“Of all the questions regularly asked about Jesus, the question ‘Why did Jesus die?’ must be among the most frequent. It is certainly the most fascinating.” ~ N. T. Wright, Historian “Of all the questions regularly asked about Jesus, the question ‘Why did Jesus die?’ must be among the most frequent. It is certainly the most fascinating.” ~ N. T. Wright, Historian

“Above all, for the historian, it is crucial to consider how it could have happened that Jesus came to be crucified as ‘King of the Jews’. What series of events could have led to this outcome?” ~ Ben Witherington III, Historian “Above all, for the historian, it is crucial to consider how it could have happened that Jesus came to be crucified as ‘King of the Jews’. What series of events could have led to this outcome?” ~ Ben Witherington III, Historian

“We should begin our study with two firm facts before us: Jesus was executed by the Romans as would- be ‘king of the Jews’, and his disciples subsequently formed a messianic movement which was not based on the hope of military victory. The difficulty explaining how to hold these two facts together is the fundamental problem involved in attempting to understand the death of Jesus.” ~ E. P. Sanders, Historian “We should begin our study with two firm facts before us: Jesus was executed by the Romans as would- be ‘king of the Jews’, and his disciples subsequently formed a messianic movement which was not based on the hope of military victory. The difficulty explaining how to hold these two facts together is the fundamental problem involved in attempting to understand the death of Jesus.” ~ E. P. Sanders, Historian

“Jesus obviously knew what he was doing, and he can hardly have been surprised to discover that the religious leaders soon put a price on his head. He does not even seem surprised when one of his own followers picks up on the money offered by the high priest.” ~ John Drane, Historian “Jesus obviously knew what he was doing, and he can hardly have been surprised to discover that the religious leaders soon put a price on his head. He does not even seem surprised when one of his own followers picks up on the money offered by the high priest.” ~ John Drane, Historian

“Jesus and his disciples were involved in a cosmic battle. Behind Judas’s act of betrayal stands Satan’s initiative. Jesus’ ministry is so important that the personification of evil will do anything to try to stop it.” ~ Darrell L. Bock, New Testament Scholar

“ ’The satan’ is using Judas for a purpose. The satan’s purpose is always to accuse. Jesus is to be accused of being a deceiver, a rebel, a false prophet, a fake Messiah: in other words, a liar who is endangering Israel. Judas’ betrayal is the first step in this process of accusation.” ~ N.T. Wright, Historian & Theologian “ ’The satan’ is using Judas for a purpose. The satan’s purpose is always to accuse. Jesus is to be accused of being a deceiver, a rebel, a false prophet, a fake Messiah: in other words, a liar who is endangering Israel. Judas’ betrayal is the first step in this process of accusation.” ~ N.T. Wright, Historian & Theologian

“When Judas turned from Christ in his final act of rejection, he willingly gave himself over to the control of the powers of darkness.” ~ John MacArthur Jr., The Murder of Jesus “When Judas turned from Christ in his final act of rejection, he willingly gave himself over to the control of the powers of darkness.” ~ John MacArthur Jr., The Murder of Jesus

“The fact that his betrayal was foretold in the Scriptures does not mean that Judas was not a free agent, any more than the Old Testament predictions of the death of Jesus mean that he did not die voluntarily.” ~ John Stott, Theologian

Judas is not passively playing out a rule assigned to him. On the contrary, God has taken Judas’s treachery and all the other events that led up to Jesus’ death and brought from them a positive and redemptive effect.” ~ R. Alan Culpepper, New Testament Scholar Judas is not passively playing out a rule assigned to him. On the contrary, God has taken Judas’s treachery and all the other events that led up to Jesus’ death and brought from them a positive and redemptive effect.” ~ R. Alan Culpepper, New Testament Scholar

Judas’s act of betrayal differed in degree, but not in kind, from the other disciples. When it became clear that Jesus’ kind of kingdom led to a cross, not a throne, each one of them slunk away into the darkness.” ~ Philip Yancey, Author Judas’s act of betrayal differed in degree, but not in kind, from the other disciples. When it became clear that Jesus’ kind of kingdom led to a cross, not a throne, each one of them slunk away into the darkness.” ~ Philip Yancey, Author

“I wonder: Compared to the whips, thorns, and nails that were to come, was the kiss of a friend the worst violence of all?” ~ Michael Card, Artist & Author

Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples, and he went over to the leading priests and captains of the Temple guard to discuss the best way to betray Jesus to them. ~ Luke 22:3-4 (NLT) Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples, and he went over to the leading priests and captains of the Temple guard to discuss the best way to betray Jesus to them. ~ Luke 22:3-4 (NLT)

“kiss” = kataphileo =to kiss earnestly, lovingly, repeatedly, with affection. “kiss” = kataphileo =to kiss earnestly, lovingly, repeatedly, with affection.

“Judas seems to have deliberately drawn out his kissing in order to detain Jesus as long as possible, to be sure that the soldiers had time to apprehend Him.” ~ John MacArthur Jr., The Murder of Jesus “Judas seems to have deliberately drawn out his kissing in order to detain Jesus as long as possible, to be sure that the soldiers had time to apprehend Him.” ~ John MacArthur Jr., The Murder of Jesus

Forces At Work In The Death Of Christ… 1.) God 2.) Satan 3.) Religion 4.) Politics 5.) Judas Forces At Work In The Death Of Christ… 1.) God 2.) Satan 3.) Religion 4.) Politics 5.) Judas

"Aren't you the Egyptian who led a rebellion some time ago and took four thousand members of the Assassins out into the desert?" ~ Acts 21:38 (NLT) "Aren't you the Egyptian who led a rebellion some time ago and took four thousand members of the Assassins out into the desert?" ~ Acts 21:38 (NLT)

We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. ~ 1 John 5:19 (TNIV) We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. ~ 1 John 5:19 (TNIV)

While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. ~ John 17:12 (TNIV) While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. ~ John 17:12 (TNIV)

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. ~ Matthew 23:37 (NIV) "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. ~ Matthew 23:37 (NIV)

But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God's purpose for themselves,…. ~ Luke 7:30 (NASB) But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God's purpose for themselves,…. ~ Luke 7:30 (NASB)

“You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit!” ~ Acts 7:51 (TNIV) “You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit!” ~ Acts 7:51 (TNIV)

He cancelled the record that contained the charges against us. He took it and destroyed it by nailing it to Christ's cross. In this way, God disarmed the evil rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross of Christ. ~ Colossians 2:14-15 (NLT) He cancelled the record that contained the charges against us. He took it and destroyed it by nailing it to Christ's cross. In this way, God disarmed the evil rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross of Christ. ~ Colossians 2:14-15 (NLT)