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Have you ever really thought about the motive of Judas Iscariot? I was watching an interesting movie recently about this apostle who is known as the one who betrayed Jesus. It was Judas who identified Jesus when the Sanhedrin came to arrest him. The movie attempted to give back-story to who Judas really was. The main message was that Judas dearly loved Jesus but he thought that he knew more than Jesus. In the end, just like in the Garden of Eden, it was ego that caused Judas to lose his way. He wanted Jesus to be a certain kind of leader. He wanted Jesus to ascertain his kingship. Judas was from Jerusalem so when Jesus went there on Palm Sunday, Judas was very happy. It may have been the first time that Judas had been to his hometown in three years. Like many of us who attach ourselves to other people and then depend on their power to define who we are, Judas wanted to show off Jesus. He wanted everyone to know that he was with the King of the Jews. Judas understood leadership in a certain way and that way was about authority and obedience. What he had failed to learn in the three years that he had been with Jesus was the type of leadership that Jesus used. Jesus was a servant leader. He modeled what type of behavior he expected from his followers. Jesus did not ask anyone to do anything that he himself would not do. A key point in the movie takes place when Jesus is angered by the moneychangers in the Temple. Jesus demands that they treat his Father's house with the respect it deserves as a place of worship. Jesus is angry and forceful. He turns over tables and demands that the merchants leave the Temple. This was what Judas was looking for at all times but Jesus had his priorities. He was focused on what we should be focused on and that is that God our Father deserves respect and reverence. Jesus was not concerned with an earthly kingship. Pope Benedict XVI has written about this very topic in his book Jesus of Nazareth. Pope Benedict writes, "the Roman emperor's claim to divine kingship encounters the Christian belief that the risen Christ is the true Son of God, the Lord of all peoples of the earth, to whom alone belongs worship in the unity of Father, Son, and Spirit." Christianity acknowledges civil authority just as Jesus did when he said to give Caesar what is owed him. Judas was seeking to combine the two but Jesus had no intention of doing so. Judas is portrayed in this movie as using the opportunity to identify Jesus to the authorities so that Jesus will have to exert his kingship. Judas thinks by doing this he will force Jesus' hand. Judas does not have the knowledge and insight that Jesus has of course. He does not know, as Jesus did, that all that is to happen must happen for our salvation. It is a recurrent theme with us. We frequently make decisions based on worldly principles. The patience to wait for God's decision is a daily struggle for us because we are still caught up in the worldly notions when we should be focusing on what is truly important. Loving God and sharing his good news should be our daily focus. The rest will be taken care of by God.

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