One of history’s most puzzling betrayals: Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’s closest disciples, handed him over to his enemies. Why did he do it? It’s a question that has baffled people for centuries, and there isn’t one simple answer.
The most well-known reason is money. The Bible tells us Judas betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. This was a significant amount, but it seems like a small price for such a monumental act. Was it pure greed, or something more?
Some scholars believe Judas was disappointed. Many Jews, including perhaps Judas, expected a Messiah who would lead a political revolution against Roman rule and restore the Kingdom of Israel. When Jesus spoke of a spiritual kingdom and non-violence, Judas might have felt disillusioned, perhaps even trying to force Jesus’s hand.
The Bible also presents two other powerful factors. First, it was part of God’s larger divine plan, foretold centuries earlier, for Jesus to die and rise again, offering salvation. Second, the scriptures also state that Satan entered Judas, influencing his actions and compelling him towards this dark deed.
So, Judas’s betrayal was a complex mix of factors: personal greed, political disillusionment, a fulfillment of prophecy, and even demonic influence. It was a tragic, yet pivotal event in history, ultimately leading to what Christians believe is the greatest act of love: Jesus’s sacrifice.