Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver.So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him. Matthew 26:14-16
Welcome to Holy Wednesday!
Today is also known as Spy Wednesday. Today is the day that Judas made the decision to betray Jesus.
Normally, that is as far as anyone looks into Judas. He betrayed Jesus. But what do we really know about Judas? He was one of the twelve disciples. He walked with Jesus. He saw the miracles. He saw the healings.
Judas was the treasurer for the disciples. We see that in John 12:4-6 But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said,“Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. Judas had positioned himself to be the treasurer so that he could take money from the ministry.
We do not know what prompted Judas to betray Jesus. There are a myriad of reasons. What we do know, is that Judas was remorseful. We pick up in Matthew 27:3-5 Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” And they said, “What is that to us? You see to it!” Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.
In the end, nothing that Judas gained in his life was worth what he lost. He even gave the money back. It did not have to end this way. Jesus gave Judas so many opportunities to turn from his wicked ways. He spoke a lot about being betrayed, even at the last supper. Judas had a chance to make different choices, but never found a place in his life to repent.
In His last week, Jesus was loving others and offering forgiveness. If you have wandered away from God, it is time to come home. Do not live your life as Judas did. Today is the day of repentance.
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