I don't think of Judas often (probably a good thing), but when I do I picture him as a self-assured, cocky schemer, naively playing into the hands of the religiously powerful enemies of Jesus. In that sense, Judas is a pitiful but seemingly harmless character.

 

Until he's not.

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"For Thirty Coins of Silver" tries to imagine what was on Judas' mind as he struggled to mentally and spiritually process what he had done as the tragic episode unfolds and his rationale is destroyed. In an instant (I assume), he must've realized the enormity of what he had done, of Who it was that he had betrayed. Maybe he thought he was a hero. a champion of the poor who (he argued) would certainly benefit from selling the harlot's oil. But with a single arrogant and foolish act, he erased whatever good he'd gained as a follower of Jesus and doomed himself to an eternity of shame, guilt and loss. Fortunately, the story would have a glorious outcome... but Judas could never have imagined it. Nor did he stick around to witness it himself.

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But I have to wonder... was Judas all that different from me? Could I have done what he did? I fear I would. Is it "only by the grace of God" that you and I have been spared the same wretched fate? His mercy shines like a diamond against the backdrop of a Judas Iscariot and his ill-fated "well-conceived" plan.

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For Musical Theater

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This song is designed for musical theater. Every Spring, Easter pageants are plentiful, but there is little material available to present one of the passion story's main characters. This song attempts to fill that need. Formerly called, "Judas' Lament," in its former life the song was featured in several Easter musical productions to express Judas' unique and pivotal role in Christ's final days. At Elmbrook Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the performance was backed by members of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.​

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Listen to a sample: