Last summer, we had a chance to lead a group of nearly 80 people from St. Luke’s to Europe for a spiritual pilgrimage through Italy and Germany. We ended the trip in Oberammergau, Germany to witness “The Passion Play.” This incredible play has been put on once every ten years for nearly 400 years since the time of the Black Plague.
It started as an offering to God from the people of Oberammergau. They were expressing gratitude to God for keeping them safe through the plague and giving thanks for God’s faithfulness and mercy. For 400 years, the townspeople of Oberammergau have carried on this tradition to tell the story of God’s great love and how it overcomes all things.
For me, one of the most striking parts of the play we witnessed was seeing how they portrayed the character of Judas. I have spent most of my life picturing Judas as this traitorous, greedy, self-centered man. But that was not at all how he was portrayed in the play. He was seen as someone passionate about God and the ministry that Christ was doing. He saw the evils of the Roman Empire and wanted to bring transformation to the people of Israel. He firmly believed that Jesus and His message could bring that transformation.
In the play, it was almost as if Judas was tricked by the religious leaders into betraying Jesus. He did not realize what he had done until it was already too late, and Jesus was being led away. There was a powerful scene where Judas, delivering one of the longest monologues of the entire play, was weeping in anguish over what had happened.
The truth is, we do not know exactly why Judas did what he did, or what he was feeling after Jesus was led away as a prisoner. We are simply told that Judas gave up after that. Watching that unfold on stage reminded me that we often do not know why people do what they do, especially in moments of conflict. We often do not get to fully understand somebody else’s heart and emotions. We simply must be willing to show grace and extend love.
I have often wondered if Judas’s story could have ended differently if someone had simply been there to show him love in the darkest moment of his life. Maybe you know someone who could use that kind of love today. You do not have to understand everything they are going through. Just be willing to show love. You never know what that might mean to them.
Rev. Josh Attaway, Edmond CampusPastor
