#holyweek judaswalk

[revkidd]

The Judas Walk

Wednesday of Holy Week is the day in the church calendar when we tell the story of Judas (sometimes called “Spy Wednesday.”) In John’s Gospel we hear Jesus’ interaction with Judas - when he notifies him that the jig is up, Jesus knows what he is about to do.

But this year the words hit me differently.  

John refers to him as Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. I couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for Simon. His name is forever remembered (kinda) but only in connection to a betrayal. It is a sad, strange betrayal too. Judas is either an ignorant patsy or a greedy pawn, but we can’t really tell which. Lots of ink has been spilled over the years wondering if perhaps Judas misunderstood what Jesus was trying to do. Perhaps he thought Jesus wanted a showdown with the Pharisees, maybe he thought this was just part of the plan? Of course, he also could have just wanted to score some easy cash. It isn’t like the Pharisees really needed him to point out Jesus, he just rode into town in a parade!

Nevertheless Judas, and Simon along with him, are forever trapped on the wrong side of history. They are, at the very least, complicit with the oppressor, the evil doer, the empire.  In Matthew’s Gospel Judas even comes to his senses, tries to give the money back. (Matthew 27:3-10) He wants to reclaim his place on the side of the angels!  But he is told it is too late.  His bed has been made, his lot has been cast.  

He is, whether he likes it or not, a villain.  This is who he will always be.

This of course is the lie that Holy week itself exposes.

We are all Judas and Simon. We have all made the choice, at one time or another, to take the easy way out. We have all chosen the cash or the comfort over the deep need of the world. We have all been selfish, greedy and prideful. We have all desired to walk our own way instead of the way of peace, life and wisdom. Sometimes, like Simon, we find that we have been unwittingly co-opted into a system that exploits the weak, shames the abused and rewards the evil doer.  We are not quite sure how we got here. But we know, like it or not, that we are complicit. We are simultaneously both victims and perpetrators of the problem. We are trapped by our sin, and the sin of our kin.

This is why we go through the trouble, year after year, to tell the story of Holy Week. The way out is always through. We walk like Judas into that Holy Meal on Thursday, we find ourselves convicted and laid bare to the truth of our lives on Friday: that we are simultaneously both a sinner and beloved beyond measure. The darkness is deep, it is scary and it is real. But so it the light. The light of God’s redeeming work pierces the darkness on Saturday and darkness is powerless to resist it.  We no longer hide our sin or shame but rather come to know ourselves as unconditionally forgiven, and therefore free. 

The Judas walk becomes a Jesus run - right back into the loving arms of our creator, who simply refuses to give up on us, no matter what.

I wish you a blessed journey through Holy Week. I hope you hear what you need to be healed, and find what you need to be free.