First, we really must understand the nature of the Greek word used by the Gospels to "prove" that Judas “betrayed” Jesus. In the Greek the word used in the original Gospels is paradidomi. Its primary meaning is “to give or hand over to another.”The word appears in the New Testament just over 120 times, 44 of those occasions in connection with Judas. When not used in connection with Judas, the term is normally translated in some form connected to its primary meaning of “hand over.” When the word is translated in connection with Judas, it is always rendered as “betray.” It is generally accepted among scholars that “betray” is a proper secondary meaning of paradidomi and it is not hard to see how the word can take on the more negative connotation of “betrayal.” But there is some question as to whether this word had that negative sense prior to its Gospel usage.It seems as though the only evidence that the word paradidomi means betrayal is its rendering in the Gospels. We find no evidence outside of the gospels demonstrating that the word means anything other than "to give" or "to handover."So there is substantial doubt that the Gospels have been correctly translated and before the Gospels and Christian doctrine were canonized there is no evidence that Judas was viewed in negative terms. In fact there is evidence that Judas was an Apostle in good standing in early Christianity.But this is where my research has led me but Jesus was betrayed by more than Judas.He was betrayed by Peter. Peter denied knowing or associating with Christ 3 times. Not once, not twice but 3 different times to more than 1 person.Yet on the beach over a meal Jesus asked Peter 3 times if Peter loved Him and each time Peter answered yes. Jesus lets Peter affirm his love for Him for each time He was denied in order to allow Peter to redeem himself.When Christ was being nailed to the cross He cried out to God to forgive His murderers because "they know not what they do."Jesus was being arrested and Peter cut the ear off of a Roman soldier and Jesus rebuked Peter for his actions and then healed the man sent to arrest Jesus and take Him to His death. Jesus heals him and goes along willingly.I hated to bring in TV shows into this but I heard a line on my favorite show of all time that I think accurately displays what it's like to feel like Christ and that that feeling leads us to act like Christ.The show is Doctor Who. The Doctor is betrayed by his friend Clara. Outright betrayed. The Doctor responds by saying "Did you think I care so little about you that betrayal would make a difference?"Can any of us say that we would say that when facing the betrayal of someone close to us? And that Doctor Who quote points to why Christ prayed for the forgiveness of His murderers, redeemed Peter and healed one of His arresting Roman soldiers. Because Christ has loved all of us so much that even when we outright betray Him our betrayal does not dim His love for us one bit.Can you imagine loving anyone so much that they can betray you completely, attempt to kill you deny their love for you and still love them just as much? Because that's the kind of love I think Christ has in mind when He said: "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."
