Judas
Judas
I am a man accursed by my own impatience
I thought my purpose was that of a herald
I heard His wisdom and witnessed His miracles
I knew in my heart He was the Messiah
But He did not do what I expected Him to
He didn’t drive the Romans from our promised land
He told me to love my enemy as myself
He preached peace when war was clearly the only way
I knew I had to do something to force His hand
It was time for God’s anointed one to appear
I thought His purpose was to end our oppression
For Israel grows tired of the yolk of Rome
But instead of revealing His mighty armor
He let the temple guard put Him in shackles
They beat Him until the skin peeled from His body
And now in my shame and disgrace I understand
Faith, hope and love are His sword, shield and His armor
They are His lessons and example for us all
With just a fraction of each we can defeat death
If only I could have realized it sooner
It was like a veil had been pulled over my eyes
And now I’m afraid it is too late for me
I cannot bear the weight of my own transgressions
And so my journey ends ‘neath the branch of this tree
It would have been better that I had never been born
Than to have lived the life of our Lord’s betrayer
All I have done will be eclipsed by this one deed
The burden of my curse is too great to carry
So I say farewell to my brothers and sisters
I am not worthy to share in your salvation
So here I hang beneath a tree as dead as I
Hoping when I’m remembered that you’ll pray for me
Copyright © Raymond Darius | Year Posted 2011
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