This is how Christianity tells the famous story of the betrayal since old times to today: around
30 AD the divine presence has began to spread its cover over the city scorched within its walls. Just hours before the commencement of Passover, the narrow streets of Jerusalem are full of merchants’ carts and their merchandise, Jews are running around here and there making the last minute purchases for the holiday. The preparations before the gathering for the Passover meal and the holy temple with its shining light of gold is touching the entire city.At the bottom of the mountain that’s across the eastern gates of the city (the gates of mercy) in a garden of greening fruit and olive trees, which is called the garden of oils, where Jeshua (Jesus) the Jew used to seclude with his students, the heads of the priests, the elders and their guards armed with spears began to approach. Judas, Jesus’s favourite student was leading them. They got closer to Jesus who was expecting them.
Judas Iscariot approaches his teacher and kisses him. Jesus calls to him, “with a kiss you will give me in, Judas?” all the while that the guards’ handcuffs are wrapped around his body and he is delivered to the Romans. After seeing the Jesus is handed over to the Roman representative and that his punishment is crucifixion, he is filled with guilt and regret. He returns the bribe money that he received to the priests, who refused to take it, and kills himself by hanging.The kiss of betrayal and Judas Iscariot have become the archetype of the Jewish people: treacherous, greedy, cunning and making deals with the devil. Due to this puzzling turn of events, the hatred of the Jews has established itself among the Christians for many generations. All of them were carrying a collective punishment for the crucifixion of Christ- Jesus, the Christian messiah.
But was there really a betrayal?What was Judas’s interest in betraying his teacher whom he admired? Was he disappointed with his message? Was he hoping for the salvation that Jesus promised and when that didn’t happed he expressed his disappointment by giving him in? Is that logical that in the evening of the holiday, a large crowd would gather and walk to the walls of the city just to watch the surrendering of another spiritual preacher among many? Was Judas Iscariot trying to save the Jewish people from the punishments of the Roman government , which reacted ruthlessly to any unions that threatened the governing peace, and by giving in Jesus he actually prevented violence against his people? And if indeed Jesus was so known and recognized at the gates of the city and the whole land, why was there a need to mark him to his capturers with a kiss? And if Judas was so greedy, why then he tried to return the bribe money?The Christian gospels tell that Jesus knew about his future fate. During
the last supper he announced to his students that one of them was going to hand him over and that the traitor shall be damned till his dying day... Judas asks, “ Am I the man?” and Jesus answers- the one I will pass the bread to is the one who will give me in... and he passes the bread to Judas Iscariot.According the Christian writings Judas Iscariot goes on with his scheme when the devil takes over him and makes him do the horrible betrayal.2000 years of pogroms, oppression and slaughter were the fate of the European Jews. 2000 years Christians were pointing a finger at Judas Iscariot and the Jewish people making it their fault for surrendering Jesus and the crucifixion. Judas’s cunning face which was painted with feelings of immense hatred in the Christian belief, was the ugly, dark skinned face with the eagle-like nose in the Nazi propaganda. The money that he allegedly received for handing in Jesus was used to create the Jews’ reputation for greediness and love of money.
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