Reflecting on Mark's Gospel - Mark 14:10-11

In stark contrast with the devotion expressed by the woman who poured perfume on Jesus’ head, we now have reference to the preparations for betrayal made by Judas, who takes on this role despite being one of the twelve disciples. We have to assume that Judas is not happy with the direction in which things have been going to the extent that he is prepared to deliver Jesus into the hands of the religious authorities, so that they can do their worst and get rid of him.

We can imagine that the chief priests were delighted when Judas approached them. There is nothing to suggest that Judas was looking for money, but such an act has its price and the chief priests are very willing to make the payment. This would give them the chance to get Jesus in custody without attracting the attention of the crowd. I wonder in what ways we betray Jesus, and how readily we do so.

I wonder what really motivated Judas. We can only assume that, in some sense, as Kim Huat Tan (Mark) expresses it, that Judas arrives at “the belief that Jesus’ messianic programme is wrongheaded and dangerous. It is wrongheaded because it involves death; it is dangerous because it speaks of God’s profligate love.” We can imagine that all of the disciples were juggling many different emotions, and something, very possibly what Tan calls “a fanatical intent to do what he thinks is right for the nation” tips Judas over the edge, and so he abandons the group and the mission that they now share with Jesus in order, he surely hopes, to get the nation on track. It may be even, as has often been suggested, that Judas simply hoped to provoke Jesus into the direct action that was needed in order to restore the people to their rightful place in the land. It was all very well turning over a few tables and disrupting the business that was taking place in the temple courtyards, but what was needed was some leadership that would end the Roman occupation.

I wonder if we ever get into a place where we think God should do it differently and, if so, what we might do (or not do) in that situation.