WAS JUDAS A VILLAIN OR GOD'S HAND?

THE STANDARD
NAIROBI, KENYA
April 12, 2009
By Emmanuel Mwendwa

More than 2,000 years have passed since Jesus Christ was crucified. But researchers and historians are yet to identify the intrigues around the crucifixion.

Centuries later, it is unclear why Judas Iscariot had to be the one, among 12 disciples, to turn against Christ.

Countless attempts have been made to shed off the pariah shadow looming large over Judas and clear his name of the ‘turncoat’ tag. Countless dissertations imply Judas was not guilty but had been ordained by God to prepare Christ’s path to bear the burden of the cross.

Thomas De Quincy, a globally renowned essayist, argues Judas hardly fits the bill of a villain but one who fulfilled divine prophecy. "He probably thought if threatened with imminent arrest, Christ would boldly proclaim Himself messiah, smite the devious enemies and take up His rightful throne as King over a liberated Palestine," writes De Quincy.

The question of Judas’ role in the Messiah’s crucifixion rears its head, persistently, like a sore thumb whenever faithful celebrate Easter.

It is widely believed trouble for the Messiah’s began brewing at behest of then powerful institution of Sanhedrin — the Supreme Jewish Council.

Its pious elders were increasingly getting suspicious and uncomfortable with growing popularity of Christ’s ministry among the masses.

"Has He not openly denounced Pharisees and Scribes as hypocrites? Are the wayside crowds not likely participants of a potential revolt against the Sanhedrin?" – posed the chief priests.

Largely comprising high-profile Jewish citizens, self-righteous priests and religious legal experts,

the council had claimed that the Messiah’s teachings inclined towards fuelling defiance against the Hebrew law.

Secret deal

Judas made his entry into scheming of the secret deal. The gospel of St John recounts: "What will ye give me… and I will deliver him unto You?’ he is quoted asking. To which the Pharisees replied:

"We promise you thirty pieces of silver" — this was equivalent to the value tag placed on a male slave.

Much earlier while recruiting disciples, Christ bequeathed Judas the responsibility of treasurer for His ministry. It’s possible his love for money fuelled the temptation to take up the offer.

But a significant account related in the gospels, implies he was driven by his streak of mean-spiritedness.

St John recounts an incident where Christ visited Bethany, a few miles from Jerusalem, where Lazarus lived.

The Messiah was being honoured in a thanksgiving banquet alongside the disciples after he brought Lazarus back to life. Also present were his two sisters and Mary, who anointed Christ’s feet with some precious ointment.

According to St John, her generosity infuriated Judas. He pointed out the oil should have been sold and the proceeds given to the poor. But Jesus cut him short, and explained that Mary’s gesture was pointedly symbolic of His imminent crucifixion.

The gospels feature varied accounts of Christ washing all the apostles’ feet, before glancing around the table, His searching eyes resting upon Judas.

You shall betray me

As if troubled in spirit, he remarked: "Ye are clean, but not all… one of you shall betray me."

The disciples looked suspiciously at one another, asking all at once: "Master, is it I?"

He replied: "it is the one to whom I give the bread dipped in sauce."

And in the traditional manner of the host, Christ dipped a piece of bread and offered it to Judas, who accepted it.

Judas was reportedly aware Christ would spend the night within the Olive Gardens of Gethsemane.

But to ensure the Sanhedrin soldiers would not arrest the wrong man, his plan was to ‘kiss’the Messiah on the cheek.

Judas role in the ‘script’ seems to end here, he was not among witnesses during Christ’s mock trial. Varied Biblical accounts suggest the shock of the Messiah being dragged away and eventual condemnation gradually unnerved the traitor.

He is quoted in another account shouting later at the Sanhedrin Council temple, "…I have sinned, I have betrayed innocent blood…"

St Matthew, the only gospel known to recount a contemporary interpretation of Christ’s arrest aftermath, 27:5 reads, "…Judas cast down the thirty pieces of silver in the temple, departed, went and hanged himself…"

Crucial questions still remain unanswered: instead of killing himself in despair, why did Judas not go back to Christ, kneel down at the foot of the cross and ask for forgiveness? Was he merely fulfilling God’s divine, prophetic will?