Are we a hair better than Judas?

‘Judas’ is the name of the piece I’m going to visit, a production of ITA. ‘Judas’ – such a title makes sense. In the days before I go to see it, it takes over my mind. Judas got thirty pieces of silver for the betrayal of Jesus, and for thirty pieces of silver he sold a human life. Thanks to his greed for money, we have all those wonderful images of the Kiss of Judas – and the most beautiful is by Giotto, from the fourteenth century. Go to Padua, you can see it there, in the Cappella degli Scrovegni† It was always a kiss on the cheek, but Giotto suggests love, passion even: his Judas stares Jesus in the eye and kisses him on the mouth, embracing him as if protecting him in the folds of his luxurious yellow cloak.

Thanks to the Kiss of Judas, the Bible once again reveals itself as a literary masterpiece. Because what a beautiful element that is. You have that great betrayal which will lead the son of God and the savior of mankind to martyrdom and you have the traitor who points him out with a caress which we reserve for intimacy: “And he that betrayed him had given them a sign, saying, Whom I will kiss, he it is: seize him.” (Matt. 26:48). Betrayal and love served in one cocktail – that is acute literary horror of the highest order, made all the more horrifying when you realize that it is Judas of all people who gives Jesus the last kiss of his life.

Judas not only sold a human life, he also got rid of his ideals. Thirty pieces of silver in exchange for integrity – think about it and the war in Ukraine is knocking. Thirty pieces of silver. We the gas, Putin the money. Thirty pieces of silver. We our rest, Putin’s war. Thirty pieces of silver. We safe, Ukraine broken. Are we a hair better than Judas? I fear the worst and am more and more curious about the play. What does that do to the betrayal of Judas?

Actor Hans Kesting is an unprecedented Judas. Big, muscular, tormented. His play is worth a reservation at the theater. The pieces of silver are called silver pieces here, which is a pity (I think silver pieces are so beautiful and dreamy), but no problem. One problem, however, is how the play deals with Judas’ betrayal. That is turned into absolute obedience to Jesus, who here orders him to betray him. After all, if he doesn’t, the prophecy will not come true and the whole future Christianity will collapse. That remains to be seen, you don’t know. But apart from that, here’s a strong story diluted to a weak case. Judas was a fallen angel risking his soul. In this piece, he is reduced to someone who sacrifices himself by continuing with a bad image. And the tenor now is: Judas was actually a wise man.

Especially in murky times, art can help to interpret life. Giotto’s Judas throws the facts in our face. The Judas of ITA puts a pink bow around it. That does not help.