40 Reflections: 40 days of raw recollections during the Lenten Season
No. 37
I can picture Jesus standing in his strappy sandals on a hot, dusty day holding a big red playground kickball, stretching his legs amid the blowing dust, and picking teams. “I’ve got Simon, but – by the way – we’re going to call you Peter – and I pick his brother Andrew, plus James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James, Simon, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot.”
Grumbling came from the first eleven picked, as they kicked the dirt around them trying to look nonchalant about Judas joining the team. But — Jesus was known for being a sharp judge of character – so they let it play out.
But why Judas? WHY?
Turns out, the old number 12 was ready to play, but not by the rules. Oh, Judas!
Judas was sneaky. On the day Judas betrayed Jesus, the masses believed his poor choices led him to be a spy. Thus the name “Spy Wednesday”. Spy means “ambush” and Wednesday of Holy Week was the day he chose to betray Christ for 30 pieces of silver.
Here are some Gospel theories on why Judas went down the path he did:
- Mathew’s Gospel tells us he was motivated by the 30 pieces of silver he was offered
- Mark and Luck were convinced Satan “entered into Judas” to plan Jesus’ arrest
- John’s Gospel says his motive was money, money, money.
Perhaps the reason was that Judas, like a lot of us, felt better making God in his own image rather than the other way around.
Knowing the sneakiness behind Judas, I wonder if Jesus would rethink his kickball team.
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