I knew
“One of you will betray me.” (1)
He was going to hand me over to my enemies.
I knew who he was.
My heart was troubled, broken,
as I spoke about my beloved betrayer.
He who veers from my way and departs from my persons
will also be painful in heart, I knew.
“What will you give me if I hand Him over to you?”
As he received 30 silver coins from the cheap priest, (2)
as my enemies were deeply pleased, (3)
I knew a dark wave rushed into his heart. (4)
As he couldn’t look into my eyes,
bringing with him people armed with swords and clubs,
saying “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissing me, (5)
I knew he was occupied by the dark wave.
As he felt deep shame and sadness for what he had done,
early in that morning when all the leaders decided to kill me,
as he returned the 30 silver coins to them, (6)
I, with deep pity, knew he had fought the dark wave.
Saying “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,”
Judas Iscariot, who threw himself into the dark valley, (7)
in the pitiless people who are not ashamed of their betrayal,
Oh, pitiful Judas, today.
Rev. Yong Sub Sim
(1) John 13:21
(2) Matthew 26:15
(3) Luke 22:5
(4) John 13:2, 27
(5) Matthew 26:47-49
(6) Matthew 27:1-3
(7) Matthew 27:4-5
Image: Holbein, Hans, 1497-1543. Kiss of Judas, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. http://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=55465 [retrieved April 14, 2019]. Original source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hans_Holbein_d._J._020.jpg.
