Tuesday of Holy Week
Mark 14:10-11
Tuesday of Holy Week is a busy one for Jesus. He is challenged over His authority in the Temple, He teaches some parables as thinly-veiled rebukes to the religious leaders, the Gentiles ask to see Him and there is the famous Olivet discourse.
In among all these actions there is in the background a quite sinister event. In Mark 14:10-11 Judas Iscariot agrees to betray Jesus to the Chief Priest in return for a financial reward. He turned Jesus in to the authorities like a common criminal for a few pieces of silver? What could he have been thinking? This is a man in the inner circle, indeed he was the treasurer, as trusted a position as there could be. How could he do the dirty on Jesus after all he saw and heard? Judas is of course regarded as master-betrayer in the Christian church and rightly so. I can only reflect on the bible but I wonder if something in him snapped. In Mark 9:33-36 and 10:35-37 we see that the disciples expected high positions of authority in the new order that Jesus would bring in. Did Judas expect to get rich out of this? Did he realise that when Jesus commended Mary for using the expensive ointment on Him that there wasn’t much interest in money from Jesus? We can only speculate.
There have been various attempts to reform the character of Judas. The Gospel of Thomas, The Gospel of Judas, The Last Temptation of Christ, Jesus Christ Superstar and so on and so on. They portray Judas as a man torn, trying to do the right thing. Philosophers say that without Judas prophecy couldn’t be fulfilled, without Judas there wouldn’t be any need for that prophecy is what I say. They also say that all Christians are just like Judas as we betray Jesus in our actions and lifestyles. Hmmmm. I might let Jesus down now and again but I am no Judas. I don’t go out of my way to betray good people to political authorities for money. So in fact, I’m not like Judas at all.
My reflection is simple. The deed is done. Evil has triumphed today. As Jesus taught, Judas betrayed. The rest of the week is how it is because of the actions of one man.