I love Gnostic gospels

National Geographic has authenticated a manuscript from 300 A.D. that implies that Judas betrayed Jesus at Jesus' request:

The key passage comes when Jesus tells Judas "you will exceed all of them. For you will sacrifice the man that clothed me." This indicates that Judas would help liberate the spiritual self by helping Jesus get rid of his physical flesh, the scholars said.

More proof that Judas in no way deserves his bad reputation. Dude had to betray Christ; otherwise, how else for Jesus to fulfill his theological destiny? If Christ isn't betrayed and crucified, there's no Christianity. No lamb-of-God sacrifice, no for-God-loved-us-so-much-he-gave-his-only-son.

Judas was just doing what was asked of him -- by God, no less -- and his reward? Suicide by hanging, then eternity in Dante's ninth circle being chewed upon by Satan.

Shit ain't right.