As the tour bus wound its way uphill toward the Mount of Olives, the tour guide pointed to a valley in between Mount of Olives and Jerusalem and told us: "See downward, the Potter's Field is somewhere in the valley!"
We were instantly in somber mood to recall the tragedy of Judas Iscariot. According to the Gospel of Matthew 27: 3-10, Judas was remorseful for his betrayal of Jesus. He returned the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders but the money was not accepted. He then threw the money into the temple and left and hang himself. The chief priests decided to use the money deemed blood money to buy the Potter's Field as a burial site for foreigners.
Potter's Field in Aramaic is Akeldama. It's location can be pinpointed by the St. Onuphrius Monastery, Akeldama. A search indicates that St. Onuphrius Monastery is not exactly at the valley below Mount of Olives but quite a distance away. It is in fact approx. 3Km southwest of the Mount of Olives.
Interestingly, it is not Judas who is remembered universally in the church tradition but rather another individual, Pontius Pilate. The Confession of Faith established in 325 AD as the Nicene Creed does not contain Judas Iscariot as a betrayer. Instead, it is Pontius Pilate who has to bear the eternal burden of being the named individual in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Weeks in weeks out, Pontius Pilate is "remembered" in the Creed when it is recited. ".....suffered under Pontius Pilate or crucified under Pontius Pilate.....".
May be it is Pontius' failure to dispense justice that elevated him higher than a remorseful betrayer, Judas in the scale of crime!
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