Thirty Pieces

He had been with him for three years.

He had heard the sermons. He had seen the miracles.

He had been sent out with the twelve and had come back reporting the same wonders.

He carried the money bag.

John records that he used to help himself to what was in it.

Small thefts. Regular ones.

Then one day, without being asked, he went to the chief priests.

He said: What are you willing to give me if I deliver him to you?

They weighed out thirty pieces of silver.

He agreed.

From that moment on, he sought an opportunity to betray him.

He sat at the table for the last supper.

Jesus washed his feet.

Jesus dipped bread and gave it to him.

He said to him: What you are going to do, do quickly.

No one else at the table understood what that meant.

Judas went out immediately.

And it was night.

He came to the garden with soldiers and a crowd carrying swords and clubs.

He had arranged a signal: The one I kiss is the man. Seize him.

He walked up to Jesus.

He said: Greetings, Rabbi.

He kissed him.

Jesus said: Friend, do what you came for.

The arrest was made.

When Judas saw that Jesus had been condemned, he was seized with remorse.

He brought the thirty pieces back to the chief priests.

He said: I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.

They said: What is that to us? See to it yourself.

He threw the silver into the temple.

He went and hanged himself.

The chief priests gathered the coins.

They said it wasn't lawful to put them in the treasury since it was blood money.

They used it to buy a field for burying strangers.

Blood money. Spent on a grave.

He had sat at the table with the Son of God.

And sold him for the price of a slave.

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