Why Did Judas Think Jesus Was Lord?

Did Judas think Jesus was ‘Lord’?

One popular argument that frames Judas the Iscariot as an evil betrayer, contends that Judas never consider Jesus to be Lord God. The Gospels recorded Judas calling Jesus rabbi and teacher. Rabbi means “a Jew qualified to expound and apply the halacha and other Jewish law”. The word Rabbi is also synonymous with the words teacher and master. Whereas, Lord means “one having power and authority over others”. Similarly, the titles lord and rabbi convey hierarchy. However, to call Jesus “Lord” over “Rabbi” insinuates a deeper regard for Jesus because a lord is more powerful than a rabbi. Other disciples called Jesus teacher and rabbi, but many of them also called him lord. In John 20, Mary Magdalene exclaimed

The Jews were taught that a messiah would come and save the people of Israel by restoring the kingdom. It was assumed that the Messiah would bring political power to the Jews. At this time the Romans had political power. Most Jews missed the part of the prophecies in which the Messiah would come as the sacrificial lamb and die before the kingdom was restored. The apostles also missed this. Jesus warned them about His death three times before the crucifixion occurs. Still, Judas and the apostles were puzzled to what he meant. Jesus told His apostles three times that one of them will betray Him. None of the Gospels elicit that Judas or any of the other apostles recognize Jesus was referring to Judas. Judas could have believed he was not really betraying Judas. Before Passover, Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a colt. Crowds praised Him, “blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord”. Just before this Jesus performed many miracles. Jesus exhibited divine power and knowledge. He attracted large crowds. Every time the Pharisees or chief priests tried to outsmart Jesus’ teaching, Jesus made them look like fools. It would seem Jesus was at the peak of his