Even allowing for the general weakness of humanity, Judas’ actions seem hard to comprehend or account for. He had travelled with Christ from the start. He had witnessed the signs and seen the miracles. Was he motivated by greed? We are told he was a thief (John 12:5-6) — so that is possible. Yet the price wasn’t as high as all that (about four months’ wages for a labourer); presumably, there was more to it than that. In the end, it is an enigma, though clearly, he had never really accepted the message of Christ.

The scene presented in the Gospel is heart-wrenching. Jesus knows what’s about to happen; He knows it must happen. Even so, how cutting Judas’ words must have been as he echoes the more genuine words of his companions: ‘Surely not I, Rabbi’. Note: ‘Rabbi’ — not ‘Lord’.

If Jesus is simply a ‘teacher’, one among many, then perhaps Judas’ betrayal is more understandable (though not justifiable). The writing is on the wall, and Jesus’ fate is sealed. Perhaps Judas decided it was ‘time to abandon ship’.

It’s worth our while to reflect for a moment on our own relationship with Christ. Is he ‘Lord’ or simply ‘Rabbi’?

If Jesus is just a teacher, then he is not worth giving up everything for. Even if we are on board with the message, sooner or later, we will be offered our own ‘thirty pieces of silver’ — or else we will be confronted by the price of following Christ and find ourselves not willing to pay it.

In naming Jesus as ‘Lord’, we express a far greater fealty. Many have died rather than deny him. Let us not falter; rather, let us pick up our cross and follow him.

by Fr Michael Grace