Expert: Ernie Laurence, Jr. - 6/8/2010

Question
QUESTION: Dear Ernie,

Please answer my questions about Judas.

1.Why Judas had to betray Jesus. I mean since Jesus was a popular and famous personality, why did the authorities need a person to betray Jesus.
2.Can we say that Judas has committed sin by betraying Jesus? Provide supporting verses.
3.Is Judas a man of good character?

Expecting your reply.

Regards,
Praywin

ANSWER: Hey Praywin,

I'll answer the questions using the same numbers you used.

1.  Luke 22:6 gives us the best indication of why Judas was needed.  The multitude of people who followed Jesus really liked him and were never far from him.  The Sanhedrin needed to know of a time when Jesus would be away from the crowd and who better than one of his inner circle to give them that information.  In the garden itself, the guards may or may not have known who Jesus was (even though they may have, and likely had, heard of him).  Judas went with them to positively identify Jesus so that there would be no mistakes.  That first century AD was a time of political upheaval for the Jews as we see from the nature of Barabas.

2.  Yes, Judas sinned.  Even he recognized that he had done so (Matt. 27:4).

3.  Judas is dead, and at his own hand no less.  While alive I believe that Judas did do good as a follower of Jesus.  He followed him from the immersion by John until that betrayal night.  But Judas also was a thief (John 12:6) and it was because of money that he betrayed Christ.  We see that his contract with the chief priests is recorded in the gospel accounts right after he sees Mary anoint Jesus with the oil.  The love of money gripped him.  Ultimately, Judas chose to commit suicide after betraying Jesus rather than taking the road of repentance as Peter did after Peter's betrayal.  So I would conclude that Judas was not a man of good character.

In Truth and Love,

Ernie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dear Ernie,
First of all I would like to thank you for the patience and kindness you are showing me in answering all my questions.
I have a few follow-up questions in the same topic. The questions are as follows.
When Judas betrayed Jesus did he expect a miracle to happen and God would set him free, by the way he also would earn money through that. Few people say that Jesus disappeared once when he was about to get caught, but I did not find any supporting verse.
Please quote some prophecies about Judas Iscariot betraying Jesus and relative events.

Regards,
Praywin

Answer
Praywin,

~~~~First of all I would like to thank you for the patience and kindness you are showing me in answering all my questions.~~~~

You are welcome.  I am always happy to study the Bible with honest students.

~~~~When Judas betrayed Jesus did he expect a miracle to happen and God would set him free, by the way he also would earn money through that.~~~~

There is no indication in scripture of this.

~~~~Few people say that Jesus disappeared once when he was about to get caught, but I did not find any supporting verse.~~~~

Some might be referring to John 10:39 where Jesus was about to be stoned but escaped or even more likely Luke 4:28-30.  But there is no indication in scripture that he "disappeared".

~~~~Please quote some prophecies about Judas Iscariot betraying Jesus and relative events.~~~~

There are a few that I know of.  Psa. 69:25 (quoted in Acts 1:20) and Psa. 109 (most comprehensive and specific circa Acts 1:20 and the events recorded in the gospel accounts surrounding Judas's betrayal of Jesus).  You also have Zechariah 11:12-13; Psa. 41:9 and a few others alluding to him such as Jeremiah 19 and 32 and the potters field.

In Truth and Love,

Ernie