Judas

From We Were There

By Sarah A. O'Malley and Robert D. Elmer

JUDAS:  I know you all want to ask the question, "Judas, how could you have betrayed the Master with a kiss?" But you have to understand. The dream, the dream of a Messiah and a kingdom, was all but dead. How was Jesus going to unite our people against the Romans if he continued to create division; breaking the Sabbath and insulting our leaders? Jesus had become a hopeless idealist. Turn the other cheek, indeed! How could any Jew dare to say, "Give unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar"?

No, no, the dream was dead. Jesus had no intention of conquering the Romans. Instead of collecting money to build an army, this dreamer gave it away to the poor. Yes... I took money from the common purse. I wanted my share; what's fair is fair. Wouldn't you agree? There wasn't going to be any rich kingdom.

Oh, I saw his power; the power over demons and sickness and even death. When I turned him over to the soldiers that night in the garden, I thought I'd force him to use his power against the Romans. I was sure he'd escape like he did in Nazareth when he magically made his way through a mob determined to kill him.

I can't say I ever hated the Master; I simply became disillusioned, bitterly disillusioned. I made a tragic blunder in betraying and I paid for it. I regret that kiss, but it's too late... too late...