The Gospel According to Judas by Benjamin Iscariot

22. A Pharisee, seeing the man lying in the road, passed by, because he assumed the man was dead, and were he to touch him, he would himself become impure and therefore could never hope to enter the kingdom of heaven.

23. Moments later a priest passed by. He also refused to go to the aid of the stricken man, as he feared that if the man was still alive and he touched the flowing blood, he too would become impure and therefore not be able to enter the kingdom of heaven.

24. Some time later, a Samaritan passed by and, seeing the body lying in the road, immediately went to the merchant’s aid. He cleansed and bound the man’s wounds, and then lifted him up, placed him on his donkey and accompanied him to the nearest inn. He left the innkeeper with two pence to ensure that the man would be taken care of until he was fully recovered. And before the Samaritan left to continue on his journey, he said, ‘And whatever you need to spend, I will repay you when I next pass this way.’

25. Jesus looked up at the Scribe and said: Which of these men would you say was his neighbour?

26. The Scribe was annoyed, because it was Jesus who had ended up trapping him into having to admit that it was a Samaritan who turned out to be the man’s neighbour.

see

Luke 10:25–37

27. Jesus rose and said: Then go your way and do likewise.

28. Jesus continued on his way to Jerusalem, and his disciples followed him.

29. Judas sought out the Scribe, as he could not understand why the Master would tell a parable depicting a Samaritan – the sworn enemies of the Jews – as more likely to show compassion for someone in distress than a Pharisee or a priest.

30. Judas found the lawyer standing at the back of the crowd, seething with anger at his public humiliation in front of such simple people.

31. Judas walked beside him, and began to tell the Scribe of the many good deeds he had witnessed since he had become one of Jesus’ followers.

32. The Scribe listened in silence, but it was some time before he calmed down and even began to accept it was possible that Jesus was a holy man.

33. By the time they stopped to rest for the night, Judas hoped he had convinced the Scribe that he should join them when they entered the Holy City the following day. The Scribe nodded, but remained silent.

34. While they shared supper, Judas’ confidence grew. He confided in the lawyer that he too had misgivings about what might happen when his Master set foot in Jerusalem.

35. Judas admitted that he feared that Jesus might be in danger from his many enemies who would be only too happy to see him stumble in his path, even perish.

36. The Scribe suggested: ‘Perhaps it might be wise for Jesus not to be seen in Jerusalem at the present time, but instead return to Galilee.’

37. Judas said: ‘It is too late for that. The Master has determined his path, and will not countenance turning back. It is the time of the Passover and he believes he is carrying out the will of God.’

38. The Scribe responded: ‘Then you must save him from himself, and to that end, you can rely on my help.’

39. Judas listened intently to the Scribe as he suggested how Jesus might be saved.

40. The Scribe even agreed to come to Judas’ assistance at any time, should he fear that the Master was in danger.

41. Judas slept soundly for the first time in days, confident that if Jesus faced any danger when he entered Jerusalem, he had enlisted an ally to assist him who was in a position of authority.

42. When Judas rose the following morning, he was told that the lawyer had woken earlier and already set out on the road for Jerusalem.

43. Judas went in search of Jesus and found him walking among his followers. The Master was encouraging them as they prepared for the final stretch of the journey that would take them to the Holy City.

44. Although the other disciples, even Peter, appeared to be uncertain of what might happen to them, Judas was now confident that when they reached Jerusalem, Jesus would no longer be in any danger.

Chapter 17

The Lord hath need of him

1. First they heard the horns, followed by the clamour of voices that grew louder and louder.

2. Citizens were pouring out of the city gates and running up the hill to greet Jesus, as rumour spread that the great teacher was on his way from Bethany.

3. As the crowds grew larger, Jesus commanded two of his disciples to go into a nearby village. There they would find a donkey that had I never been ridden, tethered to a barn door.