Judas

The day was like any other, the townspeople walked about he market bartering for goods while others made their way to the Temple area for prayer and sacrifice.  People walked about but did not stop for pleasantries for they were so focused on their personal agenda.  Most did not notice a stranger come into town.  A man, dressed as a Jew, yet unfamiliar to the city.   People walked about the market, the man surveyed his surroundings, as if looking for a particular person.  He must not have found who he was looking for so he walked into the Temple area where, again, he takes in his surroundings yet speaks to no one so he enters the Temple proper and comes out with a man.  The men travel through the town, the midday sun beating upon their brows and sweat pours forth down their back.  They engage in conversation along the pass.  A man attempts to pass the two travelers and all three stop, they converse and all three walk in the direction of the two.  The day seems to be going as planned and when they arrive to the water's edge there was a group of men gathered with him.  There, in the distance sat a man, alone, possibly collecting his thoughts, possibly without work.  The group of men, now 11, stayed and conversed while the man who had gathered the group walked alone and confronted the lonely man. 

"You"

"Who, me?"

"Yes, you.  Come, follow me, walk with me and you will learn great things.  You sit as if weary about something, as if wondering what the world holds for you.  I will show you exactly what the world holds, you need just come, walk with me and my group.  Learn your purpose, learn about your heart. "

"Intrigued by the man's words, he accepted the invitation.  He rose to his feet and followed the mysteriously confident man."

Now there were 12 plus the confident man.  The men walked about the villages, they dialogued about their dreams, their visions, their hopes.  Many discussions about religion were had though the man always brought the conversation back around to faith and the men never seemingly noticed.  Grand discussions were had regarding of the Spirit of the Law versus the Letter of the Law.  The men soon came to realize that the man who had "recruited" them was no ordinary man.  He ate with known sinners, he conversed with tax collectors, he even dared to speak to woman, and Samaritan woman at that.  This man was different, he cared not for the law yet his actions were not of defiance only of faith.  The men traveled together day and night and soon, wherever they gathered, large crowd, too, would gather.  

On time, people gathered and the man spoke, he spoke about the Father and the Father's love for all people; his unconditional love.  Intrigued, people came in droves to listen to this man for no one, until now, had spoken of God with such love, with such affection.  This man was different, he permitted people to feel, to hope in a future beyond what they see, behind what they know.  And so the crowd gathered in the hot sun and humid temperature to listen to the heartfelt words from this stranger.  The time passed and the people grew hungry, though they did not want to leave, they required nourishment.  So the man stopped his talks about love and demonstrated love as he spoke, "My friends, we have gathered for some time now.  The hours have passed and you are all so attentive but, alas, many of you grow weary for you hunger. Come let us break bread together, let us share a meal for we are friends and as friends we shall eat."

Now, the man, himself had no food but he proposed a meal for the five thousand gathered.  He sent his apostles around to help, help with what, they were confused but help they did.  And miraculously, all five thousand people were fed and extra fish and bread were brought to the man.  The day was joyful, people heard many lesson but most importantly they experienced love, their own actions of sharing were directly proportional to the speeches given by the stranger.  People laughed, they conversed and they left filled with a spirit, a spirit of love.

The man chosen last to partake in such a group sat back and watched, he was weary about these actions.  How could five thousand people be fed at once?  How could he keep speaking as he does without backlash from the Sanhedrin?  Though he verbalized none of these concerns, his heart was beginning to question the motives of this man.

A new day dawned, as the sun rose up over the clouds, the group of men awake with excitement for a new day, for each day was different, each day brought excitement, each day brought faith.  This particular day, men journeyed to a town where people begin to bring their sick to the man.  People lined the streets with their sick and afflicted. The last of the 12 wanted to leave, he wanted nothing to do with the sick, with the lepers.  

"What if he became sick from being around them?  What then, what use would he be?  And what were they to do with the sick anyway?  They had no powers, no way of making them well, why should they risk their own sickness for people who just wanted to see a man?"  These his thoughts, but again he never voiced them to his friends, he simply stepped back and watched the events unfold.

One by one, the people stretched out their hands to the man as he passed and one by on, the man embrace each person who miraculously rose and walked without ailment, without affliction.  

This became the norm of this group, walking to cities, healing the sick, preaching about love and keeping company with the bottom of the social ladder.   The last to be chosen became increasingly uncomfortable with their actions and feared back lash from the Sanhedrin.  Aware of his surroundings, the man would spot Sadducees and/or Pharisees hidden in the crowds as the man taught and never did they look happy with his words.  So he followed the group ever distant in mind and spirit for fear had crept into his heart.  He knew that there would come a time when he would leave the group, he just needed and opportunity to disband the group, to save all of their lives.

Time passed, the men grew closer, they spoke, themselves, of love, of peace that could be offered only by God; all except the last man who kept his distance from the others and they began to notice.  It was time to prepare for  the Passover.  The men were to gather in an up room to celebrate such a remembrance.  This was no ordinary Passover for as they gathered, the man spoke of the end, he spoke of a time when he would not be with them.

"Did he know?  How could he know of my plans?  No, he is just being general..." His thoughts haunted the last apostle as he just sat in the back of the room, not eager to participate in the activities of the night.  As men prepared the cedar meal, the man gathered them together.

"My brothers, we have shared faith these years; we have witnessed the wonders of life and the hauntings of death.  You have become faith-filled men and I ask you to continue what you have learned, what you now live. "

"Sir, you speak as though you will part from us."

"I am afraid I will, my friends, and soon."

In unison they exclaim, "No!  No, rabbi we still have much to learn, do not leave us."

All, except the last apostle who sits mute in the corner.

"Worry not, my friends, you are ready, you are ready to carry out the actions, the love you witnessed, the love you felt these times together.  Continue what we started, I pray you.  I know the times will challenge but I also know your hearts, I know you will do as you feel you need.  Come let me wash your feet..."

"Master, it is us who should wash your feet..."

"No, we are not here to be served but to be served.  Come let me wash your feet that we may eat of our meal.  I will do for you as you should do for others.  All of my lessons have come with love, treat others with such love and you will bring my Father to them.  Your action speak loudly, listen to them, be cognizant of them for then you will see the fruit of my words, love in action, my friends, simply put, this is faith."

One by one the men came forward to have their feet washed by their master. And one by one he embraced each man and whispered into their ear.  To each he said something different, to each he highlighted their strengthens but to all he eased with worried mind.  The last to come forth was the apostle 12 and never did he rise from his seat.  The man did not make a scene, he simply continued his soliloquy regarding the Father and the purpose of faith.  Quickly the men gathered around the table, the meal prepared and he spoke...

"We have gathered tonight as family.  Father, you permit us this food to nourish our  bodies, nourish, too, our souls for often we become weary and faint of heart.  Your plan, Father, never too great for us for you know our gifts, our hearts leap for joy with your love.  Look into our hearts, Father, and grant us peace as we remember the cry of our people so long ago.  You know our hearts, Father..."

With this the 12th apostle stands, tears stream down his cheeks and his hands trembling.

"Go, Judas, do what you must.  I know your heart is weary, you worry, you fear what is to become of you and all because of me.  Go, Judas, men await you.  Go."

Judas attempts to leave the room but Simon Peter stands in his way.

"Simon, let him go, he must do as his mind wishes.  Step aside and let him leave."

Simon does as he is told and Judas quickly exits the room.  The men are left befuddled, while Jesus attempts to calm their nerves.

Meanwhile, Judas makes his way to the palace hoping to find the nasi for he wants to save the lives of the people he has called brother for three years.  He knows the talk, the chatter about a crucifixion, about the disbanding of the group.  They are calling for death.  He must do what he can to save his friends.  After all, could they not see this coming, the hatred in the streets, the violence beginning to over take the people.  This is no place to speak of love, to speak against the Sanhedrin and their laws.  He must, for the betterment of the group find the nasi for he will surely make things right.

“Sir, I am told you are who I must see”, he said nervously.

“Me?” he said with a villainous grin, “Why, my dear man, what so ever would you need with me?  I have seen you will the man they call the Messiah.  Can’t he answer any of your questions?”

“Sir, I fear he has let the chatter go to his head.  I fear their are people who wish to kill him and those who follow him.  I do not wish to die, sir.  Please, sir, I can give this man to you, I know you will treat him justly; you being a man of the law.”

He places his hand on Judas’ shoulder, “Yes, my friend, I will see that justice is shown to him.  What can you tell me of him?”

“Tonight, we gathered, our group in prayer, in celebration of the Passover.  They will then go to the garden of Gethsemane to pray, there will be no crowds, no one to resist his arrest.”

“And how will I know which one is him?”

“I will kiss my friend on the cheek, then you will know which man you must take.”

“And for your efforts my friend, forty pieces of silver, here, take half now and half tonight.  You have done well, my friend, you have saved the faith.  Go, be with your friend for the night comes quickly.”

Judas turned to the group who did not welcome him with open arms but Jesus insisted he permitted to come to the garden with them to pray.  

The garden warm, the night air thick.  Jesus asked the men to keep watch for him 

As he took three with him into the inner part of the garden to pray.  The night quickly fell upon them and all of the men fell asleep, accept of course, Jesus who intensely prayed to the Father.  

"Come, the time is at hand.  We must go.  Come, Judas, do as you must."

The men rose from their slumber and together walked out of the garden where they were met by a group of Sadducees and Pharisees.  Immediately, Judas walked over to Jesus and kissed him on the cheek.  The guards grabbed Jesus and in his anger, Peter chopped off the ear of one of the soldiers.  Jesus simply picked up the ear and placed it back on the man, healing him on site.  The nasi publicly thanked Judas and tossed him a bag of silver,

"As per our deal, the rest of our silver for handing over this traitor to our faith!"

Horrified, Judas caught the bag and ran. He kept running until he did not recognize his surroundings.  Alone, Judas screamed, "He said he would ensure justice.  Justice for a traitor.  Jesus is not a traitor, he is just confused, but a traitor he is not.  Traitor, what?  They intend to kill him but they have no means to kill him.  Ok, things will be ok.  They may whip him but kill him they cannot do."  His mind started to ease.  "Wait, the day I met him he was coming from Pilate's palace, surely they have not reason to meet, nothing in common...unless, justice.  He spoke of justice. The look in his eye he is evil, he has a devious plan.  What have I done?"  Torment began to set in and Judas lamented over his actions.  Grief stricken, he saw no way out for his friends he had betrayed, he had no home by which to speak of, and now blood was on his hands, blood of an innocent, genuinely loving man."  His final thought was too unbearable and Judas took his own life.  Though he traveled with the others and Christ for three years, never did he open his heart to hear the message of Christ, his message of love; unconditional love offered by the Father.  Judas lived in his mind, surveyed the world around him and calculated his moves.  Each move logically decided, each move performed with purpose as proposed by the mind, always ignoring the heart.  For the first time he felt; he felt pain, anguish, and remorse.  Fear lead his actions and fear lead to his demise for certainly, if he had listened, he would have heard love.  Alas, the world too overbearing for a man only tuned into his mind.  A lesson of the heart; a lesson for the heart...love our purpose, love our prize, love our saving grace.