Judas

Justin Kissel · Post by **Justin Kissel** » Wed 3 March 2004 12:44 pm

RADNOR, Pa. (AP) -- The task given to Johnathon Schaech wasn't the easiest: Present a well-balanced portrayal of one of the most demonized figures in religion.

Although Schaech said his lead role in the upcoming ABC biopic "Judas" has been a challendge, it has also taught him a thing or two. "A lot of religious individuals won't accept him as anything more than just a betrayer of Christ," Schaech told TV Guide. "When you give him a heart and say he's misunderstood, they don't want to hear that."

The television movie, scheduled to air March 8, tells the story of betrayal from Judas' point of view.

"We were trying to construct a psychological profile so you could see why he was doing what he was doing," said the Rev. Frank Desiderio, a Catholic Priest who was the film's executive producer. "I hope it reveals Judas' humanity."

The movie should also benefit from being televised shortly after the release of Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" in theaters.

"They're riding its coattails," Schaech said.

Justin Kissel · Post by **Justin Kissel** » Wed 3 March 2004 12:45 pm

While I don't know exactly what way they're going to try and show the "other side" of Judas, most of the revisionist speculation that I've seen trys to prop up Judas as a member of the "zealots" faction of the Jewish people (as opposed to the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes). This was a faction that was in favor of a violent overthrow of the Roman Government, and it may very well have been expected to happen through the Messiah, as most Jews (including the 12 Apostles) were expecting Messiah to set up an earthly kingdom and make Israel a "powerhouse" (for lack of a better term) again.

Obviously Messiah--the God-man--came for a different purpose, which even the disciples didn't fully realise until after the resurrection and coming of the Holy Spirit. But the Gospels (and especially St. John) very explicitly say why Judas did what he did, and it's absurd for this fellow in the news article to imply that it is our (ie. the Church's) fault that Judas was "demonized"!

PS. Just for those who don't know, in case ABC tries to sneak this falsehood in, Simon the Apostle, who was called "the zealot" (Luke 6:15) was not a member of the zealots faction, but was called a zealot because of his great zeal.