The Worst of Sinners

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness.” So, God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Genesis

It was a season of oppressive heat, and this day seemed worse than any other, if that were possible. It had been a period of sweltering hot weather. Even the eldest among Damascus residents could not call to mind another spring so oppressive.
Judas sat alone in his house on Straight Street; his wife and children had escaped the heat of the city by seeking refuge in the cool air of their mountain estate. They had admonished Judas to join them, but he declined, citing business matters that only he could attend to. He had promised to join them as soon as he could, but he had no intention of keeping this promise. The heat had only served to intensify his depressed mood, and the thought of being around anyone, even his own family, was gloomy beyond belief.
Judas was reclining in the shade of his garden, drowsy from his half-eaten dinner and another night of fretfully meager sleep. In recent days he had hoped and even prayed—something quite foreign to him—that the nightmares would somehow be banished, but to no avail. They had, if anything, become even more intense. His eyes were heavy with sleep when he was startled at the sound of nervous horse hooves outside on the stony street and frantic men yelling. He was hoping the commotion would soon pass by, and he could return to his midday melancholy. However, any hope of that fled at the resolute knock at his door.
More than a little agitated that he had sent the servants home early today, Judas reluctantly got up and went to the door.
“Who is it, and what do you want?” the irritated and fatigued Judas demanded through the front door.
“My name is Malcus, captain to the temple guard in Jerusalem,” replied the authoritative voice from beyond the door, sounding more than a little impatient that Judas had not opened it.
“What business have I to do with you?” asked Judas, hoping that this unwelcome intruder would quickly depart.
The voice was sharp. “We have Saul of Tarsus, an important representative from High Priest Caiaphas in Jerusalem, who has had an accident and insisted that we bring him to you.”
Judas was unaccustomed to being spoken to so sternly, particularly in his own home, and he was getting angrier by the moment. However, knowing High Priest Caiaphas well from his many visits to Jerusalem, Judas restrained his temper and opened the door.
The door was only partially open when Malcus forced his way into the foyer, knocking Judas a little off balance in his haste to enter.
Now Judas was no longer holding his temper and glared at the temple guard. “What is the meaning of this?” he demanded. “I am a personal friend of Caiaphas; he will be outraged to hear about this deplorable behavior from one of his servants!” Judas stretched out his entire six-foot frame as he towered over the diminutive Malcus.
Not the least bit deterred, Malcus motioned for his men to bring in the disoriented Saul. Before Judas could utter another threat, his house was overrun with men in temple garb. In the midst of them was a disheveled figure slumped over in an obvious state of delirium. Judas wasn’t certain, but the dazed and confused man in the center of this crowd did indeed appear to be Saul of Tarsus, one of the favorites at the temple court in Jerusalem. It was impossible to mistake the fiery red hair of Saul, his bowlegs, and his muscular chest.
Judas did not know Saul personally but had seen him occasionally in the presence of the high priest. It had not been a very well-kept secret that in the not too distant future this Saul of Tarsus would take his place with the other elders in the Sanhedrin. Judas was not an overtly pious Jew; however, it was always good business to be well acquainted with the chief priest and his entourage.
“Why are you bringing the representative of the high priest here?” Judas once again demanded of Malcus.
Malcus, more accustomed to giving orders than taking them, looked around the house and asked Judas, “Is there a bedroom that Saul can be taken to?”
Seeing that his anger and pleas were going unheeded, Judas grudgingly led the temple guards and Saul to one of the guest rooms on the ground floor of his home.
The room was spacious and lavishly furnished and had been vacant for many months. Judas could not recall the last time he entertained guests in his house. The room contained a large bed, several bureaus, a private bath, and a gateway leading out into the main courtyard. To keep the room cooler, the drapes on the two large windows in the room were drawn shut. As Judas was beginning to open the drapes, he heard Saul weakly implore him to keep them shut. Judas could not help but notice that the man spoke with considerable difficulty, and he was covering his eyes with his hands. He was being held up by two guards.
Once placed on the bed, in a weakened and somewhat trembling voice, Saul said, “Leave me now. I desire to be alone.”
After ensuring that the room was indeed empty of any other inhabitants, Malcus motioned for his guards along with Judas to vacate the room. For the time being, Saul was his primary concern, and whatever Saul requested, Malcus was going to accommodate.

So, justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us.
We look for light, but all is darkness, for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows. Like the blind we grope along the wall, feeling our way like men without eyes. At midday we stumble as if it were twilight.
(Isaiah 59 9-10)