Holy Week with Judas – Holy Tuesday – Planning the Push

Greetings Dear Reader,

Judas was with Jesus the previous day when Jesus cursed the fig tree. Today, as the troop makes the journey into the city they come upon the same tree. What had been green is dried up and dead. Judas listens as Jesus teaches them about the power of faith. He listens and learns that if one believes strongly enough one can do anything.

Again Judas follows Jesus to the temple and listens. Hearing how the Messiah condemns the blind guidance of the Pharisees he feels the storm of power building in Jesus. He sees how captivated the listeners are when Jesus speaks of the great commandment and the parables. He listens too, but misses a key point. He misses the primary current of love and respect for even the enemy. He misses that the way of this great conquest is through peace and sacrifice.

One must acknowledge that Judas possessed an undercurrent of greed. The apostle John reports him a thief. His impatience and lack of care for the poor is also noted. What he saw was power in Jesus’ and Jesus turning that power toward rebuffing the corruption in Israel. It seemed a small step to Judas to include Rome in the company of the dismissed and unworthy.

Judas watches and Jesus teaches and sees the hatred that some of the Pharisees hold for him. He watches the furtive whispers and sees the open gestures. He knows that the Pharisees want Jesus dead. He also knows that they will not move against him with thousands of his followers watching. He has seen Jesus pass through hostile crowds untouched. No one can harm him. He ponders that if he can push Jesus into the right situation, then Jesus will act more like a God and less like a lamb.

The little colour Jesus has shown is enough to motivate Judas. He will find a way to push Jesus into action. He will find a way to force the hand of God. He believes but does not understand and his zeal for the result make the patch unclear.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn
Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a home owner. He brings new and old things out of his treasure store."