Since childhood I have been puzzled about the figure Judas as it was explained to me: the wretched traitor, who surrendered Jesus to legal proceedings and crucifixion for filthy lucre.
I tried to argue against this comprehension and exposing myself to indignation and mockery as a consequence of my "unchristian misunderstanding".
I believed then as well as today, that Judas was an exponent for the highest love, the love that would sacrifice everything for the sake of the prophecy... that the victim creates his executioner.... that the executioner becomes a victim of his victim.....
Jesus answered; " The one, to whom I pass the bread at first.."
I searched the Bible and various gnostic writings to find proof of my understanding: that Judas had to be the disciple, that Jesus loved the most.
In the painting Jesus and Judas have been interlaced to a joint source of wisdom.
I have written and told about this understanding for years to everone, who would listen. In the year 2000 I made the painting. At the same time a group of actors stayed with me. The saw the painting and heard my speech, which I ended by saying: "This could be the theme for a play taking place in our time..."
The actors contacted a scriptwriter and told about the painting and my comprehension. The result was the play "the glasshouse" written by Andreas Garfield. The theatregroup Bastard has toured with the play since 2003. It has been very well reviewed, and it has been sold to a.o. Canada.