Who betrayed Jesus Christ? Judas Iscariot.<\/b> The disciple who followed Christ for three and a half years, saw miracles, heard sermons, and in the end sold Him for thirty pieces of silver. This is not merely a historical fact\u2014it is one of the most painful and important stories in the Gospel. Here is the exact sequence of events, the context of the \u201c30 pieces of silver,\u201d what Jesus Himself said about Judas, and what this story means for us today.<\/p>\nWho was Judas Iscariot<\/h2>\n
Judas was one of the twelve apostles, chosen by Jesus Himself (Luke 6:16). The surname \u201cIscariot\u201d probably means \u201cfrom Kerioth\u201d\u2014a small Judean town. He was the only Judean<\/b> among the apostles (the others were Galileans). Perhaps because of this the others did not fully accept him, but Jesus entrusted him with the community money box (John 13:29).<\/p>\n
The Gospel of John speaks directly about his character:<\/p>\n
\u201cThis he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.\u201d John 12:6<\/a><\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
That is, Judas stole from the common fund<\/b> \u2014long before the betrayal. His fall was not sudden, but gradual. That is the main lesson of the story.<\/p>\n
Why Judas betrayed Him \u2014 motives<\/h2>\n
The Bible does not give one simple explanation. Several possible motives:<\/p>\n
1. Money<\/h3>\n
The most obvious one. Judas himself asked the chief priests directly:<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat will you give me, and I will deliver Him to you? And they paid him thirty pieces of silver.\u201d Matt. 26:15<\/a><\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Thirty pieces of silver was the price of a slave<\/b> according to Exodus 21:32. In other words, Judas sold God for the price of a slave. That says a great deal\u2014both about his corrupted heart and about how contemptuously the chief priests valued Christ.<\/p>\n
2. Disappointment<\/h3>\n
Judas, like the other disciples, may have expected that the Messiah would be a military leader who would free Israel from the Romans. When it became clear that Jesus was speaking about a spiritual Kingdom, suffering, and the cross, Judas may have become disappointed. His betrayal could have been an attempt to \u201cforce\u201d Jesus to display power\u2014or revenge for \u201cbetrayed\u201d expectations.<\/p>\n
3. Satanic influence<\/h3>\n
The Gospel speaks plainly:<\/p>\n
\u201cThen Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve.\u201d Luke 22:3<\/a><\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
This does not mean that Judas was a mindless puppet. It means that after a long inner corruption of the heart<\/b> Satan gained direct access to him. As Paul wrote: \u201cDo not give place to the devil\u201d (Eph. 4:27). Judas was giving him place\u2014gradually.<\/p>\n
The sequence of the betrayal<\/h2>\n
Chronology according to the Gospels:<\/p>\n
\n
- Several days before Passover<\/b> Judas goes to the chief priests and offers to deliver Jesus to them (Matt. 26:14\u201316).<\/li>\n
- On Thursday evening<\/b> \u2014 the Last Supper. Jesus reveals that one of them will betray Him. Judas sits at the table and takes bread from Jesus\u2019 own hand (John 13:26).<\/li>\n
- After communion<\/b> Judas goes out into the night (John 13:30). John adds dramatically: \u201cAnd it was night.\u201d<\/i>.<\/li>\n
- In the Garden of Gethsemane<\/b> Judas comes with a crowd armed with swords and clubs. Here is a prophetic detail: he had arranged a sign with them\u2014a kiss.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\u201cWhomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him.\u201d Matt. 26:48<\/a><\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Judas betrayed God with the sign of greatest closeness. That is what entered all languages as \u201cthe kiss of Judas.\u201d<\/p>\n
What Jesus said to Judas at the moment of betrayal<\/h2>\n
The Gospels preserve striking words of Jesus at the moment of betrayal:<\/p>\n
\u201cFriend, why have you come?\u201d Matt. 26:50<\/a><\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\u201cJudas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?\u201d Luke 22:48<\/a><\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Not \u201ctraitor,\u201d not with a curse. \u201cFriend\u201d<\/i> and calling him by name. Until the very last moment, Jesus gives Judas an opportunity to come to his senses. This shows the character of God: the door of repentance is open even at the moment of the worst deed<\/b>.<\/p>\n
The end of Judas<\/h2>\n
Judas did not rejoice over the money. When he saw that Jesus had been condemned to death, he returned to the chief priests:<\/p>\n