Suppose that you are a loyal follower of a messianic leader who claims to be fulfilling the Word of God. You are devoted to this cause, willing to prove your loyalty and lay down your life, if necessary, in its defense.
One day, you are approached and asked to perform a special task - a sensitive mission whose true nature must never be revealed, but whose purpose will serve the greater good of humanity.
You are asked to take one for the team.
That was the challenge put to Judas Iscariot, as we learn from the new Gospel of Judas. And also - 2,000 years later - to I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby.
Who was Judas to turn down direct authorization from Jesus himself to leak highly classified information about his whereabouts to the Roman authorities? It may have sounded dubious, bizarre or even illegal, but it wasn't Judas' place to question God's divine plan.
Although Jesus did not have the benefit of legal counsel to advise him on the matter, his request of Judas to leak this information was certainly permitted under the inherent powers of the Messiah.
Jesus warned his disciple that this would be a thankless task, that he might be reviled and persecuted - indicted even - but that he was the man for the job due to his established network of contacts with the Roman authorities.
Once the mission was accomplished Judas was indeed pounced upon by those looking for a scapegoat. This is where the New Testament and the newly discovered Gospel of Judas part ways.
It seems that Judas was hardly a loyal disciple of Christ carrying out his assigned task in silence. Faced with serious charges, Judas violated omerta and was in negotiations with the Roman special pro-consul to testify about his role in planting the faulty intelligence that led to the crucifixion.
That's when Judas suddenly died under mysterious circumstances. It was ruled a suicide by hanging. But police found 40 pieces of silver near the body and were able to trace them to an offshore account controlled by a Roman general named Hallibus Burtonius. There were calls for an investigation but the Romans covered everything up.
A cult soon arose around the martyred Judas that sought to put the proper spin on what happened. Books were written accusing Judas' critics of treason. It was said that the other apostles were consumed with partisan hatred and were simply out to destroy Judas.
Fortunately, after many years this cult was discredited and forgotten - until now.
Today, Scooter is completing the Divine Plan of Betrayal that was interrupted when Judas was assassinated. When Bush tasked Scooter with the sensitive job of leaking, he knew that Scooter would eventually betray him and cause him to be crucified by his enemies. This has caused great angst for Bush, but he has pressed forward confident in his righteousness. Years from now, this painful decision to martyr himself will be chronicled for all time:
[39] Bush went out as usual to the Rose Garden, and his cronies followed him. [40] On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into indictment." [41] He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, [42] "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." [43] The attorney general appeared to him and strengthened him. [44] And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
Thus it is that Bush has sacrificed his credibility and his place in history so that America might be free, taking the sins of tyranny and terror upon himself so that democracy might triumph.
Amen.