“The Betrayal of Judas” is the rare piece of journalism that sheds light on the secrets and lies of ancient times and the modern media world. Thomas Bartlett, writing in The Chronicle of Higher Education, untangles the complicated tale of National Geographic‘s publication of the Gospel of Judas — a major media event that fit neatly into the press’ penchant for polarity. Judas was a bad guy! Now he’s a good guy! “The first shall be last, the last, first,” is, according to its simplest interpretation, some of the oldest media melodrama in the book. But it’s usually not that simple, as Bartlett reveals…