Judas, the martyr
The Jews led Jesus towards a place called the Place of Skulls; in Hebrew it was
known as Golgotha. He was carrying a heavy beam on his shoulders and was
dragging painfully along the rough road. To add further pain to his bleeding
wounds they slashed him with whips.
All through the night the previous day, Jesus was subjected to the severest form
of torture. He was tied to a bench in sitting position and slashed his body with
many varieties of whips; whips fixed with iron nails, dry and harsh whips, sticks
etc. Blood oozed out from the cuts inflicted by whips. He was totally exhausted by
heavy bleeding.
Now he simply collapsed thrice on the way to Golgotha.
Two pairs of eyes filled with grief and agony stared at the body of Jesus hanging
on the cross, still bleeding. One pair belonged to the Centurion whose servant
was cured from death bed. He is the man who, on knowing Jesus was on his way
to his house, sent friends to Jesus with this message” Sir, do not trouble yourself
for I am not worthy to welcome you under my roof. You see I did not approach
you myself. Just tell a word and my servant will be healed. For myself, a
centurion, gives orders to my soldiers and I say to this one; ‘Go’ and he goes; and
to the other; ‘Come’ and he comes; and to my servant; ‘Do this’ and he does”
Jesus was impressed by the faith of the Centurion and so his beloved servant was
healed. Ever since he became a great believer and loved Jesus in his heart. He is
now filled with grief and pain caused by his helplessness to save Jesus. Though
still a Centurion, commander of 100 soldier formation of the Roman Army, he
could not but obey the Roman Governor. He could not interfere but watch
helplessly the execution of Jesus.
The other two pairs of eyes belonged to Judas Iscariot, known as the traitor of
Jesus. His heart ached and a drowsy numbness pained his senses as if he was
drunk of the poison of life, Blood was still oozing from the wounds of his beloved
friend and master but deep inside his heart was bleeding.
As the crowd dispersed, both the Centurion and Judas trudged their way towards
the road with heavy hearts. As Judas was heading towards an open field, he saw a
shadow falling on him. It was the Centurion.
Judas saw anger and wrath in the eyes of the centurion who caught hold of the
neck of Judas and shouted” You scoundrel! How dare you to betray your beloved
master. I am a Roman soldier still I love him. Had I the power of the Roman
Governor I would not have handed Jesus to these blood hungry Jews? I would
have saved him. But you betrayed him. I wish that I chop you into pieces”
Judas stood unmoved by the anger of the centurion. He replied in a weak fainted
voice” Please do it. I deserve to be killed to fulfill the last wish of my beloved
friend”.
Centurion was taken aback at the statement. Still not convinced of the reply, he
yelled” last wish. What nonsense you utter Judas?
“It not non sense. It is the truth. Anyway I am going to die and accompany my
friend. Please kill me. I deserve death” cried Judas.
A deep silence enveloped them and the atmosphere.” Judas! are you sincere in
your words. If so, please tell me what happened?”
With a deep sigh, Judas sat down on the sand with a heaving heart. The centurion
also sat by him. Judas now opened the story. Centurion let me pour down the
agony of my heart to your hands so that I die peacefully. You may know well that
I am an Iscariot, Judas Iscariot. The Iscariot is one who is trained in martial arts
and skills of warfare. My guru is Barabbas Iscariot whose release the Jews
demanded today in place of Jesus. I, like all Iscariots, believed that a Messiah will
come one day and launch a war against the Roman army and liberate us from
slavery. Hence the Iscariots got training in warfare so that they could fight along
with the Messiah.
When I heard of Jesus as the Messiah of Jews, I went to see him. Alas! I was
overwhelmed by the radiance of spreading from his face. I was breathless for a
moment. Suddenly a change of heart happened in me and I fell down his feet. I
almost surrendered to him even though he never uttered a word. But his
presence engulfed me with love. From that moment onwards, I became one of his
trusted disciples. He trusted me so completely that he entrusted me with the task
of managing the funds of our commune of 12 disciples.
But nobody knows that a deep and intimate friendship developed between us.
He is my friend. Jesus used to share his visions and dream of establishing the
Kingdom of God in this earth and the threat he anticipated from the Pharisees.
Jesus was so convinced that his crucification alone would cause the establishment
of the Kingdom of God.
The Pharisees made many attempts to kill him but they could not as Jesus was
always surrounded by crowd. Fear of offending the crowd discouraged them to
attack and kill Jesus in the public.
When Jesus felt that the time had come for him to offer himself to the hands of
the Pharisees, he took me to a lonely place and revealed his plan pf surrendering
to the Jews.
“Judas, my dear friend, I am here to request an invaluable help from you. Will you
do it?” He asked me. Not knowing his intention, I replied that I was ready even to
sacrifice my life for him.
The he asked the help that shattered my heart and crumbled my senses. “Betray
me”
I shouted loudly that it would be the last thing I would dream of doing. I went
back from my promise and refused to betray him. Then he asked me “if you are a
true friend, then fulfill my dream. You may be treated as a traitor by the world.
Do not bother. You help me and the world for a holy cause – the establishment of
the Kingdom of God. If you refuse, then you are not my friend. Take a decision”
For days I spent sleepless nights. The prospect of betraying him haunted my
dreams. Finally I was convinced of the historical necessity and the immense value
of his death to the humanity.
Finally, I agreed to betray him. Tell me centurion, have I done a wrong? Have I
betrayed my friend or helped him?”
Tears enveloped the eyes of the centurion and certain drops of tear escaped his
eyes and were sliding along his face. He hugged Judas and whispered into his
ears.” Judas! It is not mere help to a friend, but a sacrifice. You have sacrificed
your name and love for your friend and master. Go in peace. Hereafter I will carry
two persons in my heart. One is Jesus and the other is you”
Suddenly they were disturbed by the roaring sound and a group of men with rage
charging towards them with stones in their hands. “Kill the traitor” they yelled.
Sensing some trouble, the centurion drew his sword from the sheath and stood in
a posture of defiance to protect Judas. But Judas stopped him. ‘ Dear centurion, if
you are sincere in your words, please leave this place. Do not make any attempt
to protect me. Let me be buried in this place and I join my friend”.
Centurion left the place with a heavy heart leaving Judas to his fate. Not very long
he walked, he heard thudding sounds – the stones hitting the body of Judas. Not a
word or whimper escaped from the throat of Judas. He fell down lifeless as a
traitor.
The centurion was trudging along his way to his home with a heavy load in his
heart. Yes he was carrying two persons now in his heart – one Judas and the other
one Jesus.