 Judas (On the way to Gethsemane where Jesus is to be arrested)
[To himself] God, I can't believe it! That he would have given me the most
delicate assignment of all! And I'm bringing it off. I have really
done well, and he is going to love it. And it makes perfect sense.
I can see why he chose me and how the whole thing is planned.
God, what a thrill to be on the inside like this. He must have
known from the beginning that I'm smarter and more responsible
than any of those others. That has to be why he put me in charge
of the money. None of those others could bring this off. They're
too simple-minded or stupid or sloppy or sentimental. They don't
have what I do have: the hard-nosed, tough-minded common sense
to do what's required. If it weren't for me, everyone would misunderstand
the subtle and crafty way Jesus is going about this. Those dolts
would probably go around the rest of their lives talking about
love as though it didn't involve deception, a deception so consistent
and deep and thoroughgoing as to look for all the world like betrayal.
Hah, the plan is brilliant!
I'm the only on who really understands Jesus. I can see right
through him. I don't know when or how he's going to do it, but
it's crystal clear to me that he's going to pull off some extraordinary
feat. These religious and political lackeys I've got with me are
going to get the surprise of their lives. I think Jesus thought
that his little display with those tables in the temple would
precipitate the confrontation we've all been waiting for. There
he was wrong. He miscalculated. He should have asked me about
it. I could have told him that that little temper tantrum wouldn't
do it. He needed to go right up to the authorities and challenge
them to their faces. And now he'll be able to do just that. These
toy soldiers here will usher him directly to the top, probably,
eventually, to Pilate himself. And then they'll see what the power
of God is like. They'll see and tremble before they get everything
they deserve. Oh, Jesus, you are something else! You are too good,
too, too good. Hah!
And I can hardly wait to see it myself. I don't know what you've
got up your sleeve, but you've got the right man in me. You're
going to be so proud of me. And when I think of James and John
asking to sit at your right hand in the kingdom it turns my stomach.
I think I'm the one. I know I'm the one. And there you are now,
Jesus. And here I am.
[Aloud] "Here I am, Master." [Judas kisses Jesus.]
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