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==177:4. JUDAS AND THE CHIEF PRIESTS==

==177:4. JUDAS AND THE CHIEF PRIESTS==

177:4.1 Shortly after Jesus and John Mark left the camp, Judas Iscariot disappeared from among his brethren, not returning until late in the afternoon. This confused and discontented apostle, notwithstanding his Master's specific request to refrain from entering Jerusalem, went in haste to keep his appointment with Jesus' enemies at the home of Caiaphas the high priest. This was an informal meeting of the Sanhedrin and had been appointed for shortly after 10 o'clock that morning. This meeting was called to discuss the nature of the charges which should be lodged against Jesus and to decide upon the procedure to be employed in bringing him before the Roman authorities for the purpose of securing the necessary civil confirmation of the death sentence which they had already passed upon him.

177:4.1 Shortly after [[Jesus]] and [[John Mark]] left the camp, [[Judas Iscariot]] disappeared from among his brethren, not returning until late in the afternoon. This [[confused]] and discontented [[apostle]], notwithstanding his Master's specific request to refrain from entering [[Jerusalem]], went in haste to keep his appointment with [[Jesus]]' [[enemies]] at the [[home]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caiaphas Caiaphas] the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kohen_Gadol high priest]. This was an informal [[meeting]] of the [[Sanhedrin]] and had been appointed for shortly after 10 o'clock that [[morning]]. This [[meeting]] was called to [[discuss]] the [[nature]] of the charges which should be lodged against [[Jesus]] and to [[decide]] upon the [[procedure]] to be employed in bringing him before the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_governor Roman authorities] for the [[purpose]] of securing the necessary [[civil]] [[confirmation]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment death sentence] which they had already passed upon him.

177:4.2 On the preceding day Judas had disclosed to some of his relatives and to certain Sadducean friends of his father's family that he had reached the conclusion that, while Jesus was a well-meaning dreamer and idealist, he was not the expected deliverer of Israel. Judas stated that he would very much like to find some way of withdrawing gracefully from the whole movement. His friends flatteringly assured him that his withdrawal would be hailed by the Jewish rulers as a great event, and that nothing would be too good for him. They led him to believe that he would forthwith receive high honors from the Sanhedrin, and that he would at last be in a position to erase the stigma of his well-meant but " unfortunate association with untaught Galileans. "

177:4.2 On the preceding day [[Judas Iscariot|Judas]] had disclosed to some of his [[relatives]] and to certain [[Sadducean]] [[friends]] of his [[father]]'s [[family]] that he had reached the conclusion that, while [[Jesus]] was a well-meaning dreamer and [[idealist]], he was not the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Messianism expected deliverer of Israel]. [[Judas Iscariot|Judas]] [[stated]] that he would very much like to find some way of withdrawing [[gracefully]] from the whole [[movement]]. His [[friends]] [[Flattery|flatteringly]] [[assured]] him that his withdrawal would be hailed by the [[Jewish]] rulers as a great [[event]], and that nothing would be too [[good]] for him. They led him to [[believe]] that he would forthwith receive high [[honors]] from the [[Sanhedrin]], and that he would at last be in a position to erase the [[stigma]] of his well-meant but " unfortunate [[association]] with untaught [[Galileans]]. "

177:4.3 Judas could not quite believe that the mighty works of the Master had been wrought by the power of the prince of devils, but he was now fully convinced that Jesus would not exert his power in self-aggrandizement; he was at last convinced that Jesus would allow himself to be destroyed by the Jewish rulers, and he could not endure the humiliating thought of being identified with a movement of defeat. He refused to entertain the idea of apparent failure. He thoroughly understood the sturdy character of his Master and the keenness of that majestic and merciful mind, yet he derived pleasure from even the partial entertainment of the suggestion of one of his relatives that Jesus, while he was a well-meaning fanatic, was probably not really sound of mind; that he had always appeared to be a strange and misunderstood person.

177:4.3 [[Judas Iscariot|Judas]] could not quite [[believe]] that the mighty works of [[the Master]] had been wrought by the [[power]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beelzebub prince of devils], but he was now fully [[Certainty|convinced]] that [[Jesus]] would not exert his [[power]] in [[self]]-[[aggrandizement]]; he was at last convinced that [[Jesus]] would allow himself to be [[Murder|destroyed]] by the [[Sanhedrin|Jewish rulers]], and he could not [[endure]] the [[humiliating]] [[thought]] of being identified with a [[movement]] of [[defeat]]. He refused to entertain the [[idea]] of [[apparent]] [[failure]]. He thoroughly [[understood]] the sturdy [[character]] of his Master and the keenness of that [[majestic]] and [[merciful]] [[mind]], yet he derived [[pleasure]] from even the partial [[entertainment]] of the suggestion of one of his [[relatives]] that [[Jesus]], while he was a well-meaning [[fanatic]], was probably not really sound of [[mind]]; that he had always [[appeared]] to be a [[strange]] and misunderstood [[person]].

177:4.4 And now, as never before, Judas found himself becoming strangely resentful that Jesus had never assigned him a position of greater honor. All along he had appreciated the honor of being the apostolic treasurer, but now he began to feel that he was not appreciated; that his abilities were unrecognized. He was suddenly overcome with indignation that Peter, James, and John should have been honored with close association with Jesus, and at this time, when he was on the way to the high priest's home, he was bent on getting even with Peter, James, and John more than he was concerned with any thought of betraying Jesus. But over and above all, just then, a new and dominating thought began to occupy the forefront of his conscious mind: He had set out to get honor for himself, and if this could be secured simultaneously with getting even with those who had contributed to the greatest disappointment of his life, all the better. He was seized with a terrible conspiracy of confusion, pride, desperation, and determination. And so it must be plain that it was not for money that Judas was then on his way to the home of Caiaphas to arrange for the betrayal of Jesus.

177:4.4 And now, as never before, [[Judas Iscariot|Judas]] found himself becoming strangely resentful that [[Jesus]] had never assigned him a position of greater [[honor]]. All along he had [[appreciated]] the [[honor]] of being the apostolic [[treasurer]], but now he began to [[feel]] that he was not appreciated; that his [[abilities]] were unrecognized. He was suddenly overcome with [[indignation]] that [[Peter, the Apostle|Peter]], [[James, the Apostle|James]], and [[John, the Apostle|John]] should have been [[honored]] with [close [[association]] with [[Jesus]], and at this time, when he was on the way to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kohen_Gadol high priest]'s [[home]], he was bent on getting even with [[Peter, the Apostle|Peter]], [[James, the Apostle|James]], and [[John, the Apostle|John]] more than he was concerned with any [[thought]] of [[betraying]] [[Jesus]]. But over and above all, just then, a new and [[dominating]] [[thought]] began to occupy the forefront of his [[conscious]] [[mind]]: He had set out to get [[honor]] for himself, and if this could be secured [[simultaneously]] with getting even with those who had contributed to the greatest [[disappointment]] of his life, all the better. He was seized with a terrible [[conspiracy]] of [[confusion]], [[pride]], desperation, and [[determination]]. And so it must be plain that it was not for [[money]] that [[Judas Iscariot|Judas]] was then on his way to the [[home]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caiaphas Caiaphas] to arrange for the [[betrayal]] of [[Jesus]].

177:4.5 As Judas approached the home of Caiaphas, he arrived at the final decision to abandon Jesus and his fellow apostles; and having thus made up his mind to desert the cause of the kingdom of heaven, he was determined to secure for himself as much as possible of that honor and glory which he had thought would sometime be his when he first identified himself with Jesus and the new gospel of the kingdom. All of the apostles once shared this ambition with Judas, but as time passed they learned to admire truth and to love Jesus, at least more than did Judas.

177:4.5 As Judas approached the home of Caiaphas, he arrived at the final decision to abandon Jesus and his fellow apostles; and having thus made up his mind to desert the cause of the kingdom of heaven, he was determined to secure for himself as much as possible of that honor and glory which he had thought would sometime be his when he first identified himself with Jesus and the new gospel of the kingdom. All of the apostles once shared this ambition with Judas, but as time passed they learned to admire truth and to love Jesus, at least more than did Judas.