Betrayal

Wednesday of Holy Week


Matthew 26:47-49

While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him.” At once he came up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you are here to do.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested him.

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(They smile in your face)
All the time they want to take your place
The back stabbers (back stabbers)

"Back Stabbers" by The O'Jays

Here's one of the great questions of scripture, "Why did Judas do what he did?" Matthew's gospel is quiet about the question of betrayal. Later gospels say that Satan had entered him and this is when he betrayed his Lord. But this is missing from the earliest gospels, Mark's and Matthew's.

So why? The gnostic Gospel of Judas says his actions were done in obedience to instructions given by Christ. This was the plan all along, and Judas was the only one who would know what goes on behind the scenes. Yes, Judas would betray his Lord but only at this Lord's insistence and by his directions. Well, the family of Judas might want this story to be true, but no. It has been discredited since 180 AD.

Another possibility for the betrayal is that Judas wanted to force Jesus to become the warrior political Christ who would free Israel from the clutches of Rome. Israel needed its freedom and if Jesus wouldn't do it on his own the Judas would give him a push. It would only make sense that given the choice between the glorious eternal freedom of the nation and death by crucifixion, glorious eternal freedom wins every time.

Well, not every time.

In truth, we can't really know why Judas did what he did. Motivation is one thing, outcome is another; and only the outcome can be known today. Judas betrayed his Lord. Whether to the Romans or to overthrow the Romans, Judas betrayed his Lord.

Matthew's version is peculiar because it features this phrase, "Friend, do what you are here to do." Jesus knew what was going to happen. He knew what was happening. Jesus knew that this had to happen, that battle was fought in Gethsemane not long before this scene. Jesus knew. Jesus knew it and Jesus expected it. Did he welcome it? Not according to Matthew's gospel.

Imagine that all along the Chief Priests and the elders were smiling over what was happening. If it was true that it is better for one to die than for many, they were getting their one. They smiled in his face while testing him. Now that try to put him in a place they denied he held, the place of the Messiah, the Christ. Back stabbers.

The Chief Priests and the elders are in charge, so does this make Judas a simple pawn in the course of history and eternity? Maybe. This doesn't make his betrayal of his Lord any better. It could well make it worse. Hinge of history? Hardly.