Jesus’ enemies take their chance when Judas offers to betray him. They give him thirty pieces of silver for Jesus. What is His friendship worth to me?
Devotional for Wednesday of Holy Week
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 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. (Matthew 26:14-16)
The chief priests fulfilled the words of Psalm 118 and rejected Christ. But one of his closest companions, one of the twelve apostles, betrayed Jesus to them. Christ’s friendship was worth a few dollars to him. For that price, Judas sold him.
But Jesus does not reject Judas. He knows of the betrayal to come and who the betrayer is. And yet he does not separate himself from Judas but only makes clear the consequences of his action: “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.” (Matthew 26:24)
Devotional for every day here: Daily Devotional
Jesus goes his way, the way of redemption, giving himself for the Salvation of men. He goes first into the realm of death to open the door to life for us. Jesus walks this path of the cross and suffers because we are worthy of it.
That’s how different God’s standards of value are. To redeem the servant, He gives the Son.
God loves us, human beings, with infinite love. That is why He gives us the most precious thing He has – His Son. That is how much we are worth to Him.
Whoever recognizes this cannot simply say to Jesus’ sacrificial death, “What’s in it for me?”
But he must also admit that he is guilty of Christ’s death. “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering.” (Isaiah 53:4-6).
Christ does not walk this path for the nameless masses but for the sake of each of us. God loves me so much that He gave His only Son for me to redeem me from sin and death.
I can be sure that even if I were the only person on earth, He would save me through Christ. For God loves us without end. In His infinite love, He wants no one to be lost.
But the question remains: what is His friendship worth to me?
Prayer for Today
Jesus, you walked the way of suffering in union with God’s will. Be with me when I find it difficult to accept all I do not understand, what is often beyond my strength when I doubt and struggle. I pray that you strengthen me, Lord. You are with me; I trust in You. Amen.
