Betrayal and Arrest
- Jesus is betrayed by Judas Iscariot.
In the Course, he says that he was “betrayed” for he did not believe in betrayal. He did not believe in persecution, attack, sin, death, etc…
Judas gets thirty pieces, the price of a slave, for selling the Master.
Judas
Judas Iscariot was one of the Twelve.
Known facts from the canonical Gospels: • He handled the common purse (John 12:6). • He approached the chief priests with an offer to hand Jesus over (Mark 14:10–11). • He received payment of thirty silver coins (Matthew 26:15). • He provided the authorities with precise knowledge of Jesus’ movements.
Motivations mentioned in ancient sources include: • dissatisfaction or disillusionment • expectation of a political messiah not fulfilled • influence of the chief priests • the financial motive • the claim in John 13:27 that “Satan entered him” as part of the narrative frame
There is no evidence he had prior dealings with the Romans. All accounts involve the Jewish authorities (chief priests, temple officers) as the ones who negotiated with him.
The kiss was also a practical signal: in low light, in a crowded olive grove, officials needed certainty about who to seize.
The Crowd
There is always a crowd when some act of barbarity occurs…
The Synoptics describe the group as: • “a crowd with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and elders” (Matthew 26:47 and Mark 14:43.)
John 18:3 adds: • a “detachment of soldiers” (Greek: speira, which can refer to Roman auxiliary troops), • temple police, • officers from the chief priests.
Most scholars believe the majority were temple guards under the authority of the high priest. Roman involvement would have been limited; the Romans permitted temple authorities to police their own religious precincts, especially for internal disputes.
There is no fixed number given.
He who lives by the sword dies by the sword
All four Gospels mention one disciple drawing a sword. John identifies him as Peter and names the servant as Malchus.
Betrayed by a Kiss
To be betrayed by a kiss is to be betrayed by a lover…
Perhaps Judas did what he did because of his love for Yeshua….?
He did it because he thought it would goad Yeshua into taking action and being the earthly king he wanted him to be…
“Friend, do what you came to do”
Even in this, Yeshua is teaching and calling him to fulfill his will, to follow through with playing his part in the drama.