deserter, traitor, renegade, defector, heretic, turncoat, backslider, recreant.

This Holy Week I shall be reading a book by Tosca Lee entitled, Iscariot: a novel of Judas.

In the Gospel for this Sunday Matthew 27 11-54 the story of Judas unfolds like a drama in four acts.

Judas’ arrangement with the high priests

Judas’ relationship with Jesus during the Passover meal

Judas’ act of betrayal 

Judas’ repentance

Each of these is spelt out by Matthew as his Gospel unfolds and begins to reach its climax in the crucifixion, the death and burial of Jesus before, in Chapter 28, we are invited to marvel joyfully in the drama of the empty tomb and finally become witnesses to the Resurrection.

In her author’s note Tosca Lee reflects that the Greek word: paradidomi which is often translated as ‘betray’ is possibly or more aptly translated ‘deliver’.

Judas’ role in the Gospel is also confusing to our modern ears because throughout the text Judas is the only disciple that Jesus calls friend.

So here we have the image of the man who has become a by word for betrayal, for letting people down, for selling out too cheaply. Dictionary synonyms of Judas are given as: deserter, traitor, renegade, defector, heretic, turncoat, backslider, recreant.

A ‘scapegoat’ Leviticus 16, is a goat sent into the wilderness after the Jewish chief priest had symbolically laid the sins of the people on it. 
Similarly a Judas Goat will lead other animals to slaughter whilst being itself spared. 

Another definition of Judas is ‘a spy glass in a door’ a telling definition because not only does Jesus look into Judas heart when he states ‘one of you will betray me’ but Judas response ‘Is it me Lord’ allows us to look not only into Judas’ heart but our own.

I will read my book with interest because deep in my heart I have a suspicion that Judas’ role in the Gospel narrative is to be a ‘type’ merely one among the many who betray Jesus, the many of course includes us, in the sense that as we journey through this Holy Week we are all accomplices in the betrayal of Jesus, as we all share in the benefits of Judas’ action.

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