There's a lot of confusion in my mind around the betrayal & conviction of Jesus. Some is related to my Jehovah's witness Bible "education" (or lack thereof. Does everyone remember when they first learnt regular Christians believed Jesus was God?!π).
Any answers much appreciated.
1. Is it true priests couldn't execute (or condemn for execution) fellow Jews (so hence why they sent him to the Romans to dispose of).
2. The role of Judas :
(NB I hope I have this right. Please correct me if I don't) Jesus had to bear our sins and die for us on the cross in order for us to benefit from "grace".
Therefore he had to be "handed over" to his persecutors by someone. As per question one, the priests couldn't execute him themselves, so they manipulated someone raised to have 100%faith and trust in them to not only do the right thing, but to have Gods blessing when they did it. Remember Judas Iscariot was a Jew.There was no thought of starting a new religion at that time. Even Jesus said that not one iota "will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished" Matt 5: 17-18.
If in order that someone could accomplish Jesus' handing over to his enemies, that person would be forever condemned. So could you argue that Judas sacrificed his eternal life so that ours could be redeemed??
From a moral standpoint this question has always really bothered me. Especially given that the Bible (and Jesus) chide the Apostles for their total lack of understanding of the situation the whole time!