Clearlake >> Anyone who’s ever wanted to witness, or even participate in the long-awaited trial of Judas, the disciple known for the betrayal of Jesus, will have their chance tonight. At 5 p.m. the Clearlake Community United Methodist Church holds the play, “The Trial of Judas Iscariot.”
The play will feature prosecution and defense attorneys, a judge and a bailiff. John, Peter and Mary will be called to testify. And those in attendance will serve as the jury, deciding whether Judas deserves grace or punishment. “The bailiff swears [the audience] in as the jury in the beginning of the play,” said Cindy Lawler, pastor at the United Methodist Church in Clearlake.
“It’s five short acts,” said Lawler. “It’s a very interesting way to look at the Easter story.”
Lawler observed that the trial is a way for people to talk about the details of the holiday that are often overlooked. “I think that most people come for Easter, but ignore the rest of the story. It’s an uncomfortable thing to think about,” she said. “It’s a different way to get people interested. It uses our intellect because we like to question, we like to think. This is a way people can do that. They can get actively involved in the story.”
The trial is a collaboration between three churches in the area: the Clearlake United Methodist Church, the Lower Lake Methodist Church and the Middletown Methodist Church. The actors portraying the judge, bailiff, attorneys and witnesses are church members from the different locations.
The members of the legal system will be dressed in modern-day garb but the witnesses come to the trial in garments from their era. “When we call Peter he will usually show up in Biblical clothes,” Lawler said. “We kind of reach across time and grab [witnesses] up.”
Last year the crowd voted to give Judas grace, but Lawler said the outcome could be different this year. “The answer really is not written into the play,” she said. “It comes down to just like it would in the normal court, how the two attorneys give their closing arguments and then they turn it over to the audience and they get to vote.”
“The Trial of Judas Iscariot” is tonight, April 3 at 5 p.m. at the Clearlake Community United Methodist Church. “It’s a way to see the whole story,” Lawler said. “Come with an open mind.”
