I recently read the story of Judas, the backstabber, one of Jesus' closest friends. The moral majority of his day paid Judas to conspire with them to arrest Jesus.

After this collusion was initiated, Jesus served the Passover meal (what we now call the Last Supper) to his disciples---including Judas.

As I read this story in Luke's gospel, I instantly thought of of this quote from Barbara Brown Taylor, which seems strangely prescient for the days we find ourselves in:

"Jesus was not brought down by atheism and anarchy. He was brought down by law and order allied with religion, which is always a deadly mix.

Beware those who claim to know the mind of God and who are prepared to use force, if necessary, to make others conform.

Beware those who cannot tell God's will from their own. Temple police are always a bad sign.

When chaplains start wearing guns and hanging out at the sheriff's office, watch out.

Someone is about to have no king but Caesar."

Judas took the dark money. He got into bed with evil. He ate the bread and drank the cup. Then he walked out the door and betrayed his beloved Jesus into the arms of the lovers of the law.

Don't be like Judas.

Photo by Francesco Alberti on Unsplash