We found Jesus in The Last Supper as someone who knew everything. He knew what his disciples were thinking and what would happen in the future and particularly he knew that Judas was about to betray him.
Such kind of knowledge is not proper to an ordinary man thus it rendered the truth of the Incarnation meaningless. God became man in Jesus. He became like us in all respect except sin. He needed to be taught how to walk, how to eat, how to use the toilet, he studied Torah in the synagogue, definitely he would not be able to speak English or Japanese and therefore just like us he would not know what is in someone else mind. He might guess but surely he could be wrong.
The most plausible explanation why Jesus knew that Judas was about to betray him is that Judas told him. And most likely Jesus consented though he might not personally agree.
How can this be?
First thing, we should know what Judas intention was. Just like in solving a crime, knowing the motive of a criminal is fundamental.
To know Judas motive, we must look it in proper perspective. The following must be considered:
• The Jews – and this includes Judas and the rest of the disciples - were waiting for a Messiah.
• Judas and the rest of the disciples knew that Jesus was the most awaited Messiah.
• Following Jesus was a serious business. Sincerity and purity were essentials. And Judas made it.
• Judas might not only have been pure and sincere but he could be one of the best. He was appointed treasurer therefore he was very trustworthy and intelligent.
• Judas throwing the silver coins in the Temple implies that he was not after the money.
• Judas committing suicide implies that he was not happy of what had happened to Jesus.
From the above we can deduce Judas motive by eliminating those that are obvious: First Judas was not the lunatic type who betrayed Jesus without any reason at all and then later on killed himself out of remorse or grief of what he had done. Second as one of Jesus disciples and a trustworthy and intelligent one he could not be mentally or psychologically unstable to do such nonsense; and third Judas throwing the money in the temple implies that he was not greedy or interested in any material gain when he betrayed Jesus. Therefore Judas motive for betraying Jesus was surely something else and most probably it had something to do with Jesus as being the Messiah.
Perhaps one day Judas was talking to Jesus:
Judas: We knew you are the Messiah, but when are you going to drive the Romans out of Israel?
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first Jesus had knowledge of the pharisees' thoughts it speaks of it all thru matthew mark luke and john. how he knew their hearts and thoughts he also knew judas' heart from the very beginning but loved him anyway and treated him the same as the other disciples. judas had free will to choose what he done. and judas is to us a reminder of how we have all fallen short and betrayed Jesus at some point in our lives. his motive was political and he did not understand the spiritual aspect of Jesus teachings as messiah and also greed. he did throw the money in the temple but that was him feeling sorry for what he had done. if he had repented to the Lord i still think that judas would have been saved. satan had entered him it says so and he went and sold Jesus out. Jesus had been tempted himself by satan and fought back with the word. Judas had become gradually open to satan entering in and he was tempted and fell for it.
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