8 Surprising Facts about Judas Iscariot

Because of His amazing forbearance and longsuffering, Jesus did not expose Judas as He witnessed his gradual degeneration, but left him in his own time to reveal his true character. Restrained…Jesus, on that night of betrayal, as the bread was broken and eaten with him, and the wine was drunk. He restrained against the one who had lifted up his heel against Him (Psalm 41:9). 

6. He Was the Treasurer

Judas held a position of trust and confidence as the “purse-barer” or treasurer of the apostolic band. He had the economic habits and aptitude for finance. Love of bargaining is a quality often associated with love of money. Wealthy women contributed to the maintenance of Christ and His disciples (Luke 8:3), and Judas was made treasurer and administrator of that fund. This responsibility alone showed that the other apostles had faith in his honesty and confidence, which remained unshaken up to the very night of the betrayal. 

Judas carried “the bag”, a secular position requiring a good businessman, not necessarily one who was pious. Judas took advantage of his position, and as John tells us plainly, Judas “was a thief, and had the bag, and bare (kept) what was put therein” (John 12:6). Was Judas conscience? Absolutely! Yet Jesus, the Master, knew the thought hidden from unsuspected eyes, the secret thoughts, and knew what was in man. And the constant teachings about love and money that Judas often heard? Yes, they sounded loud. 

In the feet-washing with its message on humility (John 13:1-20), Jesus made premonitory allusions to the fact that a traitor was amongst the twelve, that they were not all clean. That there was one of them who knew and would not do. “He knew who should betray him.” Even toward the last, when Jesus said, “That thou doest, do quickly” (John 13:27), which was far from being a command. 

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