Lent@Landmark: Day 39

Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed. So they bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor.

When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”

“What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.”

So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. (Matthew 271-5)

This is a part of Good Friday often overlooked. The focus is on Jesus, as it should be, but it’s a part of the story that does grasp for our attention.

It seems that he did not expect that Jesus would be condemned. It is unclear what Judas expected—perhaps he was given assurances by the chief priests that something less severe would happen to Jesus? His first step once seized with remorse is to return to them and change his story.

On some level, I feel that this is something of a redemption story for Judas. It removes him from the plot—once the chief priests got what they needed from Judas, they cut him loose, even though he recanted his testimony, and proceeded in seeking Jesus’ crucifixion.

On another, this is a story of terrible loss. Judas has realized his addiction to money, realized the effects of his greed, and confessed his sin. Imagine the moment of forgiveness that could have happened after the resurrection. Imagine the relief Judas could have felt upon seeing Jesus alive again! May we all learn from Judas that we should never see reconciliation as out of reach. —MH