Thursday, March 28, 2013

Iscariot's Truth



image borrowed from bing


Iscariot’s Truth

“The real meaning of enlightenment is to gaze with
undimmed eyes on all darkness.”--Nikos Kazantzakis


We all know tomorrow is Good Friday,
the day we honor Christ’s crucifixion.
What about dealing with the affection
that Judas had for Christ, his price to pay,
just doing the bidding via Yahweh?

Gospel of Judas shows adoration,
not betrayal, just prep for ascension,
keeping his hot zealot’s demons at bay.

Did Christ ascend earlier than believed,
transforming Judas to loving likeness,

fooling all? Was Judas the one who died
on the cross, Judas the one that’s grieved,
then stolen from tomb, saved from the abyss?
If that’s so, then who were the ones who lied?


Glenn Buttkus

March 2013

Posted over on dVerse Poets FFA

Would you like to hear the author read this Miltonian Sonnet  to you?

17 comments:

Claudia said...

ha - truth can be twisted and twisted until some people aren't even sure what they have seen with their own eyes.. but you know...i know that i know that i know...smiles...if jesus had not died on the cross for me and paid for my sins it would look really bad for me..honestly...so...smiles.. cool work on the form sir

Beth Winter said...

Considering the scenario you pose in this wonderful sonnet, I believe you have defined faith. Not to get into a religious discussion but I also know the questions posed.

Brian Miller said...

wow. what an intriguing thought...would that we all bought the lie...and all the other gospels be a huge cover up...what a great punch in the gut and loss of breath...judas is an interesting subject you know...did he know? it had to be, for it all to come into play...

brudberg said...

Intriguing thoughts indeed.

The Zen of Gavin said...

Love the gospel of Judas, Thomas and Mary. No wonder they were never added to the great text. Either version he was just playing the part,right? Love this poem... hits me in my thought processor. Thank you kindly!

Anonymous said...

A well written piece, opening an interesting conversation for sure. Love the thinkers.

Jeff said...

Good work here! When I was a kid, I was always troubled by Judas' story--I mean, if Christ came to be crucified, then wasn't Judas just doing God's will? So why is he a villain? The bible even touches on this: it had to be so, but Woe! to the betrayer. Nicely done!

Anonymous said...

Absolutely love this sonnet. I'm fascinated with theological discussion about the issue of 'enfleshment' whether Jesus actually suffered as an ordinary human would, and the differences between the gospel stories as to what became of Judas (suicide or God's wrathfully vengeance). If Jesus came to us to sacrifice himself for our sins, then wasn't Judus fulfilling the mission? Sorry, I'll shut up, but this one really turned my cogs - love it, and thanks!

TCPC said...

Truth sometimes becomes a matter of perception but seldom is then questioned when it connects to faith! Loved the sonnet..figured the rhyming too! Wow!

Susan Daniels said...

Ooooo--good questions, and so well crafted.

Mary said...

I agree with Susan. Your questions are well crafted.

I also agree with Claudia. If jesus had not died on the cross, it would look bad for me.

I also must say I have also always felt bad about Judas, as I have felt he was predestined to be who he was....had no choice of a different fate.

Semaphore said...

This is an elegant sonnet, structurally sound and virtually impeccable. I'm always impressed by the courage with which you embrace provocative themes, the kind of themes that others shrink from. Here that theme is of such philosophical and theological that it is at once provocative, and yet honorific of the Miltonian tradition. Excellently done.

marousia said...

Elegant and thought provoking - really enjoyed reading

Marina Sofia said...

Intriguing thought: have you read the story by Dazai Osamu which they translated as 'Heed My Plea' in English? It tells the story of Jesus from the point of view of Judas - who is perhaps an unreliable narrator, but certainly offers a very dramatic, impassioned monologue. It was one of the stories that profoundly marked me in my youth.

vivinfrance said...

Your sonnet is impeccable, and poses unanswerable questions, given the time lapse between the events and the written accounts.

Did you mean to write crucification? or was it a typo for crucifixion?

George Polley said...

Beautiful, Glenn, and very thought-provoking. I also like the Kazantzakis quote.

Enjoy your day,

George

Anonymous said...

Kazantzakis' Last Temptation Of Christ is a Masterpiece novel.....