatic appeal of this unusual scene at first touched Judas Iscariot’s heart; but when his vainglorious intellect passed judgment upon the spectacle, he concluded that this gesture of humility was just one more episode which conclusively proved that Jesus would never qualify as Israel's deliverer, and that he had made no mistake in the decision to desert the Master's cause.

After some time had elapsed, during the second course of the meal, Jesus, looking them over, said: "I have told you how much I desired to have this supper with you, and knowing how the evil forces of darkness have conspired to bring about the death of the Son of Man, I determined to eat this supper with you in this secret chamber and a day in advance of the Passover since I will not be with you by this time tomorrow night. I have repeatedly told you that I must return to the Father. Now has my hour come, but it was not required that one of you should betray me into the hands of my enemies."

And when Jesus had thus spoken, they all began again to ask, "Is it I?" And as Judas, sitting on the left of his Master, again asked, "Is it I?" Jesus, dipping the bread in the dish of herbs, handed it to Judas, saying, "You have said." But the others did not hear Jesus speak to Judas.

John, who reclined on Jesus' right hand, leaned over and asked the Master: "Who is it? We should know who it is that has proved untrue to his trust." Jesus answered: "Already have I told you, even he to whom I gave the sop." But it was so natural for the host to give a piece of bread to the one who sat next to him on the left that none of them took notice of this, even though the Master had so plainly spoken. But Judas was painfully conscious of the meaning of the Master's words associated with his act.

When Jesus had thus spoken, leaning over toward Judas, he said: "What you have decided to do, do quickly." And when Judas heard these words, he arose from the table and hastily left the room, going out into the night to do what he had set his mind to accomplish. When the other apostles saw Judas leave the room after Jesus had spoken to him, they thought he had gone to procure something additional for the supper or to do some other errand for the Master. They still believed that Judas carried the money.

Jesus now knew that nothing could be done to keep Judas from turning traitor. He started with twelve, now he had eleven. He chose six of these apostles, and though Judas was among those nominated by his first-chosen apostles, the Master accepted him and had, up to this very hour, done everything possible to sanctify and save him, even as he had worked for the peace and salvation of the others.

This supper, with its tender episodes and softening touches, was Jesus' last appeal to the deserting Judas, but it was of no avail. Warning, even when given in the most tactful manner and conveyed in the most kindly spirit, as a rule, only intensifies hatred when love is once really dead.

Near the end of the supper, the Master paused for a moment by the side of Judas Iscariot’s place at the table. The apostles were rather surprised that Judas had not returned before this, and they were very curious to know why Jesus looked so sad as he stood by the betrayer's vacant seat. But none of them, except possibly Andrew, entertained even the slightest thought that their treasurer had gone out to betray his Master. So much had been going on that, for the time being, they had quite forgotten about the Master's announcement that one of them would betray him.

Shortly after returning to the camp. Jesus gathered the eleven for the last group prayer, saying: “I desire that we draw apart by ourselves while we pray to our Father in heaven for strength to sustain us in this hour and henceforth in all the work we must do in his name.” And in the course of this touching prayer, the Master made clear reference to Judas, praying to the Father: “You gave me twelve men, and I have kept them all save one, the son of revenge, who would not have further fellowship with us.” After this group prayer, they arose and in silence made their way back to the nearby camp.

The resentment of Judas's being a traitor for the moment eclipsed everything else in the apostles' minds. The Master's comment in reference to Judas, spoken in the course of the last prayer, opened their eyes to the fact that he had deserted them.

The apostles were greatly shocked when they returned to their camp and found Judas absent. While the eleven were engaged in a heated discussion of their traitorous fellow apostle, David Zebedee and John Mark took Jesus to one side and revealed that they had kept Judas under observation for several days, and that they knew he intended to betray him into the hands of his enemies. Jesus listened to them but only said: "My friends, nothing can happen to the Son of Man unless the Father in heaven so wills. Let not your hearts be troubled; all things will work together for the glory of God and the salvation of men."

In ordinary circumstances, the apostles would have bidden the Master a personal good night, but this evening they were so preoccupied with the sudden realization of Judas's desertion and so overcome by the unusual nature of the Master's farewell prayer that they listened to his good-bye salutation and went away in silence.

While all this was in progress at the Master’s camp, Judas Iscariot was in conference with the captain of the temple guards, who had assembled his men preparatory to setting out, under the leadership of the betrayer, to arrest Jesus.

After Judas so abruptly left the table while eating the Last Supper, he went directly to the home of his cousin, and then they went straight to the captain of the temple guards. But he got there a little early, so there was some delay in getting the guards assembled. Judas expected to take the guards to the upper room, where he thought Jesus and the apostles were still visiting. But the Master and the eleven left the home of Elijah Mark fully fifteen minutes before the betrayer and the guards arrived. By the time the apprehenders reached the Mark home, Jesus and the eleven were well outside the walls of the city and on their way to the Olivet camp.

This was upsetting to Judas because he had hoped to take Jesus in that quieter setting of the upper room where there would be little resistance. He knew that if Jesus had to be arrested at the Gethsemane camp, there would be a much larger group of devoted disciples - and some of them would be armed with swords. Judas was becoming increasingly nervous as he meditated on how the eleven loyal apostles would detest him, and he feared they would all seek to destroy him. He was not only disloyal, but he was a real coward at heart.

So, when they failed to find Jesus in the upper chamber, Judas asked the captain of the guard to return to the temple. By this time the rulers had begun to assemble at the high priest's home preparatory to receiving Jesus, seeing that their bargain with the traitor called for Jesus' arrest by midnight of that day. Judas explained the situation and he was supplied with forty armed soldiers. Even though Jesus preached non-resistance, Judas was afraid that not all of Jesus’ followers would obey that teaching and he feared for his own safety.

When Judas Iscariot started out from the temple, about eleven-thirty, he was accompanied by more than sixty persons—temple guards, Roman soldiers, and curious servants of the chief priests and rulers.

As this band of armed soldiers and guards, carrying torches and lanterns, approached the garden, Judas stepped well out in front so that he might be ready quickly to identify Jesus, hoping that Jesus could be apprehended before anyone could rush to his defense. And there was yet another reason why Judas chose to be ahead of the Master's enemies: He thought it would appear that he had arrived on the scene ahead of the soldiers so that the apostles and others gathered about Jesus might not directly connect him with the armed guards following so closely upon his heels. Judas had even thought to pretend that he had come out to warn them of the coming of the apprehenders, but when Jesus greeted him as a traitor, that plan vanished.

As soon as Peter, James, and John, with some thirty of their fellow campers, saw the armed band with torches swing around the brow of the hill, they knew that these soldiers were coming to arrest Jesus, and they all rushed down to the olive press where the Master was sitting alone in the moonlight. As the company of soldiers approached on one side, the three apostles and their associates approached on the other. As Judas strode forward to accost the Master, there the two groups stood, motionless, with the Master between them and Judas making ready to place the traitorous kiss upon his brow.

It had been the hope of the betrayer that he could, after leading the guards to Gethsemane, simply point Jesus out to the soldiers, or at most carry out the promise to greet him with a kiss, and then quickly retire from the scene. But when the Master greeted him as a betrayer, he was so confused that he made no attempt to flee.

Jesus made one last effort to save Judas from actually betraying him. Before the traitor could reach him, he stepped to one side and, addressing the first soldier on the left, the captain of the Romans, said, "Whom do you seek?" The captain answered, "Jesus of Nazareth." Then Jesus stepped up immediately in front of the officer and, standing there in the calm majesty of the God of all this creation, said, "I am he." Many of these soldiers had heard Jesus teach in the temple, others had learned about his mighty works, and when they heard him thus boldly announce his identity, those in the front ranks fell suddenly backward. They were overcome with surprise at his calm and majestic announcement of identity.

There was really no need for Judas to go on with his plan at that point. The Master had boldly revealed himself to his enemies, and they could have taken him without Judas's assistance. But the traitor had to do something to account for his presence with this armed band, and besides, he wanted to make a show of carrying out his part of the betrayal bargain with the rulers of the Jews in order to be eligible for the great reward and honors which he believed would be heaped upon him in compensation for his promise to deliver Jesus into their hands.

So, Judas stepped up to Jesus and, placing a kiss upon his brow, said, "Hail, Master and Teacher." And as Judas embraced his Master, Jesus said, "Friend, is it not enough to do this! Would you even betray the Son of Man with a kiss?"

The apostles and disciples were literally stunned by what they saw. For a moment no one moved. Then Jesus, disengaging himself from the traitorous embrace of Judas, stepped up to the guards and soldiers and again asked, "Whom do you seek?" And again the captain said, "Jesus of Nazareth." And again answered Jesus: "I have told you that I am he. If, therefore, you seek me, let these others go their way. I am ready to go with you."

As they all left Gethsemane, Jesus in custody, Judas marched along with the soldiers but neither the Jewish captain nor the Roman officer would so much as speak to the betrayer-they held him in such contempt.

About this time John Zebedee hurried up near Jesus as he marched along between the two captains. The commander of the temple guards, seeing John come up alongside, said to his assistant: “Take this man and bind him. He is one of this fellow’s followers.” But when the Roman captain saw John, he gave orders that the apostle should come over to him, and that no man should harm him. Then the Roman captain said to the Jewish captain: “This man is neither a traitor nor a coward. I saw him in the garden, and he did not draw a sword to resist us. He has the courage to come forward to be with his Master, and no man shall lay hands on him. The Roman law allows that any prisoner may have at least one friend to stand with him before the judgment bar, and this man shall not be prevented from standing by the side of his Master, the prisoner.” And when Judas heard this, he was so ashamed and humiliated that he dropped back behind the marchers, coming up to the palace of Annas alone.

As the band of guards and soldiers approached the entrance to the palace of Annas, Judas had dropped some distance behind. John entered the palace courtyard with Jesus and the guards and Judas came up to the gate but, seeing Jesus and John, went over to the home of Caiaphas, where he knew the real trial of the Master would later take place.

It was about half past eight o'clock this Friday morning, April 7, 30 CE, when the hearing of Jesus before Pilate was ended and the Master was placed in the custody of the Roman soldiers who were to crucify him. Judas was present during the second meeting of the court, but he gave no testimony. As Caiaphas was engaged in making his report to the Sanhedrin regarding the trial and condemnation of Jesus, Judas appeared before them to claim his reward for the part he had played in his Master's arrest and sentence of death.

All of these Jews loathed Judas; they looked upon the betrayer with feelings of utter contempt. Throughout the trial of Jesus before Caiaphas and during his appearance before Pilate, Judas’ conscience was bothered about his traitorous conduct. And he was also beginning to become somewhat disillusioned regarding the reward he was to receive as payment for his services as Jesus' betrayer. He did not like the cool and aloof attitude of the Jewish authorities; nevertheless, he expected to be liberally rewarded for his cowardly conduct. He anticipated being called before the full meeting of the Sanhedrin and there hearing himself eulogized while they conferred upon him suitable honors in return for the great service which he flattered himself he had rendered his nation.

Imagine his surprise when a servant of the high priest, tapping him on the shoulder, called him just outside the hall and said: "Judas, I have been appointed to pay you for the betrayal of Jesus. Here is your reward." And the servant of Caiaphas handed Judas a bag containing thirty pieces of silver – the current price of a good, healthy slave.

Judas was stunned, dumbfounded. He rushed back to enter the hall but was blocked by the doorkeeper. He wanted to appeal to the Sanhedrin, but they would not admit him. Judas could not believe that these rulers of the Jews would allow him to betray his friends and his Master and then offer him as a reward thirty pieces of silver. He was utterly crushed. He walked away from the temple as if in a trance. He automatically dropped the money bag in his deep pocket, that same pocket where he had so long carried the bag containing the apostolic funds. And he wandered out through the city after the crowds who were on their way to witness the crucifixions.

From a distance, Judas saw them raise the cross piece with Jesus nailed upon it, and upon seeing this he rushed back to the temple and, forcing his way past the doorkeeper, found himself standing in the presence of the Sanhedrin, which was still in session. The betrayer was breathless and highly upset, but he managed to stammer out these words: "I have sinned in that I have betrayed innocent blood. You have insulted me. You have offered me money as a reward for my service – the price of a slave. I repent that I have done this; here is your money. I want to escape the guilt of what I have done."

When the rulers of the Jews heard Judas, they laughed at him. One of them sitting near where Judas stood, motioned that he should leave the hall and said: "Your Master has already been put to death by the Romans, and as for your guilt, what is that to us? Go away!"

As Judas left the Sanhedrin chamber, he removed the thirty pieces of silver from the bag and threw them over the temple floor. When the betrayer left the temple, he was almost beside himself.

Judas was now passing through the experience of the realization of the true nature of sin. All the glamor, fascination, and intoxication of wrongdoing had vanished. Now the evildoer stood alone and face to face with the judgment verdict of his own disillusioned and disappointed soul. Sin was bewitching and adventurous in the committing, but now must the naked and unromantic facts be faced.

This former ambassador of the kingdom of heaven on earth – one of Jesus’ inner circle of apostles – now walked through the streets of Jerusalem, forsaken and alone because of his own decisions and actions. His despair was desperate and almost absolute. On he journeyed through the city and outside the walls, down into the terrible solitude of the valley of Hinnom, where he climbed up the steep rocks and, taking the rope belt of his cloak, fastened one end to a small tree, tied the other about his neck, and cast himself over the precipice. Before Judas was dead, the knot which his nervous hands had tied gave way, and the betrayer's body was dashed to pieces as it fell on the jagged rocks below.

To Jesus, Judas was a faith adventure. From the beginning, the Master fully understood the weakness of this apostle and well knew the dangers of admitting him to fellowship. But it is the nature of the Sons of God to give every created being a full and equal chance for salvation and survival. Jesus wanted not only the mortals of this world but the onlookers of all the other worlds in his universe to know that, when doubts exist as to the sincerity and wholeheartedness of a creature's devotion to the kingdom, it is the practice of the Judges of men fully to receive the doubtful candidate. The door of eternal life is wide open to all; "whosoever will may come;" there are no restrictions or qualifications save the faith of the one who comes.

The apostle Andrew was very worried by Judas's attitude. At one point he sought out Jesus and presented his cause for anxiety to the Master. And Jesus said: "It is not amiss, Andrew, that you have come to me with this matter, but there is nothing more that we can do; only go on placing the utmost confidence in this apostle. And say nothing to his brethren concerning this talk with me." And that was all Jesus would say to Andrew about Judas.

But, this is just the reason why Jesus permitted Judas to go on to the very end, always believing the best of Judas and doing everything possible to transform and save this weak and confused apostle. But when light is not honestly received and lived up to, it tends to become darkness within the soul. Judas grew in his mind regarding Jesus' teachings about the kingdom, but he did not grow in the possession of spiritual character as did the other apostles. Ultimately, he failed to make satisfactory personal progress through spiritual experience.