…..The generally accepted notion is that Judas betrayed Jesus by disclosing His whereabouts and showing Him to the Jewish leaders of those day with a kiss for thirty pieces of silver.

In other words, the essence of his act of betrayal according to this belief is that Judas identified Jesus for the Jewish leaders out of a group comprising of Him and His disciples. The argument here is that Jesus and his disciples looked so much alike that the Jewish leaders of those days needed a disciple to identify Him.

But are disclosure of whereabouts and identification the real reasons why they needed a disciple and they recruited Judas?

  

Christ was reported to have made a strong impression on the priests and teachers at a very early age. He was reported to have sat among them in the Temple in Jerusalem giving wisdom-laden answers to questions and also asking questions filled with a high level of wisdom at age twelve. He was also reported to have driven money lenders and traders out of the Temple very early in His time here.

For about three and half years he was reportedly deeply entrenched  in His mission. He travelled throughout Judea and surrounding cities, preaching, performing hitherto unheard-of-miracles, mixing with the rich and the poor.

Surely this is not a personality that needed a formal identification for the Jewish leaders. He was reported to have met one on one with them answering direct questions. A week before his arrest he rode a donkey openly into Jerusalem with palm leaves laid out all the way accompanied by deafening shouts of Hosanna! Hosanna to the son of David!!  

Why would any authority need somebody to identify someone with this level of popularity?

Surely, if it was just a question of identification, there were many among the people, non-disciples who would have willingly shown them where Jesus was and identify him.

The simple fact is that much lies behind this act of betrayal beyond a mere  disclosure of whereabouts and identification.

All written accounts of Christ’s arrest show that He was arrested because the Chief Priests, the Scribes; the Jewish leaders of those days accused Him of calling Himself  the Son of God and the King of the Jews. This was the pillar of their case. Of course they needed a strong evidence to get a conviction. They needed someone close to Jesus to confirm openly through his action or otherwise that Jesus had convinced him that He is WHO they accused Him of calling Himself.  That was essentially why they needed Judas.

 

Judas’ act of betrayal of  Jesus Christ lies in showing Jesus to the authority as something He did not call Himself.

Judas betrayed Jesus by portraying Him to the authority as a king. The King of the Jews. Something He never called Himself.  This is bigger than a mere identification. This is the underlying core of Judas’ act of betrayal.

Indeed if the betrayal lies in disclosure of whereabouts and identification of Jesus’ person, this cannot but leave an ugly implication that Jesus wished to stay hidden among His disciples and this, in turn cannot but breed the conclusion that He was running from earthly death. I reject such a thought with all will power. Such can never take root in the One Who was here with the sole purpose of fulfilling the Will of His Father. Whatever it takes.  

Judas indeed gave the Jewish leaders the evidence they badly needed with the kiss he planted on Jesus.

Let it be noted that, to the Jews of those days, a kiss was an expression of reverence and adoration reserved for kings and idols. The ancient Jews kissed the Golden Calf and Baal.

These days also, it’s a religious custom among some Jews to kiss the zizit of the tallit when one is putting it on.  It is also the custom to kiss the mezuzah at the door while entering or leaving a house and to kiss the scroll of the Law when it’s about to be read.

Upon realizing the strong evidence he provided, Judas cried bitterly and committed suicide.

The Jewish leaders formerly confirmed their false charges for which they ultimately got a conviction by placing a crown of thorns on Jesus’ head.  Judas’ kiss aided them in no small measure.

Thanks be to the Father of All from Whom issued the Law which made it possible for man to receive when he seeks  

                                                                © Leo

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           Judas’ Betrayal of Christ-the Hidden Fact