THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER

Judas’ betrayal of Jesus is one the most dramatic events in the gospel narrative. That one who was chosen to be among the twelve disciples, after having spent time in close proximity to Christ and experiencing the divinity of Christ, to go on to give Christ away for a mere thirty pieces of silver is truly profound and surprising.

 one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over. (Mat 26)

Perhaps Judas was disappointed with Christ. He probably expected a revolutionary who would topple the oppressive Roman regime and restore the nation of Israel. Perhaps he expected a person of Jesus’ abilities to come away with an array of worldly benefits. Any other person who did the things Christ did would undoubtedly have satisfied those expectations. Instead Jesus rejected worldly trophies and set his disciples on a course of spiritual renewal. Judas obviously had no inclination toward spiritual restoration.  And so, Judas finds himself disappointed, bitter, poorer and he surely blamed it all on Jesus.

Today multitudes believe in Christ, yet many believe in a Christ they see fit. For many it is a Christ of tradition, who has been the god of their forefathers, for others, it a Christ of provision, who they can turn to when in need. Some consider Christ as a good moral teacher; others look at him as one of many gods. And to all who refuse to accept him as he is- a Savior who died for man’s sins, bringing spiritual renewal and calling him to a life of obedience to God- disappointment will inevitably follow.

Judas ends up bargaining with the chief priests and agrees to thirty pieces of silver as a price good enough to give Jesus away. We might wonder, ‘is that all Christ was worth to Judas?’ but the obvious corollary is, ‘what is his worth for us?’When faced with choices in our lives, where obedience to God is countered with worldly gain, how much will we lay on the table to stick on to Christ? All the other disciples experienced the same Christ, but came away with an entirely different output- all except John (who died a natural death) ended up laying down their lives in martyrdom for him!

Judas recognized his mistake, but stopped short of repentance.

When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders. “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.”  So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. (Mat 27)

We could argue that suicide was the easier route for Judas compared to repentance, which would have initiated a life of daily death. Living for Christ is anything but easy, because he makes demands of one’s life on a continual basis. Self-denial becomes the difficult lifestyle that a Christian embraces when he sets out to follow Christ. Judas was remorseful; regrettably he did not translate that to repentance.

Judas’ account is both dramatic and sad. We are left wondering what could have been of one who beheld God in human form in such close proximity, yet came away poorer because of it.

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