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Last time I checked, Jesus was killed by crucifixion, nails applied courtesy of the Roman Army.

This simple fact seems to escape a lot of people. I think the Roman authorities had a lot of influence in which Gospels were accepted and which ones were rejected. By rejecting the Gospel of Judas, the Romans were convenitently able to deflect blame from themselves and onto Judas and the Jews who supposedly demanded Barrabbas be freed, not Jesus. The new view of Judas has the ring of truth to it and makes a lot more sense.

16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

- 1 Corinthians 15:16-22

Whether Jesus asked Judas to betray him or not isn't really relevant. The betrayal had to happen for the Lord's plan to move forward. Before Christ, physical death was final. There was no coming back. His Resurrection changed all that. His Atonement for our sins overcame spiritual death. We could return to live with our Heavenly Father. So, does this knowledge make Judas a hero or a villain? If we are focused on the meaning and importance of the Atonement and the Resurrection, it just doesn't matter.

Even more conveniently, the rejected Gospel was written more years after the events than we live after Lincoln, thereby making it appear less credible. But critical thinkers know better.

I blame Constantine.