Then one of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?" They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over. On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples approached Jesus and said, "Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?" He said, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, 'The teacher says, "My appointed time draws near; in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples."'" The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered, and prepared the Passover. When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, "Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me." Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after another, "Surely it is not I, Lord?" He said in reply, "He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me. The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born." Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, "Surely it is not I, Rabbi?" He answered, "You have said so." (Mt 26:14-25)
The figure of Judas is one of the darkest in the gospels. Cheating someone is wrong and ugly and mean. But betrayal is worse than cheating. Betrayal is something horrible and that is why when the man realizes that he has betrayed his close friend he is not able to live. To trust a betrayer needs greater and godly quality of love. No ordinary person will love or trust his betrayer.
Judas was one of the twelve. He was like anyone of the others. He shared their common life; he was trusted and valued friend. He has listened to the parables of Jesus and seen all the wonderful deeds of Jesus. He was trusted with the purse of the group. He was probably looking after the material needs of the community of the disciples.
Then why did he do so? We will never be able to arrive at the motivation of Judas that compelled him to betray. Certainly it would not have been the money. Probably, I say probably, he thought that Jesus would take the society for liberation when he saw him cleansing the temple. He caused a stir in Jerusalem. And now the very same Jesus was talking about death. Judas felt that he was cheated. His hope was shattered. He lost the leader he dreamt of.
