08-17-2009, 09:04 PM
Back while Jesus walked with his disciples up until the time that the disciples were scattered / seperated from Jesus until the crucifixion it was generally believed that the Messiah would save the Jewish people from the Romans. From the days after the crucifixion and especially with the more coherent Christian faiths / groups arising with the idea that Judas was a betrayer or even Satans incarnate having little or no good intentions, was a popular belief and much hate has been directed to Judas as a result of this belief.
The scriptures don't relate much about Judas motivation, but it seems very sensible that Judas wanted to force a conflict. A conflict that would force Jesus to call on the myriad of angels to fullfill the then popular interpretation of the coming of the messiah 2000 years ish ago. After all it didn't seem anything else could happen if scriptures stayed true, considdering that Judas actions ended Jesus up in Roman custody and Jesus crucifixion. If Jesus was to fullfill Israels popular interpretation of the time that event could undoubtly have been a hallmark or trigger in which there would have had to be divine intervention in order for Gods Kingdom to come down from heaven on earth right there and then with Jesus as its king. Most of the Israelite people believed that the heavenly kingdom would be physicly manifest at that time. No doubt many of the disciples probably believed this atleast for a long time before Jesus crucifixion.
When Jesus was seen as dead by most of who knew him before his crucifixion, the vision of Gods Kingdom from heaven on earth was up in the air (so to speak). The faith of his believers was shaken and tested as reality was beginning to sink in to most of the people that knew him before his crufixion. As peter took up his old fishing profession, after having denied his dear Lord and Teacher and probably feeling guilty to some extent. Israel having its popular interpretation of the prophocies along with most of the other Israelites that believed along with the disciples, apparantly in shambles. Judas probably feeling the most guilt of all of the people, considdering the thing he had done. Judas was not greedy in that time as he tried to give his reward back nor was he cold about what he did because he wouldn't have killed himself if he was.
The possibility that Judas actions were hardly as dark as conventionally they were thought to be, seems very real. All the dark emotions that were directed to him were not justified nearly enough.
It seems to me it is much more reasonable to believe Judas intended to force a confrontation that would result in Israels freedom from Rome. The alternative motivation is not well supported by scripture. Judas denied any apparant earthly benefits and sought his demise because of his remorse. Most of Israel would have been glad to help the popular interpretation of the time along. This included the disciples and Judas until some time before, during or shortly after Jesus crucifixion.
Now i may be ringing an old bell, but i feel it needs a little repeating.
The scriptures don't relate much about Judas motivation, but it seems very sensible that Judas wanted to force a conflict. A conflict that would force Jesus to call on the myriad of angels to fullfill the then popular interpretation of the coming of the messiah 2000 years ish ago. After all it didn't seem anything else could happen if scriptures stayed true, considdering that Judas actions ended Jesus up in Roman custody and Jesus crucifixion. If Jesus was to fullfill Israels popular interpretation of the time that event could undoubtly have been a hallmark or trigger in which there would have had to be divine intervention in order for Gods Kingdom to come down from heaven on earth right there and then with Jesus as its king. Most of the Israelite people believed that the heavenly kingdom would be physicly manifest at that time. No doubt many of the disciples probably believed this atleast for a long time before Jesus crucifixion.
When Jesus was seen as dead by most of who knew him before his crucifixion, the vision of Gods Kingdom from heaven on earth was up in the air (so to speak). The faith of his believers was shaken and tested as reality was beginning to sink in to most of the people that knew him before his crufixion. As peter took up his old fishing profession, after having denied his dear Lord and Teacher and probably feeling guilty to some extent. Israel having its popular interpretation of the prophocies along with most of the other Israelites that believed along with the disciples, apparantly in shambles. Judas probably feeling the most guilt of all of the people, considdering the thing he had done. Judas was not greedy in that time as he tried to give his reward back nor was he cold about what he did because he wouldn't have killed himself if he was.
The possibility that Judas actions were hardly as dark as conventionally they were thought to be, seems very real. All the dark emotions that were directed to him were not justified nearly enough.
It seems to me it is much more reasonable to believe Judas intended to force a confrontation that would result in Israels freedom from Rome. The alternative motivation is not well supported by scripture. Judas denied any apparant earthly benefits and sought his demise because of his remorse. Most of Israel would have been glad to help the popular interpretation of the time along. This included the disciples and Judas until some time before, during or shortly after Jesus crucifixion.
Now i may be ringing an old bell, but i feel it needs a little repeating.