Did Judas really betray Jesus? Why?

I believe that Judas is destined to do it for the fulfillment of the prophesy. Jesus is destined to die in the hands of the enemy and they can't touch him unless he will be delivered to them. It was written too that he will be betrayed and Jesus knew about it. Everything happened for that reason.

sutan you ask should we blame the devil for humans sin concerning Judas in his betrayal of Jesus. Yes we should because he is behind all sin. He has been after Jesus since before Jesus came to the earth. Judas had had his hand in the till almost as soon as he was given the job of caring for the disciples funds. After Jesus was taken he knew what he had done so his regret. Judas was a part of God's plan from the beginning. But he also had a chance to not do what he did.

even if judas thought that jesus had occult powers and nobody could hurt him does not make him a saint nor can anybody validate it

You've heard the saying"the Devil made me do it".That's exactly what happened to Judas.

The Word made him do it. The Scripture had to be fulfilled. Its a script. like a movie. From beginning to end. He had no choice.

Judas had betrayed Jesus because like many of his contemporaries he too was disillusioned with Jesus. People of Israel had waited for 1000 long years for a Messiah, a redeemer who would come and save them. After Jesus had declared to them that He was the Son of God, they all thought that He would perhaps one day overthrow the Roman Empire. Judas as one of his disciples might have thought that after Jews would declare Jesus as the King of the Jews he himself would be one of Kings right hand man. Jesus had already made Judas an in charge of the treasury. However, nothing of the sort happened. In a few days time, Pharisees were after Jesus blood. They incited people against Jesus. When Roman Soldiers were out to arrest Jesus, he went into hiding in the Garden of Gethsemane. Seeing all this Judas was disappointed. He knew where Jesus and His disciples were hiding. He went and betrayed him. He did not do it for the sake of money. He did it because he was disappointed with Jesus. He did not quite understand God's plan. He had participated in the Holy Eucharist. He did not understand the meaning of all that Jesus said. He could not understand why Jesus was asking them to eat his body and drink his blood. Besides, Jesus provoked him by saying that the one who has put his hand in my plate would betray me. Therefore, there are only two reasons for Judas turning against Jesus. Firstly, he was disillusioned, and secondly Jesus had provoked him by doubting him.

...I believe it was politics.. and to force Jesus' hand, thinking surely Jesus would now overturn the Roman authority over Israel if He Himself were arrested by the leaders of Israel who were in kahoots with Herod, etc.

Judas probably did betray Jesus assuming that Jesus was a god and thus impervious to Roman law. As such he most likely saw it as a way to increase their sects fortunes in many ways, by proving Jesus was beyond Roman Law Christianity could become a real powerhouse religion, and the payment was just the topping on the cake. I believe that he likely told Jesus about his plan, but then I am a cynic and see conspiracies behind every corner in the bible ;).