Jesus taught that we were to obey the law of the people, or obey the law of the land. Jesus was a wanted criminal. Judas simply did his civic duty by informing the peace officers in his town where a wanted crimial was being harbored. So technically Jesus asked Judas to do what he did. Why do people consider him to be the betrayer of Christ, when he abided by Christ's own teachings?
2006-08-04 12:53:07 · 31 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The view that Judas merely discharged his civic duty is technically correct. However, he knew that the offence for which the authorities were on the lookout for Jesus were pursuant to a complants by some persons(Jews) whose financial interests had been jeopardised by insistence of Christ to keep the public places of worship pure and that no mundane activities such as money lending should be carried on there.It is not that the Roman Authorities had feared that his teachings would enganger their empire. In fact Christ has asked the people to give the Roman his dues. He had not raised any benner of revolt against the Roman occupation of Palestine. (Judea).In fact the Romans did not appear to be very keen to arrest Jesus or to hand him. They had given a choice to the mob to make a choice between Jesus and the other dacoit as one of them was entitled to pardon on account of some Roman festival.Judea was the disciple of Christ and it was not that he was not happy with his teachings and suspected it would have an adverse effect on the society.He really had no reason to expose Christ. Even from a highly moral place it can be said that if a butcher was in pursuit of an ecasped cow it is the duty of a person who knows where it went to deliberately misguide the pursuer. He may technically be charged with speaking untruth but seeing to the motivation even the gods would excuse him for that. To justify Judea would be the same as protesting against the person in the above case as a liar. Moreover the Romans were not highly spoken of about their sense of justice and fiar play. So that it could be argued that Judea believed that there would a regular trial where evidence would be led and Christ let off. In fact, they were on the lookout for him for crucifying him. The decision has already been taken.
I am rather inclined to believe an alternate version where Christ was given a chance to run away and return after matter had more or less settled down. He did run away but could not come back. A burial place in Kashmir is pointed out as the place where he rests in peace. They say the Romans caught a substitute and crucified him instead.Even if it may not be true I earnest believe that it is true.It would also absolve Judea from a crime which he never committed.
2006-08-04 13:15:38 · answer #1 · answered by Prabhakar G 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I believe that you have to balance out what's important on this issue. . .
Even though Judas did obey the law of the land, isn't his first responsibility to Christ?Jesus did say to abide by the law of the people, but if the law of the people said jump off a cliff if you're older then 40, should you still listen? I think that Judas should not have betrayed Jesus, even if he was listening to Christ's teachings. . .
2006-08-04 12:58:42 · answer #2 · answered by Smile 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I prefer the interpretation in "The Last Temptation of Christ"-- book burners, just shut up, I'm not talking to you. In order for Christ to be crucified and resurrected, SOMEONE had to turn Him in. I don't think that Judas's action was betrayal, it was the fulfillment of his purpose in the plan. As far as taking money, I doubt that the Romans would have believed him if he hadn't accepted the reward. He would have looked like a looney otherwise.
It was a duty to his Teacher and Messiah. It just had to be done, that's all. And the only person with enough backbone to do so without backing out on the fullfillment of the Prophesies was Judas. Honestly, folks, who do you think would be stronger in this situation, a fisherman, a fisherman, another fisherman, or a former tax collector?
2006-08-04 13:03:17 · answer #3 · answered by Angela M 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The words 'criminal' and 'betray' are subjective words dependent on the judgement of individuals or a group of individuals. Jesus was fully aware of what Judas would do and told him as much at the Last Supper.
Judas might have been considered to have being doing his duty as a Roman citizen (but probably not as a Jew), however his sin was to accept money for the information and he wasn't able to live with that afterwards.
It is worth praying for his soul.
2006-08-04 13:02:42 · answer #4 · answered by Owlwings 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ok...but Christ didn't put the law of the land before His own law. and Jesus wasn't a wanted criminal. well ok..He wasn't a criminal. People were confused by the unfamiliar so the thought that the answer would be to say that He was a criminal. Judas did betray Jesus.
2006-08-04 12:57:26 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Judas did not do it to follow the law, he did it for the money. Don't you remember he was also the one who wanted to sell the perfume? Also nothing about the arrest or trial was legal. They did it in the dark of night when the whole council could not be convened. You say that "Jesus was a wanted criminal". Really, of what crime?
We are told to follow the laws of man, only as long as they do not contradict the laws of God.
Sorry you have stretched the truth so far that you are wrong by every measure.
2006-08-04 13:02:23 · answer #6 · answered by unicorn 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus was not a criminal. He kept all the law as well as the civil laws of Rome. He was accused of blasphemy because He called Himself equal with God. He is only guilty if it was not true. Since it was true, then Judas spoke rightly when he confessed that he had betrayed innocent blood.
Was Jesus a liar when he said to Judas, "You betray your Master with a kiss?" Jesus called it a betrayal. He also called him a devil. Our characterism of Judas is accurate.
2006-08-04 12:55:49 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes the Bible says so therefore I believe that Judas really betrayed Jesus!
Your logic is not correct! Jesus was not a criminal and he did not ask Judas to betray him! Jesus knew what Judas was going to do!
2006-08-04 13:01:30 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I like to believe that Judas had the hardest job. I don't believe that Judas would have turned in Jesus (even if a law was broken) unless Jesus himself asked. Jesus knew that he was to be handed over and crucified. Someone had to do the handing over, and he chose Judas.
2006-08-04 12:56:31 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus wasn't a wanted criminal. If he had been a wanted criminal, the chief priests could have had him arrested while he was publicly preaching and teaching. Instead, because there were no charges to bring against him, they took him by night with Judas' help and convicted him of blasphemy for calling himself the Messiah (when in fact he was the Messiah, and therefore he was committing no crime in calling himself such).
2006-08-04 12:58:13 · answer #10 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋