The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-24
JUDAS A SCAPEGOAT
DISCIPLES STORY OF cHRIsT-s be-
TRAYAL NOT VERIFIED.
Eminent Vienna biblical Scholar
an Unworthy Follower.

One OF the sorriest figures of history, per-
haps the meanest Of them al. is Judas Is
CARROT. This Is the man who we are told
betrayed his Lord and our Lord and Master
for a vile and petty sum OF money; he who
delivered Him up TO His enemies by greet
ing Him with a false kiss. and who finally
pronounced judgment upon himself by COM
uniting suicide His death lacked the ele-
ment Of Cancellation; indeed. the fact that ne
paid the penalty for his crime did not at all
influence opinion.
This is the picture OF Judas Iscarfot hand
ed down TO US by tradition. It is a repre-
sentation generally accepted and considered
above criticism. Experience has made us
wary as to history. We are prone to doubt
writer who gives more than the naked and
Northumberland facts: tradition and Leg
end finds nowadays little credence. No one,
however, has so far undertaken to inquire
into the correctness OF the narratives that
burden Judas with the greatest Of all in
famies.
Are the writer's chronicling his alleged mis-
deeds so much more trustworthy than those
that gave the world false impressions OF
Don Carlos. Wallenstein or Joan of Arc?
Is the Judas Iscariot legend well authentic
Gated? What il an innocent man had been
branded the most Ubiquitous of scoundrels
1t Is well known that the Evangella Cos
pels) were written long after Christ's death:
the Oldest was finished seventy years after
the original Good Friday. Up to that time
the story of Christ's life and his teachings
were perpetuated by his apostles and their
disciples by word OF mouth. Christ's relig-
fous and ethical preachings were correctly
preserved by these persons; venerstion of the
Master forbade even the slightest alteration.
Yet there are. contradictions in the Holy
Scriptures dealing with Christ's own words.
For instance. Matthew, Chapter xii, verse
30. imputes these words TO Jesus: He that
Mark tx. 40, reports the Masters words as
follows: For ne that is not against us is
The story OF Christ's life. his deeds and
nartyrdom Is so involved and so many diff
ferent versions of what actually occurred
clear insshi. Not only chrsts disciples.
but the people In general, believed in the
political mission of our Lord, and Luke
says. Chapter xiv. VERSE 81: But we trust
ed that 1t had been hs which should have
THE ENTRY TO JERUSALEM.
Christ entered Jerusalem a victor. and
there can be no doubt Of His being pro-
claimed King. The manner of His entry.
Che ceremonious reception and the greet
ings rendered Him show this. According
to Luke xix, IS. He was addressed as King:
Blessed be the King that cometh in the
name of the Lord According to others
He was heralded as the "Son of David"
Furthermore. in proof OF the above, may be
cited Pilates question and His answer
luke xiii. 81: "And Plate asked Him.
saying, Art Thou the King Of the Jewsg
And He answered him and said. Thou say,
est it, Also the fact OF His being clothed
IN purple and adorned with crown t9' Final
the cross. This is Jesus. the King OF the
Jews" reported by Matthew, xvii, 81, and
Marks XIV, z6) statement And the SUPER
the Ri1S OF OF the Jews Jews non was written over
II appears that at the time of the invasion
by Christ Jerusalem was without its usual
garrison of Roman soldiers. Christ insti-
tuted number. OF religious reforms, oy
which He provoked the Pnarisees, attack
ing them. in addition. after the manner of
the prophets The Pharisees then appealed
20 the Roman Governor, who ordered troops
TO Jerusalem. From the very start Christ
had not felt secure IN Jerusalem. Though
He spent His days In the tempe teaching,
lie went. according TO Luke. xxi. 81. when
the mount that is called the Mount OF
After a time the Roman troops arrived
Cnr5srs followers were driven out of Jeru-
Olives and the Garden Of Gethsemene. stu
raIlying points. Little by litt,e the people
xii. 3s-SS. they were iackin, money as well
as arms. and the handful of loyal men that
btlii remained were so exhausted that they
used TO fall asleep while guard Mat
thew XVI, 1913.
Christ and bis followers made their last
resistance offered was of short Duration
Jesus was captured, all His disciples fled
Recalling the incidents touched upor. and
Peter at the last supper, the exhaustion OF
the guards. Peters attitude a few hours
sea tSas Of he cpes wera
punished. which proves that all acted alike
rr rec all this / say, was there any cause
anybody else?
A UNANIMOUS ACCUSATION.
Yet all four evangelists accuse Judas
Iscariot Of betrayal. The fact that they
agree on this point looks formidable
enough. but does not make the information
more trustworthy. for all evangelia are
based on the same traditional sources and
belong to the same class Of writings. Every
historian knows that aside from those we
possess a good many more evangelia had
been written only to be cast aside by an
early council OF the church.
AS TO Judas personally there can no M
ooupt mat ne remained by the Master TO
the iasL; he was the treasurer of the riot
ers. ana no one is known TO have com
plafned OF the manner in which he dis
charged his duties. II he had been a bad
man charges of malfeasance would have
been brought. He would have been ac
cused or using the peoples money for his
personal Denent- Judas was present at the
last supper. and. according to Afatfherv
XVI, 30. Jesus addressed him as ssfriend',
af the moment OF His capture
The following points are mentioned I'm
the gospels as evidence of Christ's BETRAYAL
by Judas:
First-A treacherous conversation he
tween Judas and the chief priests lust he
fore the last supper. Matthew mentions
thirty pieces Of silver as the price agreed
upon
second-The conversation at the last sup
per. sup
Third-The scene in the garden Of Geth-
semane and the notorious kiss; also, Jesus
words on that occasion.
Fourth-The fact that Judas bought land
after the cruciixion
F1fth-Judas's suicide
There Is not atom OF proof of the
story or the alleged conference between
Judas and the chief priests, not a single
piece OF direct or circumstantial evidence
being given. The whole matter is one of
conjecture pure and simple Matthew XVI
ment:
Then one OF the twelve, called Judas Is
CARROT. went unto the chief priests and said
unto them: What viii ye give me. and
VII denver Him unto your And they COW
enanted with him for thirty pieces OF silver"
Mark xiv. 10. simply states And Judas
1scarfot: one OF the twelve. went unto the
chief priests TO betray Him unto them"
Luke xii. 4. says: And he (Judas) went
ms way and communed with the chief
priests and captains how he might befray
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