Christ's oft-repeated statement that His kingdom was not of this world offended Judas. He had marked out a line upon which he expected Christ to work. He had planned that John the Baptist should be delivered from prison. But lo, John was left to be beheaded. And Jesus, instead of asserting His royal right and avenging the death of John, retired with His disciples into a country place. Judas wanted more aggressive warfare. He thought that if Jesus would not prevent the disciples from carrying out their schemes, the work would be more successful. He marked the increasing enmity of the Jewish leaders, and saw their challenge unheeded when they demanded from Christ a sign from heaven. His heart was open to unbelief, and the enemy supplied thoughts of questioning and rebellion. Why did Jesus dwell so much upon that which was discouraging? Why did He predict trial and persecution for Himself and for His disciples? The prospect of having a high place in the new kingdom had led Judas to espouse the cause of Christ. Were his hopes to be disappointed? Judas had not decided that Jesus was not the Son of God; but he was questioning, and seeking to find some explanation of His mighty works.

Kristi ofte gentagne forkyndelse af, at hans rige ikke var af denne verden, krænkede Judas. Han havde udvalgt sig en bestemt fremgangsmåde, som han ventede, at Kristus skulle følge. Han havde lagt planer om, at Johannes Døber skulle befries fra fængslet. Men se! man tillod, at Johannes blev halshugget! Og i stedet for at hævde sin kongelige ret trak Jesus sig tilbage til et ensomt sted sammen med sine disciple. Judas ønskede en mere aggressiv krigsførelse. Han tænkte, at hvis Jesus ikke altid forhindrede disciplene i at udføre deres egne planer, så ville opgaven lykkes bedre. Han lagde mærke til de jødiske lederes voksende fjendtlighed og så, at deres udfordring forblev upåagtet, da de krævede et tegn fra Himmelen af Kristus. Hans hjerte var åbent for vantroen, og fjenden fremkaldte tvivlende og oprørske tanker. Hvorfor dvælede Jesus så meget ved det, som var nedslående? Hvorfor forudsagde han prøvelser og trængsel for sig selv og sine disciple Det var udsigten til at få en høj stilling i det nye rige, der havde fået Judas til at knytte sig til Kristi sag. Skulle hans håb nu blive skuffet Judas var ikke kommet til det resultat, at Jesus ikke var Guds Søn, men han tvivlede og søgte at finde en eller anden forklaring på hans undergerninger.