I will start by going out on a limp by saying that “99% of Christians know who Judas is”. Judas is the popular scriptural character who betrayed Our Lord Jesus Christ. This article is based on the reason for this betrayal.
Most times, we hear people say that Judas betrayed Jesus Christ because of greed and love for money. This idea has almost become part of the Christian faith due to its acceptance and constant reaffirmation by a majority of Christians. Though this idea seems to be implied by Scripture,it is not fully correct (if it is correct at all). The reasons are not really hard to see.
Firstly, Our Lord Jesus Christ called Judas to be an apostle. Judas probably had a business orientation and so he was placed in charge of the finances of the Apostles. The Gospel according to Saint John tells us that Judas was stealing from the purse of Jesus and his apostles. If he was as business oriented as is depicted in Scripture, would he have opted for just 30 pieces of SILVER? Would he have thrown away a regular source of income(though he was stealing it) just for a 1-off 30 pieces of Silver deal? NO!
Secondly, Scripture does not tell us that Judas went to the Pharisees because he needed money. It does not even seem likely.
It is necessary to understand what Judas was paid for to understand why he went to the Pharisees in the first place. What did Judas tell the Pharisees about Jesus that was worth them working/dealing with him? It could not have been the location of Christ because that information was basically open to everyone. Our Lord Jesus Christ taught publicly in Synagogues and was not arrested. Our Lord Jesus Christ publicly entered into Jerusalem and was not arrested.
Again i ask, What did Judas tell the Pharisees about Jesus that was worth them working/dealing with him? Was it Christ’s location or was it a statement, teaching or action of Christ on which the Pharisees could arrest and try him? Obviously, it is the latter and not the former.
What was this statement, teaching or action of Christ?
Let us go back a little bit to the sixth chapter of Saint John’s Gospel. There we have the Introduction of The Holy Eucharist. In verses 25 – 59, Our Lord Jesus Christ says that He is the Bread of life. In verse 53, Christ says “Truly, I say to you, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.”
How did the people react? In verse 60.”This teaching is too hard.” After that, they left. Christ turned to his apostles and asked if they would also leave. On their behalf, Keifa(Peter) replies “Lord, to whom shall we go? you have the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Our Lord Jesus Christ then replies and speaks for the first time about his death. So, at the first mention of the Eucharist, there is the first mention of the betrayal.
Let us now move to the last supper. There we have the Institution of The Holy Eucharist. Immediately after(During) the Institution of The Holy Eucharist, Judas goes to betray Our Lord Jesus Christ.
NOTE:-
(JOHN 6) The first mention of the Eucharist — The first mention of the betrayal.
(JOHN 13) The actual celebration of the Eucharist — The actual betrayal.
Judas betrayed Christ because of the Eucharist. He could not believe that the Eucharist was the Body and Blood of the Lamb of God. He could not accept a modification of the Passover which he celebrated every year as a Jew. For him, just like the crowd in John 6, the teaching was too hard. He could neither listen to it nor accept it.
JOHN 6:66 states clearly that after rejecting the teaching on the Eucharist,the people turned, left Christ and never followed Christ again. In the same vein, anyone who denies the Real Presence in The Holy Eucharist turns away from Christ and no longer follows him.
Everyone who denies the Eucharist and still pretends to follow Our Lord Jesus Christ is nothing but a MODERN JUDAS.
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