Treachery in the Garden
In the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives outside Jerusalem, the Gospels tell the story where Judas betrays Jesus. We think of this scene from the disciples’ perspective, and from Jesus’s perspective, and rightly so. But what was it like for Judas himself to commit this treason? Did Judas regret his betrayal? And why did Judas betray Jesus?
As an author of historical fiction, I love to ask questions like this and answer it in story form. Below is an excerpt from my current work in progress, a novel that I don’t have a title for yet. Judas is not the main character in the novel (Tosca Lee already wrote such a novel – her brilliant book Iscariot). But I made him the POV character for this one scene. It picks up right after Peter sliced off Malchus’s ear. I’d love to know what you think:
Of course, Jesus would heal Malchus’s ear! Nothing surprised Judas anymore. Sadly, Jesus again did not fight back. So much power, wasted. Or had it all been trickery? Even after Peter had leaped into action, still Jesus refused to engage the enemy.
Peter had paid the price for his rashness—a bodyguard had charged in and flattened him, knocking the sword out of his arm. The other disciples, including the Zealot, had taken off running. Someone else had pieces of his clothing ripped off by branches in the panic. Luckily for Peter, the guard had been transfixed on Jesus and Malchus. Peter took advantage of the opportunity to escape into the hillside.
In front of them, there was only Jesus. Standing alone.
Judas slunk back and to the side. Scribes and priests, suddenly emboldened, circled closer with their clubs and lanterns. Malchus’s henchmen bound Jesus’s arms. Malchus remained sitting, looking bewildered.
“Have you come out against a robber, with swords and shields to capture me?” Jesus chided. “Every day I sat in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me.”
Slowly, Malchus climbed to his feet. Some of the priests looked away, unable to match gaze of Jesus. Judas studied his worn out sandals.
“No, you did not arrest me in the temple courts, in the daylight. This is your hour, and the dominion of darkness!” Jesus finished as they led him away.
Judas dared to look back up at his former mentor. He expected to see anger or disdain, but there was only pain.
Judas struggled to breathe. His head felt like it was on fire.
He deserved this.
Judas spun. Nobody there. It was as if the wind had hissed at him. Didn’t anyone hear it? The same voice had spoken to him at supper, just before Jesus dipped the bread. Nobody else had noticed then, either.
He waited for everyone to leave the garden, contemplating all that had transpired. He’d hoped to force Jesus’s hand. If Jesus didn’t act, Judas would know for sure. He’d expected to experience freedom in that. But now it was over, and nothing seemed right. They smacked the prisoner in the back of the head. Spat on him. Any faint hopes of a revolution had been dashed. Had he just made a huge mistake?
You’re a traitor.
Judas spun again. “Show yourself!”
Nothing. Earlier in the week, before his final meeting with Malchus, that voice had told him he’d be a hero. A liberator. Now it called him a traitor? The burning in his head shot down his neck into his chest. He clawed at the sides of his face, but the sensation wouldn’t go away.
He dropped to his knees, Jesus’s final words a heavy cloud hanging over his head. This is your hour, and the dominion of darkness.
Did Judas Regret his Betrayal?
In short, the answer is yes. Matthew 27:3 tells us: When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse…
Additional evidence:
- He returned the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests
- He told them he had sinned, betraying innocent blood
- He hung himself outside of Jerusalem
What kind of remorse was it? Why didn’t it save Judas?
Peter denied he knew Jesus three times. His remorse led to full repentance and restoration with Jesus. Judas’s remorse led to taking his own life and no reconciliation with Christ. What was the difference?
Submission. Judas knew he had betrayed an innocent man. He admitted such. He knew he had sinned. But he never sought reconciliation with Jesus. He never submitted to the will of God.
What is that to us?
Sadly, the chief priests responded to Judas’s confession by saying What is that to us?
They were supposed to be the spiritual guides of the people. What if they had counseled Judas? Might he have returned to faith? We’ll never know. When someone shows remorse to us, do we ever shrug and say what is that to me?
Why did Judas Betray Jesus?
There are several schools of thought as to the motivation for the treachery in the garden. It’s likely that all of these played a part:
- Greed – Judas accepted 30 pieces of silver for the betrayal. We know he was a greedy man from John 12:6 – He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
- Disillusionment – The Jews of that day expected the Messiah to lead a military revolt and set up an everlasting kingdom on this earth. When the disciples joined Jesus, it is likely that they all hoped he was the Messiah and would establish such a kingdom. They often bickered over who was the greatest. But they came to recognize that an earthly kingdom was not the plan of Jesus. Once Judas recognized this, he turned against Jesus. It came to a head when Mary of Bethany spent a massive sum on perfume to anoint Jesus before his death. Judas complained that this money could have been given to the poor, although he was probably thinking it could have funded a revolt. After Jesus rebuked him, Judas began seeking an opportunity for betrayal (Matthew 26:6-16). When his will didn’t line up with God’s will, Judas refused to submit.
- Satanic influences
- John 6:70-71: Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” 71 (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)
- John 13:2: During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him…
- Luke 22:1-6: Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, 2 and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. 3 Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. 4 And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. 5 They were delighted and agreed to give him money. 6 He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.
- Fulfilling prophecy – There are several prophecies in the old testament about betrayal of the Messiah. Judas’s actions fulfilled those prophecies.
What do you think?
What do you think the primary motivation of Judas was? Let us know in the comments. I tried to capture the satanic influences on Judas in my piece of fiction, but it could be argued that his greed and/or disillusionment is what made him susceptible.
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