Judas
I’ve been wondering about Judas Iscariot recently. We are told he betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, a contemptible act. But what surprises me is that it took money to get him to betray Jesus, quite a bit of it. Surely it is more realistic to suppose that he did it for a much less compelling reason, e.g. to be popular with the mob. And isn’t it unrealistic to suppose that only one member of the twelve apostles betrayed Jesus? Judging by contemporary standards, one would expect most of the apostles to have been in on the betrayal. Judas has been represented as far more singular than human nature suggests.
An intriguing character and indeed the “fact” that only he betrayed Jesus is far-fetched. But there are so many conflicting interpretations of this betrayal, including denials of it taking a place (“Jesus knew and wanted/asked for it” versions) that we are left to talk about interpretations or invent a new one. I mean just Borges in “Three versions…” has 3 or more variations on the theme. But more importantly Judas didn’t end well and Borges’ hero from the story, Nils Runeberg — a writer on the subject, didn’t do any better… So beware 😉
It’s a rare person who doesn’t betray you when the mob gets going.
An apt aphorism. 100% objective in your sense of the word…