ets that Christ lives forever? Thou canst not die, for with thy
power thou wakest even the dead." Even John declares that Christ's
words are dark and dismal, while he and his associates use every effort
to cheer the Master.

At the house of Simon of Bethany, Mary Magdalen breaks the costly dish
of ointment. Judas, who carries the slender purse of the disciples, is
vexed at the waste, and talks of all the good the value of this
ointment might have done if given to the poor.

Very carefully worked out is the character of Judas, represented by
Johann Zwink, the miller of Oberammergau, who ten years ago took the
part of Saint John. The people of Oberammergau regard Zwink as the
most gifted of all their actors; for he can, they say, play any part.
("_Er spielt alle Rolle._") Gregor Lechner, who in his younger days
had the part of Judas, is now Simon of Bethany. Of all the actors of
Oberammergau, the people told us, Lechner is the most beloved
("_bestens beliebt_").

[Illustration: Johann Zwink as Judas.]

In Zwink's conception, Judas is a man full of ambition, but without
enthusiasm. He is attracted by the power of Christ, from which he
expects great results. But Christ seems to care little for his own
mighty works. "My mission," he says, "is not to command, but to
serve." So Judas becomes impatient and dissatisfied. The eager
enthusiasm of Peter and the tender devotion of John alike bore and
disgust him. So the emissaries of Caiaphas find him half-prepared for
their mission. He admits that he has made a mistake in joining his
fortunes to those of an unpractical and sorrowful prophet who lets
great opportunities slip from his grasp, and who wastes a fortune in
precious ointment with no more thought than if it had been water.
"There has of late been a coolness between him and me," he confesses.
"I am tired," he says, "of hoping and waiting, with nothing before me
except poverty, humiliation, perhaps even torture and the prison." He
is especially ill at ease when the Master speaks of his approaching
death. "If thou givest up thy life," he says, "what will become of
us?" And so Judas reasons with himself that he can afford to be
prudent. If his Master fail, then he must be a false prophet, and
there is no use in following him. If he succeed, as with his mighty
power he can hardly fail to do, then, says Judas, "I will throw myself
at his feet. He is such a good man; never have I seen him cast a
penitent a