The Betrayal
by Michael Dominic Doherty, Macedon, 1952
(With apologies to Banjo Patterson)
“Thirty silver pieces, yes, ’tis worth the thought, M’ lord,
So easy, too; I know the garden well.
Jesus goes there often, and tonight too, I’m assured,
‘He said he’d be there after night befell.”
“A quiet little olive grove; a wine press on the hill;
I’ve been there with Him often of a night;
He loves the quiet solitude when all is deathly still,
And prays to seek His guidance and His light.”
“Thirty silver drachmas for a swift and silent kiss!
Traitorous, yes, but who can tell the reason?
Your price is high, Lord Annas, so I’ll take it given this –
My name is always kept from this foul treason!”
“Never fear, Iscariot, for His blood shall be on me,
He must be taken e’er the night has passed.
So I’ll prepare the Temple guards, while you collect your fee.
‘tis good, for we have trapped the fool at last!”
So Judas led his motley crew with torches blazing high,
To light their way through lane and field and square.
Until they reached the lonely hill where Jesus was to die,
And passed it to the garden of despair.
Then as they neared the olive grove, there came the warning hiss –
“Now silence there, and keep those torches low,
First I’ll go in to meet Him and I’ll hail Him with a kiss,
Then you close in to take Him as your foe.”
Then Judas passed between the trees, and slow was his advance,
Until he met his Master face to face.
He faulted in his purpose, as he saw that wistful glance,
He felt the loving patience of His grace.
He lowered his head in utter shame, and turned as if to part,
But saw the mob and heard their angry breath.
So drowning out his conscience, he then steeled his wretched heart.
He turned, then smiled, and gave the kiss of death.
___
Image courtesy of Adobe.
Recent Articles:
23 June 2026
4 MINS
Christian, captain and soccer legend Lionel “Leo” Messi is giving all the glory to God as he makes FIFA 2026 World Cup headlines. The Argentinian is widely respected for his integrity, humility and the way he carries himself on and off the pitch.
23 June 2026
3.2 MINS
The Australian Christian Freedom Index documented 74 Acts of Parliament that have restricted Christian freedom over the past 25 years. Which parties and worldviews restrict Christian freedoms in Australia — and why?
22 June 2026
2.7 MINS
Australia still has a blasphemy law architecture that goes by a new name — namely, our vilification and anti-discrimination framework. These laws have striking parallels to Australia’s old blasphemy laws, with the exception that they serve a new god and are more readily enforced than the old ones.
22 June 2026
2.7 MINS
Rupert Lowe has released a document titled the Rape Gang Inquiry Report into organised child sexual exploitation across parts of England, following a series of public hearings with victims, whistle‑blowers, and former officials.
22 June 2026
4.4 MINS
I fell for the idea that I could make myself to be female. I took cross-sex hormones, had numerous surgeries and identified as female. I came to realise that none of it changed my male body — with it's 30 trillion cells with XY chromosomes — into a biological female.
22 June 2026
3.4 MINS
Turning hearts of dads to their children, and the hearts of the children to their dads, is at the core of what Dads4Kids is all about.
19 June 2026
3.7 MINS
Hon Maryka Groenewald asked the Cook Government to commit to protecting Christians’ right to express their faith freely. The Attorney General’s office dodged the question, instead pledging “balance” for WA’s “diverse” population.
