2. Judas - II. The Biblical Legend

Judas

II. The Biblical Legend

Judas Iscariot, he became one of the twelve
Disciples Jesus wanted to call unto him.
The Son of God gave them power to heal the unwell
Whatever sicknesses could settle in their limbs.

Did he heal anyone or did he raise the dead?
Did he cast out any devils or did he not?
In the Holy Bible those facts cannot be read
Nor what ups and what downs Judas Iscariot got.

Well, he was Jesus Christ’s right-hand man very long,
Firstly he did believe in the rabbi’s great power,
He was always near Jesus, and his faith was strong
And, it can be supposed by me, was never lowered.

But little by little Judas could understand
That Christ’s words had not any meaning anymore
For the rabbi’s worshippers all over their land:
It was Jesus’ person that those people adored.

They all thought that wise man very soon would be king
Able to give his admirers heaven on earth.
It was their daydream, they thought that it was the thing
That would come true, and they were full of sincere mirth.

Judas wasn’t optimistic, he had a few doubts
If the path that they had taken was really right.
Everyone around him seemed to be in the clouds,
Not seeing that they might go forth into the night,

And that the sun would not shine for them anymore,
For its rays could not shine through the boulder-walled prison.
He realized well they couldn’t lay down their own law,
But no! no one seemed to ever listen to reason.

Judas got more and more doubtful, and one event
Helped him to understand that they had gone too far
And to see clear that they did follow a false scent
And that constantly against them would be the stars.

He was the treasurer, and he kept all that had
Been put into the money bag that Judas owned.
All the money they had got, it was on his head,
And to care about it Judas was always prone.

Once Jesus and the twelve had to sup in the house
Where two young fine sisters, Mary and Martha, lived.
Lazarus, their brother, seated still as a mouse,
In everything Jesus was telling them, believed.

Mary, a meek young woman, while Martha was serving
Those sitting at the lib’ral table, took a pound
Of ointment of spikenard (she thought Christ was deserving
Of that, for she had heard his Sermon on the Mount).

She anointed Jesus’ feet, wiped them with her hair,
And the two sisters’ house was with the fragrance filled.
Such a waste of the dear substance Judas couldn’t bear,
Thinking it would not have been worse if it had spilled.

He pronounced, “Why was not this costly ointment sold
So that we had a chance of donating some alms?
We could’ve got many pieces of silver or gold,
But you have it wasted, woman, for this sweet balm.”

Jesus answered, “What are you saying? Leave her be.
You don’t know that for my funeral she’s kept this.
Poor are always with you, that won’t be so with me,
So she has done the right thing, yes, she really has.”

Those words were uttered with a most convincing tone,
And not a sound escaped Jesus’ lips anymore.
And with his secret thoughts Judas was left alone
After his leaving the house through the outer door.

He drew a conclusion: Christ’s not on the right track,
But no one seems to have realized that till now.
Judas thought that they all had been thrown on their backs,
So he had to save that situation somehow.

He wished Jesus Christ well but he knew he’d to pass
The point of no return without having a doubt.
For Judas those times were really the times of stress,
He didn’t like Jesus to always go with the rout.

Common people constantly followed them in streams,
But Judas, he knew that something had to be changed.
He didn’t believe in realizing that mob’s dreams,
And o’er the past, present and future his thoughts ranged.

So Judas went unto chief priests, in disarray.
He said, “What’ll you give if you profit by my aid?”
To off’ring thirty silver pieces he could say,
“A trifling price for this nasty thing to be made!”

From that time there was no way back, he had to seek
A chance to deliver Jesus unto their hands.
Judas did not wait long, there passed less than a week
When it appeared to him he could fulfill his plans.

Jesus came to Jerusalem, praised, glorified.
That was time when the Passover was drawing near.
In giving Jesus his house one man took a pride,
One of not so many whose feelings were sincere.

Their feast of the Passover was just at its height
When Judas heard the rabbi speak in a sad tone,
“One of my disciples will betray me tonight.
It would’ve been good for him if he’d never been born.”

Judas had his heart in his mouth but then calmed down,
Having the hope those were just Jesus’ apprehensions.
He thought, “He cannot know what to do I am bound.
But if he really can, it’s b’yond my comprehension.”

The shocked disciples vied with each other in asking:
Who was that man to do such a mean and vile action?
Who was that villain, rogue that so long had been masking?
Was there anything to prove to their satisfaction?

And they also began to ask, “Master, is ‘t me?”
Judas said the same, Jesus answered, “One of you.
The betrayer is here, but his choice must be free.”
He bent forward to Judas, “Do fast what you do.”

Jesus gave him a sop, then Judas understood
That the rabbi really knew who was the betrayer.
But he consoled himself: ‘twas all for Jesus’ good,
Without knowing that he was nothing but a strayer.

All heard Jesus’ last words, but no one knew their gist:
Judas understood them and left through the front door.
Some thought Jesus asked him to buy things for the feast,
Some thought he was ordered to give coins to the poor.

Having received the sop, at once Judas went out,
And there was as dark out of doors as in his mind.
“He knows everything,” Judas thought, “there is no doubt,
So he knows why I do it, I’ve nothing behind.”

Judas knew ‘bout the place where Jesus loved to rest:
Gard’n of Gethsemane, o’er the brook of Cedron.
He said to the high priest, “You want Jesus’ arrest,
I know where he is now, so your time has come on.”

Judas made for Gethsemane with a big crowd
That brought with them lanterns and torches, staves and swords,
And he said, “Who’s the one we need, I won’t cry loud.
I’ll kiss him and you’ll understand all without words.”

Lay your hands upon him, lead him safely away.
After you hold him fast, my task will be fulfilled.”
He approached Jesus, kissed him, and heard, “D’you betray
Me with a kiss, Judas?” And backward Judas reeled.

He began to have doubts if he had acted rightly,
If he really had been filled with the best intentions.
Everything he had planned was carried out so lightly.
“Jesus Christ’s matter shall’ve immediate attention,”

Now those words frightened him. “I have done the wrong thing,”
Judas thought, and that was preventing him from sleeping.
“Now I do understand how mistaken I’ve been,
To what erroneous decision I have been keeping.

I’m the betrayer, I testified against him,
And I know what sentence on him the council’s passed.
Feel like I’ve destroyed some hundred million men’s dream,
For till tomorrow evening Jesus’ life won’t last.”

And when the morning had come, Judas learned the news:
“Jesus is found guilty, and to death he’s condemned.”
Judas thought, “Of my help they all have made good use,
For it’s not all those priests but I who shall be damned.”

He came to them, feeling some repentance inside,
And said, “I’ve betrayed innocent blood, it’s my sin.”
They said, “Did you get out of the bed on th’ wrong side?
Your help was effective, and to help you did mean.

We don’t understand you and don’t care furthermore.
Think yourself what to do and do not trouble us.”
Judas said, “Here’s your blood money,” cast on the floor
Of the temple the silver and went out as thus.

*     *     *

Having come home, he thought, “I have nothing to choose
But to commit suicide. Can’t redress what I’ve done.”
His last thought was (when he had just prepared a noose),
“Oh Lord, why do you want two deaths instead of one?”

But the rope didn’t bear him, and Judas had a fall.
After some time he was found and to his house brought.
Lying on the bed of death, he thought, “I see all.
I’ve helped you to complete your mission, my dear Lord.

I really betrayed you, but predestined it was:
Without me you would never have proved who you are.
Luckily, now I know: we both died for the Cause.
Without bad thoughts of you and me I’ll cross the bar.”

21.07–2.08.98, 20–22.07.99