see
Cor I 11:24–25;
Mark 14:22–24;
Matt 26:26–28;
Luke 22:20
17. The disciples, in turn, drank the wine, even though they feared Jesus was referring to his imminent death.
18. Judas still believed that not only could he save the Master, but his fellow disciples would rejoice at his bold initiative.
19. After receiving the morsel of bread, Judas immediately went out and it was night.
John 13:30
20. He made his way quickly to the home of the Scribe, who welcomed him.
21. The Scribe told Judas: ‘I have gathered together many loyal supporters of Jesus, whose single purpose is to save him from an unnecessary death.’
22. Judas thanked him, and said to the Scribe: ‘After the Passover feast, Jesus will go to the Mount of Olives, where he and the other disciples may be found at prayer.
23. ‘When you come, I will identify the Master, so that together, we can return to Galilee, and save him from an unnecessary death.’
Chapter 21
Master, Master
1. Judas left the Scribe’s home and made his way to the Mount of Olives.
2. When he came to a place called Gethsemane, he found Jesus on his knees, deep in prayer.
see
John 18:2;
Mark 14:26;
Matt 26:30;
Luke 22:39
3. Many of Jesus’ followers were scattered around the mountain, some praying, while others were fast asleep.
4. Judas approached the Master and, when he was a few paces off, fell on his knees and joined him in prayer.
5. Jesus rose suddenly and, raising his arms towards the heavens, said: Abba, with you, all things are possible; take away this cup from me; however, not what I will, but what you command.
see
Mark 14:36;
Matt 26:39;
Luke 22:42
6. When Judas heard these words, he was filled with hope that the Master might agree to return to Galilee and avoid the death he had earlier foretold.
7. Judas walked slowly towards Jesus. He threw his arms round Mark his neck and said: ‘Master, Master,’ and kissed him.
Mark 14:45;
Matt 26:49;
Luke 22:47–48
8. Jesus took him in his arms, and Judas was overcome with his compassion.
9. Suddenly, out of the darkness appeared a band of officers from the Temple, who were carrying lanterns, torches, cudgels, sticks and other weapons.
10. Jesus released Judas and turned towards them, for he knew all things that would happen to him.
John 18:4
11. Judas reeled back in horror, suddenly aware that the Master had been referring to him when he had said during the Passover feast: One of you will betray me, even one of the twelve.
see
Mark 14:18
12. Jesus then turned to the officers and asked: ‘Whom do you seek?’
13. They answered: ‘Jesus of Nazareth.’
14. Jesus said to them: ‘I am he.’
John 18:4–5
15. Judas was shocked to see that among the group who had come to arrest Jesus was the Scribe who had claimed to be his friend.
16. Judas charged angrily towards him, his fists flying in every direction as he cried out: ‘You have betrayed me.’ But two of the officers grabbed him by the arms and held him back. Judas spat on him.
17. Jesus looked at the Scribe, and said: Am I to be treated as a thief, that you come in the night armed with swords and staves to arrest me? Day after day I attended you in the Temple and you did not approach me, but you have now chosen this moment in the darkest hour of the night to arrest me.
see
Mark 14:48–49;
Matt 26:55;
Luke 22:52–53
18. As the guards continued to hold on to Judas, the Scribe turned to Jesus and said: You do not understand. It is better that one should die for the people than the whole nation should be destroyed.
see
John 11:50
19. The disciples were suddenly woken from their slumbers and, seeing Jesus surrounded by soldiers and officers of the Temple, were filled with fear.
see
Mark 14:50
20. They all forsook Jesus and ran away.
21. Even as they fled, a soldier grabbed one of Jesus’ followers, who was wearing only a loin cloth round his body, but the young man shed the garment and escaped naked.
see
Mark 14:51–52
22. The officers then released Judas, who stood his ground and watched as Jesus was led away.
Chapter 22
I do not know the man
1. Judas waited until the group of officers that surrounded his Master was out of sight before he followed in their footsteps, always keeping his distance.
2. Although Judas no longer believed that Jesus was the Messiah, he had never lost faith in John the Baptist’s judgment: He is a man of God.
see
John 1:34
3. Judas hoped that even at this late hour there might be some way of rescuing Jesus.
4. He watched as Jesus was escorted to the house of Caiaphas, the Chief Priest, where a trial would take place, and a verdict would be handed down that had already been agreed upon.
5. Judas pulled the top of his robe over his head and disappeared into the shadows behind a pillar in the courtyard.
6. He listened to the gullible and innocent as they talked among themselves, passing on the latest rumour that was being circulated by well-placed Scribes and officers of the Sanhedrin.
7. One said: ‘Jesus of Nazareth has been arrested and charged with blasphemy.’
8. Another: ‘No one was willing to come forward in his defence.’
9. And yet another: ‘All his disciples ran away the moment they saw the officers of the Temple.’
10. Judas stepped out of the shadows. Even at this last moment he hoped that the Scribe would confirm his story, and the Sanhedrin would allow Jesus to return to Galilee, as long as he gave them an assurance that he would never again be seen in Jerusalem.
11. And then he saw a stooped figure on the far side of the courtyard.
12. Judas approached Peter, confident that together they could bear witness for Jesus, and perhaps even at this late hour save his life.
13. A serving girl stopped and, looking at Peter, said: I saw you with Jesus of Galilee.
14. Peter said: I do not know the man.
15. And another attendant turning to look at Peter, said: This man was a follower of Jesus, and once again, Peter denied ever knowing him.
16. A cock crowed once.
17. A little later, others came up to Peter and said: You were with Jesus of Nazareth, and he denied him a third time.
18. Judas heard the cock crow a second time.
19. And then Peter recalled Jesus’ words: Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.
20. Judas followed Peter as he stole out of the courtyard to hide among the milling crowd. His head was bowed, and he was weeping bitterly.
see
Matt 26:69–75;
Mark 14:66–72;
Luke 22:56–62
21. Although both of them had failed their Master in his hour of need, Judas still believed they could be redeemed.
22. Peter turned to discover who was following him, and when he saw it was Judas, he shouted: It would be better for you not to have been born.
Mark 14:21;
Matt 26:24
23. Judas felt betrayed. He had not run away when the Master was arrested.
24. He had not, like Peter, denied Jesus three times, just as the Master had foretold. Why was he the only one to be branded as a sinner?
25. Judas returned to the courtyard and waited hour upon hour for the Master to reappear.
26. Priests continued to enter and leave the home of Caiaphas so that the latest scraps of information could be
passed on to willing ears that only wanted to hear bad news.
see
Mark 14:62–64;
Matt 26:65–66;
Luke 22:70–71
27. Jesus of Nazareth is claiming that he is the Son of God.
28. The Sanhedrin has found him guilty of blasphemy. He is a sinner.
29. The word quickly spread that Jesus had been betrayed by one of his own disciples.
30. ‘Name him,’ shouted a well-placed onlooker.
31. The Scribe immediately stepped forward. ‘Judas Iscariot,’ he declared so that all might know his name.
32. Judas bowed his head as the crowd began to chant: ‘Betrayer, betrayer, betrayer.’
33. Judas turned to the Scribe and pleaded with him to confess what had actually taken place.
34. The Scribe smiled and, pointing to Judas, declared: ‘Behold the betrayer.’
35. Judas wept.
Chapter 23
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
1. Jesus emerged from the house of Caiaphas bound but unbowed, his face covered in spittle.
2. He was led away to the Governor’s fortress, where the Chief Priest handed their prisoner over to Pontius Pilate.
3. The Scribes and the Pharisees did not want to be seen passing judgment, as they had no desire to have Jesus’ death laid at their door.
4. If anything were to go wrong, they would insist that it was the Romans who had made the final decision.
5. A large and boisterous crowd was assembling at the fortress gates. They were being whipped up into a frenzy as they waited for Pilate’s judgment.
Mark 15:14;
Matt 27:22;
Luke 23:21;
John 19:6
6. The Scribes and the Pharisees mingled among the crowd, coaxing Luke them to demand: Crucify him, crucify him.
7. Judas remained powerless as he searched among the crowd for a familiar face, hoping to find a disciple who would join him, and counter, ‘Save him, save him.’ But his was a lone voice, overwhelmed by the brutal cries of the masses.
8. The roar grew louder as Pilate led Jesus out on to the balcony.
see
John 19:5
9. Jesus was clothed in a purple robe and wearing a crown of thorns.
10. Pilate said: Behold the King of the Jews in whom I can find no fault.
see
Luke 23:4
[xxxiv]
11. The crowd responded with raucous chants of: Crucify him, crucify him, and so loud became the clamour that Pilate retreated into the safety of the Antonia fortress.
12. The crowd fell silent as they listened to the lashes being administered by Pilate’s guards, and when Jesus appeared a second time, he was wearing only a loin cloth and his body was cut and bleeding.
see
Luke 23:22;
Mark 15:14;
Matt 27:23;
John 19:4
13. Pilate said: I bring him to you, but I find no fault in him.
14. But the cries of Crucify him, crucify him, only grew louder, causing Pilate to retreat once again, fearful that he might be the cause of an uprising among the people.
15. When Pilate appeared a third time, Jesus stood on one side of him, while a murderer called Barabbas, who had been brought up from the dungeons, stood on the other.
16. It being the Passover and that time of the year, Pilate offered the crowd the chance to save one of the condemned men from execution.
17. Barabbas, Barabbas, they cried in unison.
18. Pilate said: Shall I crucify your King?
19. The Chief Priest responded: We have no King but Caesar.
see
Mark 15:6–15;
Matt 27:15–26;
Luke 23:18–25;
John 18:39–40;
19:15
20. Pilate said: Then take him away, and may his blood be upon you.
21. Judas watched as Pilate scurried back into the confines of the Luke fortress, where he found his wife weeping.
22. Having surrendered his authority to the baying crowd, Pilate washed his hands.
see
Matt 27:24
23. As Jesus was led away, Judas searched around the packed square, still hoping to find one or two of his fellow disciples. He found none.
24. His eyes settled on a group of women.
25. Judas bowed his head in shame, when he recognized Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the other women who had travelled with them from Galilee.
see
Luke 8:1–3; 23:55;
Mark 15:40–41;
Matt 27:55–56
26. They had not forsaken Jesus, but had remained constant.
see
Luke 23:28
27. The women wept when Jesus appeared in the square.
28. He was surrounded by soldiers who were there to make sure that he carried his own cross to the place of execution.
John 19:17
29. As Jesus dragged the heavy cross through the crowded streets, passers-by spat on him, while others mocked: Is this the King of the Jews who has come to rule over us?
see
Mark 15:26–30;
Matt 27:37–40
30. Judas recalled the many occasions when Jesus had warned the disciples against ever calling him the King of the Jews.
31. A soldier, aware that the prisoner was gasping for breath, filled a sponge with vinegar and cruelly pressed it to his mouth, but Jesus rejected it.
see
Mark 15:36;
Matt 27:34;
John 19:29
32. After a few more steps, Jesus collapsed on the ground and one of the guards forced a man called Simon, who had come from Cyrenia to visit the city, to carry his cross.
Mark 15:21;
Matt 27:32;
Luke 23:26
33. The women remained by his side as Jesus continued on his slow, humiliating progress to a site named Golgotha – meaning the place of the skull – where they nailed him to a cross.
34. But before the cross could be raised in its place, a soldier, carrying out the orders of Pilate, attached the superscription: The King of the Jews.
Mark 15:26;
Matt 27:37;
John 19:19
35. At the same time, two other crosses were raised on either side of him, and Judas recalled that the scripture had foretold: And he was numbered with the transgressors.
see
Isaiah 53:12
36. One of the prisoners hanging by his side shouted: If you are the Messiah, save yourself and us at the same time.
37. But the other prisoner remonstrated with him and said: We are guilty of our offences, while he did nothing wrong, and turning to Jesus, pleaded: Remember me when you return as King.
38. Jesus said to him: Today you will be with me in paradise.
Luke 23:39–43
39. Judas watched as the soldiers stationed at the foot of the cross played dice, before they divided Jesus’ garments into four parts so that the promise of David’s song might be fulfilled.
see
Psalm 22:18
40. Jesus said: Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.
41. Judas watched as the Elders and the Scribes continued to torment Jesus: He saved others, now let him save himself.
42. They said: Let us see the Messiah come down from the cross that we might believe in him.
43. Another said: Are you not the same man who was going to tear down the Temple and then build it up again in three days?
44. And darkness fell upon the earth, and the curtain that hung in the Temple was torn from top to bottom.
45. Judas fell on his knees. He prayed that the Master might be spared any more suffering and allowed to die quickly.
46. But it was not until the ninth hour that Jesus cried out: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
47. A centurion, who was stationed at the foot of the cross, looked up at Jesus and said: Truly
, this man was the Son of God.
48. Judas remained on his knees praying, until the cross was finally lowered.
49. Now there stood by the cross Jesus’ loyal women followers.
50. The soldiers checked to be sure the prisoner was dead before they would allow the women to take away his body.
51. Once they removed his body from the cross, Mary Magdalene bathed his wounds, while Mary, the mother of James, cleansed his body. They covered him in a white robe and carried him away.
see
Mark 15:25–47;
Matt 27:35–61;
Luke 23:33–56
52. As Jesus’ body was carried away, Judas looked up to the heavens and repeated John the Baptist’s words: Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?
Luke 7:19;
Matt 11:3
53. That was the last time Judas saw the Master.
Chapter 24
Cursed is anyone who hangs from a tree
1. The Passover was at hand, and already some Jews were murmuring among themselves that it had been a mistake to condone the killing of a holy man.
2. These were the same people who had willingly chanted the words, Crucify him, crucify him, only days before, but were now quickly shifting the blame for the death of Jesus on to Pontius Pilate and his Roman cohorts.
3. The rest of the disciples had gone into hiding, while the name spat out of everyone’s lips was that of Judas Iscariot, the man who had betrayed Jesus.
see
Matt 26:15
4. Rumours were already spreading through the city, each new one quickly overtaken by another.
5. It was said that the rock that had closed Jesus’ tomb had been rolled aside and that there had been a vision of angels.
see
Mark 16:4–7
Matt 28:2–7;
Luke 24:2–5
6. It was even claimed that Jesus had risen from the dead, and had been sighted on three occasions: by Mary Magdalene – she had seen him outside the tomb on the third day and mistaken him for a gardener; by two of the disciples on the road to Emmaus, and by eleven of the disciples while sharing supper together.
see
John 20:14–15;
Luke 24;
Mark 16:19–20
7. The Elders and the Pharisees were attempting to ridicule any suggestion that Jesus had risen from the dead.
see