Skip to main content

Conversations on the way to the Cross 5: The Betrayal



 The disciples discuss Jesus' comments at the Passover meal


"What did he just say?"

"One of us will betray him?  He can't mean it!"

"Why, we're his closest friends, we've been with him for years.  We'd hardly turn on him now, would we?"

"It's not me, is it Lord?  It's not me?"

"Well, it won't be me.  I'll stick to him till death!"

"Yes, Peter, no one could imagine you being a betrayer!  But if he's right, it must be somebody in this room."

"What did he mean, 'the Son of Man goes as it has been written'?  Written where?"

"Don't ask me, Andrew.  I bet Bartholomew'll know.  Barty?  Did you hear what Jesus just said?"

"Eh?  Sorry?  Oh yes, it just reminded me of something.  Here it is, Psalm 41: 'Even my best friend, that I trusted and shared my food with, has kicked me in the teeth.'"

"That's just horrible!  I wouldn't do that!  Would I, Jesus?  What a thing to say at the Passover meal, too.  It's meant to be a celebration!"

"This one's not been much of a celebration though, has it, John?  Jesus has had something bothering him ever since we got to Jerusalem.  Look at him now - we might as well not be here.  He's got his mind on something else entirely."

"And Judas Iscariot has been acting funny the last couple of days, too.  Didn't you notice?"

"That's right, he really didn't like that woman at Simon's house, did he?  With the perfume.  And he did seem a bit jumpy this morning.  He's just young, though, he'll get over it."

"I don't know, I think this whole Jerusalem trip hasn't quite worked out as he was hoping for.  And disappointment hurts pretty bad at that age.  Poor kid."

"Yeah.  Jesus was the nearest thing to a father he ever had, I reckon.  Complete hero-worship."


"Where did Judas go, anyway?  Did you see, Andrew?  I didn't notice him slip out."

"No, I didn't either.  Judas?  Judas?  Where could he have gone?"

Luke 22:14-23

Other Conversations from the Cross
1: The Donkey
2: The Commotion
3: The Authority
4: The Anointing

6: The Burial
7: The Precaution 
8: The Resurrection

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Derwent Valley: Exploring the Astons

It was the hottest day of the year so far, with a forecast high of 32°C, and I was setting out to walk around three places with very similar names: Elvaston, Alvaston, and Ambaston. I was mostly hoping they would be shady! I was expecting to park at Elvaston Castle Country Park, where there is pay and display parking, but I spotted a large layby in Elvaston village, which was not only free, but also shaded by a large hedge. This meant that I didn't walk through much of the country park. Instead I skirted the edges, passing the village hall, with its decorative windows, and approaching Elvaston Castle itself along an avenue of yew trees. Elvaston village hall yew avenue Elvaston Castle was built for the Earls of Harrington and sold to Derbyshire County Council in 1969. Unfortunately the council is struggling to find enough money to keep the building in a state of repair. The castle isn't open to the public, but the gardens are well worth a walk around. The estate church, St Bart...

Derwent Valley: Derby City and the Derwent Pilgrimage

It was 8 am and I was already hayfeverish, headachey and hot. Why on earth was I setting out to walk through the middle of Derby, when I could be up in the hills of the Peak District? No one was forcing me to do this section. I could skip it entirely. But I knew I wouldn't, because this was the next part of the Derwent Valley Heritage Way. And besides, I had a suspicion that it would be better than it looked. Alvaston Park was certainly a good start. It's a wide sweep of green grass and mature trees. I used to come here quite often when the boys were small. I was glad to see some of the planets were still there - although Mars has had a lot of feet standing on it, I think. Here's a tiny Toby in 2013 with Mars... ... and a more battered Mars today. Alvaston Park I kept off the roads for a while by following a cycle route. Even when I joined the traffic, it wasn't bad. The factories and office blocks had roses outside. This road, now the A5194, used to be the A6 coming in...

Derwent Valley: Reaching Derwent Mouth!

It was a much more sensible temperature for walking, and I was excited to explore Shardlow, a small village which was once a bustling port at the end of the Trent and Mersey Canal. This walk would take me to the end of the Derwent and on to the River Trent. I parked in the free car park off Wilne Lane and was soon crossing the Trent and Mersey. Shardlow must have been packed with pubs in its heyday, and a surprising number are still functioning. I passed the New Inn, the Malt Shovel, the Clock Warehouse, and the Dog and Duck. Heritage Centre St James' Church had an enclosed space at the back which seemed to function as library, meeting room, kitchen, and chapel. It was cosy and carpeted - much warmer than the rest of the church in winter, I'm sure. I felt as if I was trespassing on somebody's living room. The main church had numbered pews and a tall pulpit. I liked the patterned altar cloth. I was back on London Road - the old A6 into Derby - and it was a long straight stre...