Lesson #17 - The Apostle Judas Iscariot (Pt B)

Terry Siverd
12/11/19 - Wed Bible Study

LESSON #17 – THE APOSTLE JUDAS ISCARIOT (ptB)   

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS ABOUT JUDAS

 1) Why and how did Judas betray Jesus?

The how portion of this question is detailed in Scripture.

~ Judas had struck a bargain to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver (Mt.26:14-16;  Mk.14:10-11  and  Lk.22:3-6).

~ Jn.13:26 shows Judas departing from the Passover supper (the night before Jesus' crucifixion) to begin the betrayal.

The other apostles assumed that he was running an errand or taking food/money to help the needy,

but Jesus knew what Judas was up to and said to him, “What you do, do quickly” (Jn.13:28).

~ Jn.18:1ff details the arrival of Judas to the garden of Gethsemane (where Jesus often prayed).

He brought with him a Roman battalion plus officers from the chief priests, Pharisees, scribes and elders.

They came with lanterns, torches and weapons (swords & clubs), intent on arresting Jesus.

~ Judas betrayed Jesus with a “kiss” while Jesus called him “friend” (Mt.26:48-50).

Despite the multitude that came to arrest Him, had Jesus not gone willingly, no army could have taken Him.

One of the disciples used a sword in defense, but was rebuked by Jesus.  cf. Mt.26:51; Mk.14:47-48; Lk.22:49-51 and Jn.18:10.

The power of Jesus is evident in Jn.18:6, which notes that when Jesus said, “I AM”, His opponents fell over backwards.

In Mt.26:53, Jesus reminds His disciples that He had the power to call 12 legions of angels, but chose not to do so.

The why part of this question is not so easily answered.

~ Was it just for the money?  cf. Lk.22:2-6

~ In his misguided zealotry was Judas trying to light a fire under Jesus to make Jesus act like a real Messiah?

Was Judas genuinely trying to assist Jesus by “forcing His hand”?

~ Was Judas “possessed” to the point of being unable to control himself? 

Regarding the Twelve, Jesus said, one of you is a devil (Jn.6:70).

Jn.13:2 records, during (the) supper, the devil, having already put into the heart of Judas...to betray Him.

Lk.22:23 states, Satan entered Judas who was called Iscariot.

Similarly, Jn.13:27 notes, Satan then entered him.

How does one explain the difference between the above citations and Lk.22:31-32?

~ Was Judas merely a pawn or a puppet in the hand of God who was orchestrating His plan to redeem mankind?

2) Was Judas' “fall from grace” a sudden plummet or a gradual descent?

~ If Judas was the only one of the Twelve who was not a Galilean, did he come with a chip on his shoulder?

~ Was Judas an outright, dyed-in-the-wool zealot who was bent on doing things his way from the start?

When washing the feet of the disciples, Jesus said of the Twelve, you are clean, but not all of you (Jn.13:10-11).

Although all three synoptic gospels (Mt.10:4;  Mk.3:19  and  Lk.6:16) label Judas as the one who betrayed Jesus,

it would be an assumption to conclude that he was rotten from the beginning.  Did not Jesus choose all Twelve (Jn.6:70)?

~ Though honored in being the keeper of the purse for the Twelve, somewhere along the way he became a thief (Jn.12:4-6). 

~ Was Judas enamored by Jesus at the outset but later became disenchanted with Jesus' style of Messianic leadership?

Had Judas become a traitor?  Note his duplicity is saying to Jesus at the Supper, Surely it is not I, Rabbi? (Mt.26:20-25).

~ Was Judas overpowered by Satan to the extent that he had no power to resist temptation?  cf. 1Cor.10:13

~ Was Judas born “a son of perdition” (Jn.17:12) or did he become a son of perdition?