Judas' Death
Friday, July 25, 2008 -- Week of Proper 11
Saint James the Apostle
Today's Reading for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 977)
Psalms 40, 54 (morning) 51 (evening)
Joshua 9:22 - 10:15
Romans 15:14-24
Matthew 27:1-10
(I misread my calendar yesterday; today is St. James' Day; you may wish to use the readings I posted yesterday, Prayer Book p. 998)
How did Judas die? It's one of those questions that challenges a literal interpreter. Matthew has one version. Acts has a different version.
Today we read Matthew's version, set within the Passion of Jesus. Jesus has been arrested, bound and is being led away. Whatever it was that Judas hoped to accomplish, it has turned very bad. Judas repents of his betrayal. He tries to return the thirty pieces of silver, but the chief priests and elders refuse. Judas throws down the money in the Temple and goes away. He hangs himself. (The story is not unlike the dignified suicide of Ahithophel who betrayed David.)
Since the money is defiled blood money, it can't be used in the Temple. The authorities buy a potter's field to become a cemetery for foreigners. That field is called the "Field of Blood." Matthew closes with passages from Zechariah (a prophetic act concerning thirty pieces of silver which the prophet throws into the Temple) and Jeremiah (who visits a potter in chapter 18, prophesies horror at the valley of the son of Hinnom in chapter 19, and buys a field in chapter 32). It is characteristic of Matthew to use quotes from the Hebrew scripture as references for his narrative, calling the story the fulfillment of the scripture.
Acts 1 tells the story of the death of Judas in an aside as part of the story of the calling of Matthias who restores the apostles' number to twelve. According to this version, Judas himself bought a field with the money, "and falling headlong (alternate translation: "swelling up"), he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out." This undignified death led to the naming of that field "Hakeldama, that is Field of Blood." Then Acts concludes with two verses from Psalms which frame the intent to elect a successor to the "position of overseer."
We have two different versions about the death of Judas and the purchase of a Field of Blood. The more powerful meaning behind the betrayer's death is the contrast his story makes with the story of Peter's betrayal and restoration. Although Peter betrayed Jesus also, he did not take his life or leave the fellowship. Peter stayed around despite his failure and shame, and he was healed, restored, and authorized as a servant leader of the church. Judas' real sin was his belief that his failure was greater than Jesus' goodness. If he did take his own life, it was the ultimate act of control. Had he only surrendered control and trusted, he too could have been restored.
Lowell
posted by Lowell @ 7:51 AM
4 comments
4 Comments:
"Judas' real sin was his belief that his failure was greater than Jesus' goodness."
I liked that one.
I liked that also. How do you see the betrayal of Judas as prophecy? I actually never thought that even that act of betrayal could be forgiven if Judas had asked. Nothing is predestined then is it? Is that the way it "had" to happen? I guess that is the fundamentalist way of thinking,isn't it? Thanks.
Anonymous,
I'm not sure I'm tracking your question. Let me try to respond.
I don't believe the Judas was predestined to play the part of the betrayer, like a puppet on a string.
I believe Judas chose to betray Christ and that he was free not to betray Christ.
I've often wondered about the pressures that he experienced that led him to do so. He might have felt as though he "had to." He might have felt his freedom constricted by threats from the authorities. He might have been the scapegoat had he not turned over Jesus. Who knows?
Or maybe he believed in the Messiahship of Jesus with great passion. Maybe he was disappointed that Jesus had not become the powerful, regal conquering Messiah that scripture predicted. If only Judas could force Jesus' hand into a conflict with the bad guys, then Jesus would be revealed, the legions of angels would rise, the people would stand up and a new age would be ushered in power and glory. His despair (as reflected in the suicide story) might be over his realization that he miscalculated, completely misunderstood Jesus, and it was his failure that was the catalyst for Jesus' death. Who knows?
What we see in so many of the Gospel accounts is the church finding meaning in the events that they experience by interpreting those events through the lens of scripture. Matthew especially.
It may be that some of the stories we have are more "prophecy historicized" than "history remembered."
I hope that is responsive to your question.
Lowell
I also tend to think of much of the prophecy in the New Testament to be midrash, or interpretation of events that have happened in light of previously acknowledged scripture. Assuming that all those passages used in the New Testament were originally written to refer to Jesus is a little much for me and doesn't seem to reflect the realities of the original texts.
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