Judas
Who betrayed Jesus? Well that's an easy question I hear you say, it was Judas! But is the answer 'Judas' that simple? The reason I say this is because if you dig a little deeper, it becomes obvious that the betrayal of Jesus is a more complex event involving many individuals and groups, with each contributing to his betrayal in different ways, let's have a look,
Firstly and without question has to be Judas Iscariot.
He's a friend, a disciple of jesus who in the gospels is named as the one who betrayed Jesus by handing Him over to the religious authorities, we read it here in Matthews gospel;
Matthew 26:14-16
Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, and said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.
Matthew 26:47-50
While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.” Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.
But is there any Biblical significance behind this?
Well it just so happens that Judas' actions were fortold in scripture! and were part of God's sovereign plan for humanitys salvation. (the Lord works in all things for the good!)
Psalms 41:9
Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me.
Zechariah 11:12-13
I told them, “If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.” So they paid me thirty pieces of silver. And the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—the handsome price at which they valued me! So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter at the house of the Lord.
However, all of us are accountable for our actions and righly so Judas is held accountable for his personal choice to betray Jesus. Which highlights the tension between divine sovereignty and human responsibility!
Ever since, Judas' choice to betray Jesus has been considered a symbol of greed, treachery, and ultimately the betrayal of friendship!
But what about Caiaphas and the Religious Leaders?
The Jewish people's high priest Caiaphas and other religious leaders conpired together to orchestrate Jesus' trial in order to condemn Him to death, even after everything they had seen and heard about him!
Matthew 26:47-68
While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.” Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled. Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled. But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome. The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’ ” Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?” “He is worthy of death,” they answered. Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?”
The religious leaders betrayal reveals the established religious orders rejection of Jesus as 'Messiah'. They were more concerned with maintaining their positions within the establishment and their Roman overlords than opening their eyes to recognising Jesus as God's promised Messiah! (Has anything changed today, are we not the same? We claim to to discern God's will while our institutions religiously maintain themselves religiously!) Religious hypocrites I say, prioritising institutional authority over God's divine truth!
Then there's the Crowd
The crowd that had once welcomed Jesus with shouts of "Hosanna" turn on Him and demanded His crucifixion, prefering to release the criminal, Barabbas rather than Jesus
Matthew 27:20-23
But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed. “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor. “Barabbas,” they answered. “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!” “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
All of Hhumanity is fickle, and our natural desire is always to turn away from God seek our own desires and reject His salvation. The crowd cry out to release Barabbas only days after laying palm brances on the road before jesus while shout out Hosanna! How fickle and wavering human nature and human faith is under the influence of worldly pressures! (Has anything changed today?)
Then there is Peter
Peter, always the first t speak and act, the first to jump out of the boat, one of Jesus' closest disciples, yet he denied knowing Jesus three times
Matthew 26:69-75
Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said. But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.” He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!” After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.” Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Poor Peter, his denial highlights the weakness of human resolve and our need for grace and forgiveness. But Peter repented and was restored, demonstrating God's grace and mercy to gift us redemption. Peter represents the struggle of faith and the grace and mercy of God when we repent of our sins.
Finally we need to consider ourselves!
Becasue from a theological perspective, all humanity is implicated in the betrayal of Jesus because sin necessitated His sacrificial death
Isaiah 53:6
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Romans 3:23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Jesus' death was the result of human sin, and His sacrifice was offered to redeem all people. Humanity's betrayal highlights the depth of God's love and grace in sending Jesus to die for us sinners.
Whilst Judas Iscariot is the primary betrayer of Jesus, his betrayal extends to the religious leaders, the crowd, Peter, and ultimately all of us!
As you've seen each group or individual represents different aspects of our collective human failures and sins. But thankfully the story of Jesus' betrayal and crucifixion ultimately points to God's redemptive plan for fallen humanity. One of the marvels of our God is that he is able to use the actions of sinful people to bring about salvation for the world, God truly does work in and through all things for the good!
Have a great week, and God bless,
Trev.