[ArGee]

In an interview with Tim Rice, he said that they wanted to tell the story from the point of view of why Judas did what he did.

Jesus of Nazareth portrayed Judas as a zealot who thought Jesus was the key to throwing off Rome. He thought if the Priests only understood Jesus they would accept Him and crown Him king. People are always trying to excuse Judas. The Gospel simply paints him as an opportunistic thief.

Shalom.

[Political Junkie Too]

Jesus of Nazareth portrayed Judas as a zealot who thought Jesus was the key to throwing off Rome. He thought if the Priests only understood Jesus they would accept Him and crown Him king. People are always trying to excuse Judas. The Gospel simply paints him as an opportunistic thief.

I think JCS paints Judas as fulfilling a destiny, as you said. Just like how you can't have good without evil, you wouldn't have Jesus without Judas. In the end, Judas says (paraphrasing from memory) "My God, I'll never know why you chose me for your crime. You have murdered me... murdered me... murdered me..."

-PJ