One day while at the huge and grand Temple, Judas saw Jesus push over tables full of money.
The money came from taking advantage of worshippers who needed to buy animals to sacrifice.
Judas liked the kind of power Jesus was showing. Judas liked power.
Then he heard that Jesus actually healed the son of the head of the governor's palace. Jesus knew important people in government too.
Judas said he would like to join Jesus as he traveled. Jesus knew Judas might be a good leader, so let him go along.
Then Jesus made him one of his special Twelve Apostles who traveled with him all the time.
One day Jesus gave his Apostles the power to heal. Judas got that power too. He also preached and prayed a lot. Judas had really changed.
Judas was good with numbers, so Jesus let him handle the purse where they kept their traveling money.
Judas wanted to lend the money out sometimes to collect interest on it, but Jesus wouldn't let him. The money must come from people's generosity and that's all.
Judas wanted to be part of the new Kingdom of God that Jesus was setting up. He did not understand the kingdom would be in people's hearts.
He was hoping he would get an important position in the new Kingdom of God. He thought he would be living in a palace or the Temple. He did not realize the new Kingdom of God would not have an earthly palace or temple.
Do you go to church? Do you do it to get more friends or so you have a lot of people to sell school projects like cookies to? Those are not very good reasons to go to church.
We should go to church just because we want to thank God for his love and goodness. If you would like to start going to church, you should go for the right reason.