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over the Sabbath .
    see
Mark 2:10, 28
[xxi]
    23. Judas wrestled with the dilemma for some time before recalling the words of the Prophet Ezekiel, who had used the expression ‘Son of Man’ to emphasize the difference between the mortal prophet and God, who always makes allowance for the weakness of human beings.
    24. Judas decided that the Master must have been alluding to Ezekiel, who had maintained that the God of Israel had chosen him, a mere mortal, to bring about His reign on earth.
    25. And such was Judas’ knowledge of the scriptures that he was able to remind his fellow disciples of another relevant passage from the book of the Prophet Daniel.
    26. Daniel had had a dream in which many monsters came out ofthe sea, bent on a path of destruction. This, Judas was convinced, symbolized the Roman Empire destroying the lives, the faith and the religious traditions of Israel.
    27. Judas recalled that the symbolic monsters had later been summoned to the court of God, which Daniel described as the ancient of days , before they were finally vanquished and destroyed.
    28. Judas repeated word for word the relevant passage from Daniel: I saw the night visions, and behold one like the Son of Man came with the clouds from heaven, and was presented before him. To him was given dominion, glory and kingship, and all people, all nations and languages would serve him. His domain would be everlasting, and will not pass away. His kingship is one that will not be destroyed .
    Dan 7:13–14
    29. Although Judas now felt he understood why Jesus had used the expression ‘Son of Man’, he was further perplexed when the Master later warned the disciples: The Son of Man will be put to death in Jerusalem, but on the third day he will rise again from the dead .
    see
Mark 8:31;
Matt 16:21;
Luke 9:22
    30. When Peter first heard these words, he said firmly: ‘Master, we have no desire to accompany you to Jerusalem if it may only result in your death.’
    31. Many others have written about what happened next, but Judas could never forget Jesus’ words and he fully understood their meaning.
    32. Jesus did not bless Peter in the manner earlier gospels have reported when he said: Get behind me, Satan; you are not on the side of God, but on the side of mankind .
    33. Jesus’ words, Get behind me , were used simply to remind his disciples of their calling. When he had first come into their lives, he had said: Follow me , which Judas understood to mean to walk behind him, for he was their Master.
    34. Jesus was telling his disciples to follow him without question,wherever he believed that path lay; this, despite the fact that he must have known they could not begin to understand his reason for giving such a command.
    35. Judas also understood exactly what Jesus had meant to convey when he uttered the word Satan in their presence.
    36. In the Aramaic that Jesus spoke when addressing his followers, the word Satana means ‘stumbling block’, or someone who opposes the ways of God.
    [xxii]
    37. So when Jesus said: Get behind me, Satan , Judas understood his words to mean: You are stumbling blocks in my path, preventing me from carrying out God’s holy will, because your wishes only fulfil the desires of mankind and you fail to understand the ways of God .
    see
Mark 8:33;
Matt 16:17–23
    38. All through the night, the disciples debated the true meaning of Jesus’ words; in particular, his prophecy of a forthcoming journey to Jerusalem, where he would suffer and die, but three days later rise again from the dead, confirming the resurrection of the Son of Man.
    39. Search as he might, Judas could not find any passage in the Torah that made an association between suffering, death and the fulfilment of the messianic hopes of Israel. He was greatly disturbed by Jesus’ words.
    40. When the morning light broke, Jesus called the disciples together.
    41. He addressed them solemnly, saying: My time is