This is Pastor Karen's reflection on today's Gospel reading. She handles this very difficult passage with great sensitivity.
Good Morning!
Who was Judas Iscariot? And why did Jesus keep him as a disciple, a member of his inner-circle, when he knew that Judas would betray him?
Some believe that Judas belonged to the most radical Jewish group, some of whom were terrorists. And that when he figured out that Jesus’ plan to change the world didn't involve terroristic activities--only people repenting of their sins and turning back to God for forgiveness--he turned on Jesus and gave him over to the Jewish authorities.
For his betrayal, he received 30 pieces of silver.
We learn of Judas’s betrayal, his regrets, and what happens afterward in today’s gospel reading. But I warn you—this reading is definitely not for children; nor is it appropriate for someone who might be struggling with grief or depression.
The passage begins with the chief priests conferring with one another about how they will accomplish Jesus’ death. Then they bind him, arrest him, and take him to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor.
And “when Judas, his betrayer saw that Jesus was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders.
“Judas said, ‘I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.’”
But the chief priests and elders just shrug him off. “What do we care? What’s it (your guilt) to us?”
Realizing, perhaps, at that moment that he was only being used for the chief priests’ dirty work, he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple, and left.
Then he went and hanged himself.
The passage ends with the chief priests conferring with one another again—this time on what they should do with the money Judas brought back to the temple when he couldn’t bear the guilt of his sin. The money they had paid him to do this terrible thing.
“Well, we can’t put it in the temple treasury,” they say. “It’s blood money.”
So they decide to build a potter’s field with the money—a cemetery for foreigners—poor aliens who die in their land. After all, they couldn’t be buried alongside the religious authorities and their families.
The Bible says nothing about the chief priests being convicted of their sin of plotting to kill Jesus.
And other than his apostleship, betrayal and death, little else is revealed about Judas. I think it is because he is meant to be seen as an ordinary man—just a person who was led astray by people in power, people who were the embodiment of evil itself.
I have a sick feeling in my stomach when I think about how he was used by cold-blooded, calculating killers—who happened to be the religious leaders of the time. And how he realized—too late—that he had committed a grievous act, just by pointing out Jesus to those who had come to arrest Him in a dark garden in the middle of the night.
Betraying Him with a kiss.
It could have been anyone. It didn’t have to be Judas. It could have been me. It could have been you.
Anyone.
Prayer: Almighty God, we are grateful for what you have done for us in Jesus Christ, but we are moved to deep sorrow by the manner in which our salvation was achieved. “Innocent blood” was shed for sinful humanity. The blood of Your one and only Son. Lord, we pray you would protect us from evil and from cold-blooded, calculating people who might seek to lead us into committing grievous acts. Keep us from judging others who have fallen into sin as more evil than ourselves. The Bible tells us that all have sinned and fallen short of Your glory. All humanity needs Your Son as their Savior and Lord. Give us courage and compassion to reach out to people who have given into temptation and sin and may even be serving prison sentences. Lead us to tell them of Your love and show them how they may receive forgiveness in Jesus Christ and the gift of everlasting life with You in Your heavenly kingdom. In Christ we pray. Amen.
Today’s readings are Joshua 9:22-10:15; Romans 15:14-24; Matthew 27:1-10; Psalms 40 and 54.
Blessings in Christ!
Pastor Karen
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