When Expectations Betray: Why Judas and the Religious Leaders Rejected the True Messiah
“He came unto his own, and his own received him not.”
—John 1:11 (KJV)
There is a tragedy more severe than crucifixion: missing the Messiah standing in your midst. This is the sobering reality that unfolded 2,000 years ago when Israel rejected her King—not because Jesus failed to fulfill prophecy, but because He didn’t fit their interpretation of it.
And so the question arises: Why did Judas betray Jesus? Why did the Jewish leaders—those entrusted with the oracles of God—condemn the very Word made flesh (John 1:14)?
Let us explore this mystery through the lens of Scripture, history, prophecy, and our modern spiritual condition.
Why the Religious Leaders Condemned Jesus
To the Sanhedrin, Jesus was a threat. Not merely a theological threat, but a political one.
“We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.”
—John 19:7 (KJV)
“If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.”
—John 11:48 (KJV)
Jesus claimed to be the Son of God and referred to Himself as the Son of Man, directly invoking Daniel 7:13–14—a messianic prophecy the Jews interpreted as divine authority. To the religious elite, this was blasphemy.
But it was more than that. Jesus also challenged their legalistic stranglehold over the people. He healed on the Sabbath, forgave sins, ate with tax collectors, and called out religious hypocrisy (Matthew 23). In doing so, He disrupted the corrupt power structure that had developed under Roman occupation.
Rather than receive Him, they plotted to destroy Him.
“Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.”
—John 11:53 (KJV)
Why Judas Betrayed Jesus
The betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot is commonly attributed to greed, and Scripture supports this motive.
“Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,
And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.”
—Matthew 26:14–15 (KJV)
However, a deeper layer exists.
Many scholars and theologians observe that Judas, like many Jews of his time, expected a military Messiah—a deliverer who would overthrow Roman tyranny and restore Israel’s national sovereignty. But Jesus did not come to liberate from Caesar. He came to liberate from Satan, sin, and death.
“My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight.”
—John 18:36 (KJV)
Judas’ frustration likely grew when it became clear that Jesus was not leading an insurrection, but preaching the Kingdom of God, forgiving enemies, and predicting His own death.
This disillusionment, mixed with greed and perhaps an attempt to force Jesus into action, led to betrayal.
The Danger of Expecting the Wrong Messiah
What happened to Israel is a prophetic warning to the modern Church.
The Jewish nation wanted freedom from Rome. But Jesus came to offer freedom from sin (John 8:34–36).
Likewise, many today seek a Jesus who will fix their finances, remove suffering, and elevate their status—but refuse to follow a Messiah who calls them to die to self, to suffer for righteousness, and to forsake this world.
This false expectation is not unlike the betrayal of Judas. When Jesus does not meet their demands, many turn away.
“From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.”
—John 6:66 (KJV)
The Cross: Where Misunderstanding Meets Mercy
Despite the betrayal, Jesus willingly endured the cross. Why? To fulfill prophecy. To establish the New Covenant. To become the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8).
“But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God.”
—Hebrews 10:12 (KJV)
The crucifixion was not a failure of God’s plan. It was the fulfillment of it. The religious leaders’ rejection, Judas’ betrayal, and Rome’s brutality all worked together to accomplish what Isaiah foretold:
“He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities... and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
—Isaiah 53:5–6 (KJV)
A Modern Application: When Our Expectations Betray Us
Are we not often guilty of the same error? Do we not grow disillusioned when God does not remove the suffering we expected Him to stop?
Like Judas, we may begin with good intentions—following Jesus, hoping for miracles, desiring victory. But when hardship comes, when prayers go unanswered, when suffering persists—do we betray the One we claimed to trust?
We must remember:
“In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
—John 16:33 (KJV)
The Gospel Call: Repent, Believe, and Be Saved
Dear reader, the same Jesus who was betrayed and crucified now reigns as King. He bore our griefs, carried our sorrows, and took our punishment.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
—John 3:16 (KJV)
1. Acknowledge your sin
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” —Romans 3:23
2. Believe in Christ’s death and resurrection
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” —Romans 10:9
3. Surrender your expectations
Don’t try to make Jesus fit your life. Let your life conform to His Lordship.
Final Charge: Do Not Miss the Messiah
Let us not repeat the error of the religious elite or of Judas. Let us not trade truth for tradition, or eternal life for earthly comfort.
Jesus is not here to fulfill your agenda. He is here to redeem your soul. Will you receive Him as He truly is?
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