Judas: The Gospel of Betrayal
Ramsay’s novel gives a fresh perspective on Judas Iscariot, the most hated man in the New Testament. Setting his subject firmly within the context of life in Palestine during the era of Roman domination, he fleshes out Judas’s tale with a very plausible backstory. Bastard son of a Roman soldier and a Jewish woman, young Judas is forced to flee with his mother and younger sister from their seaside home in fear of being accused of a murder committed by Romans. Arriving in Corinth, fueled by thoughts of revenge against the Romans, he quickly learns to survive on the streets and helps his damaged sister find sanctuary.
Struggling to understand how his mother’s god could allow horrible things to happen to him and his family, Judas spends years wandering through the eastern Mediterranean. Finally seeking out his mother’s people, he learns of his Galilean grandfather’s failed rebellion against the Roman government, and becomes ever more determined to be involved in such a movement. After joining up with Barabbas’s band of thieves and then suffering their terrible betrayal, he is taken in by the Zealot community. This group eventually leads him to the charismatic teacher they call Jesus.
Enthralled and enthusiastically believing that Jesus is the tool needed to destroy the Romans, Judas is ultimately forced to make a painful choice concerning Jesus that will have devastating consequences for everyone involved. Although I wish the author had provided more insight into other familiar characters like Mary Magdalene and Peter, his smooth narrative and a different twist on Judas’s story make this a good choice for readers who enjoy Bible-based historical fiction.
