Judas - exactly who was he?

Good  morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!  Jesu Jevu!

   Judas, just who was he anyway.  Interestingly enough all the disciples were from Galilee EXCEPT Judas, who was from Judah. A town, Kerioth, in southern Judah.
   Here is the history of the name Judas: The name Judas is the Hellenized version of the Hebrew name Judah, and the name Judah comes from the Hebrew root-verb ידה, meaning "to praise".

  AND, I thought it interesting that we have come to know "Judas" as a traitor or betrayer rather than to praise.  I did find another definition that Judas meant a peephole in a door.  I guess this could fit. LOL 

   Judas Iscariot is the son of Simon Iscariot.  Some authorities believe the Iscariot comes from the Latin sicarius meaning small sword or dagger. One thought is that Judas was a violent Jewish Nationalist. These men were basically mercenaries who were opposed to the Romans and would remove political opponents.  They were hired assassins.

  Judas was one of the chosen disciples by Jesus, yet it appears Judas was driven more by selfishness and greed that by the spirit of God.  He was the treasurer of the disciples and did not mind "dipping into the pot" occasionally.  One example was the perfume when Jesus' feet were washed and wiped clean.  He said they could sell it and help the poor. Hmm!  Did he really mean it?  Probably not.

   It is hard to understand someone who saw so many miracles and heard so much of the Master's teaching could ever betray him into the hands of his enemies.  Satan was at work in him with self, greed, covetous, and self satisfaction.

  If you will look at Matthew 26:20-25 

The Last supper; Jesus sat to eat with his disciples and said one of you will betray me.  11 of the disciples said "LORD is it I", BUT  Judas Iscariot said "Rabbi is it I" (or Master in some versions) and Jesus replied to Judas, "Thou hast said."  How often do we miss this in the Bible? He did not refer to Jesus as LORD, but Rabbi or teacher. Did Judas just not know?  Was he so self-absorbed he couldn't recognize the Messiah? Wow!

  However, it is important to remember that it was not Judas who put Jesus on the Cross, but the sins of the people, my sins, your sins, from the time of Adam and Eve.

   I do hope you learned some more here as I did. Love you all.

Johnny