By Pat Valentine, IOC
Scripture Reference:
“Then 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 hand him over to you?’ So they counted out for him thirty silver coins.
From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over. On the first day of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?’ He replied, ‘Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, “The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.” So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover. When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, ‘I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.’ They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, ‘Surely not I, Lord?’ Jesus replied, ‘The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.’ Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said. ‘Surely not I, Rabbi?’ Jesus answered, ‘Yes, it is you’ (Matthew 26:14–25).
Devotional:
There are many ways we can betray Jesus. Judas chose his betrayal with money. Many times today we tend to fall away from Jesus in our daily lives by forgetting that the salvation of God is worth more than any amount of gold or silver. This “gold or silver” may come in the form of injustice, selfishness, “it’s all about me thinking,” thinking bad thoughts of your neighbor, etc.
The way we treat our family, our friends, or our coworkers with loving kindness, fairness, equality, and the love of God will be worth more than any amount of “gold or silver.”
Jesus was the perfect example of obedience to God’s will and loving service to others. May we praise and follow Him. Jesus became human, though it meant suffering and death. He did it for the love of God. “Your will be done….”
We have been redeemed by God so we may live in true freedom and joy with one another. And we hope that no one will hear Jesus say, “Yes, it is you,” when we ask Him the question, “Surely not I, Rabbi.”
Prayer Points:
* Pray that Jesus’ death and resurrection will keep the salvation of God fresh in our minds.
* Pray that we strive to be obedient to God’s will and service to others.
* Pray that we work toward living according to God’s truth of freedom and joy in Him.
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