We don’t know what Judas was thinking would happen to Jesus when he sold his act of betrayal of Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.  Did Judas think this act would force Jesus to fight back, to finally take a more aggressive lead and begin a revolution like Barabbas had done?  Would Judas’ act of betrayal force the Son of God to detour from God’s Perfect Plan?  What WAS he thinking?  God only knows.

PAUSE FOR REFLECTION…What are we thinking? 

Do we think we know better at times with our own plan for living life?  Do we sell out our own souls to accomplish own desires and plans?  Are we remorseful, sorry we got caught, when our plans don’t go well? 

Or are we like Peter who disobeyed, but was regretful, saw the failure, and was repentant?  Like Peter, do we learn from the mistake, the misstep, the sin, the failure and turn back to Jesus with all that is in us?

There is a difference.  God knows our hearts.  He knows the difference. 

So, we ask, are sold out to Jesus?  Or are we sold out to self, to following anything or anyone but Jesus?

We are reminded of Jesus’ earlier teaching at this point, ““Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ²⁵ For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. ²⁶ What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? ²⁷ For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.”  Matthew 16

Jesus followed God’s Plan exactly, just as Scripture said He would.  How did Jesus stay focused on God’s Plan as the Son of Man?  He prayed, “Not my will, but yours” as often as needed. 

Matthew 27

Judas Hangs Himself

27 Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed. ² So they bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor.

³ When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. ⁴ “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”

“What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.”

⁵ So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

⁶ The chief priests picked up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.” ⁷ So they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. ⁸ That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day. ⁹ Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on him by the people of Israel, ¹⁰ and they used them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”

THE REST OF THE STORY…

God told Jeremiah, His prophet, centuries earlier, “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on him by the people of Israel…”  This is the price God’s people set for the life of the One who would set us free from our sin by willing laying down is life in exchange for ours. 

So, what does it profit me to sell out to the world, losing my soul in the process?

Who are sold out to right now?  There are only two choices.  Choose wisely.  It’s a matter of life or death.  It’s a matter of peace or torment. 

Abba Father,

I come to you repentant for allowing my eyes to gaze away from you and your plan in any given moment, to follow my plan.  I want what you want for me.  What is your perfect plan for me today?  Make your desires for me be my desires.  For it is you, it always has been you, that brings life with pure joy and perfect peace.  Even in sadness, disappointments, grief, and challenging situations and circumstances, you give peace.  Thank you.  You remind me once more why I am sold out to you.  You are God and I am not.  Show me your will and I will trust and obey.  In Jesus Name, Amen