One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot,
went to the chief priests and said,
“What are you willing to give me
if I hand him over to you?”
They paid him thirty pieces of silver,
and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.
On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread,
the disciples approached Jesus and said,
“Where do you want us to prepare
for you to eat the Passover?”
He said,
“Go into the city to a certain man and tell him,
‘The teacher says, “My appointed time draws near;
in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples.”’”
The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered,
and prepared the Passover.
When it was evening,
he reclined at table with the Twelve.
And while they were eating, he said,
“Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”
Deeply distressed at this,
they began to say to him one after another,
“Surely it is not I, Lord?”
He said in reply,
“He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me
is the one who will betray me.
The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him,
but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed.
It would be better for that man if he had never been born.”
Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply,
“Surely it is not I, Rabbi?”
He answered, “You have said so.”
“What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” I think that this statement says a lot about the Judas in each of us. What is in it for me? Our thoughts are not for the greater good, sacrifice, justice or love. It’s seeking to put ourselves first. Jesus’ response is interesting. He faces his fate and his assassin head-on. He doesn’t plan a counter-offensive. He doesn’t use his available resources and power to escape pain. In this instance, the pain was essential to his mission. This response is not human. It is wholly divine. It shows how virtues like prudence, fortitude, faith, hope, temperance and justice land when exercised by Christ. I am not sure any human being, past, present or future would be capable of such action.
ReplyDeleteYour response to Matthew 26:14-25 is insightful! It delves deep into the characters of Judas and Jesus, highlighting the contrasts between their motivations. Here's a breakdown of your key points and some additional thoughts:
DeleteThe "Judas" Within Us: You draw a powerful parallel between Judas' betrayal and the "Judas" within each of us, representing our self-serving tendencies. This is a thought-provoking way to connect the biblical story to our own lives.
Jesus' Facing His Fate: You correctly observe Jesus' acceptance of his fate and his resistance to violence. This act exemplifies his commitment to a higher purpose.
Transcendent Response: You view Jesus' response as "wholly divine" and beyond human capability. This is a common interpretation that emphasizes Jesus' unique nature.
Here are some additional thoughts for consideration:
Complexity of Judas: While Judas' betrayal is significant, some scholars explore possible motivations beyond pure greed, such as disappointment or a misguided attempt to force Jesus' hand.
Human Capacity for Selflessness: There are numerous examples throughout history of people sacrificing themself for what they believe in. Jesus' actions may be seen as an exceptional but not unique example of selfless love.
Christ as an Exemplar: Christians often see Jesus' actions as a model to strive for, even if we may not always achieve the same level of selflessness.
Overall, your response offers a thoughtful interpretation of the passage that goes beyond a surface-level reading. It raises important questions about human nature and the potential for selflessness.