Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Roughly that’s the amount of one months wages for a laborer. In my terms, it’s a lot of pizza! Judas is often listed as one of the “big” sinners in the Bible, after all, he is the one that was the traitor. We, as Americans, hate traitors. We, as humans, can’t imagine following someone for three years and then selling him for a month’s wages. We, as Christians, can’t imagine turning away from the Christ and leading the executioners to Jesus. We can’t imagine anything worse than what Judas did; for 30 pieces of silver.
Peter insisted to Jesus that he would not deny Him. Peter pledged to Jesus his life instead of denial. Fear, in just a few hours time, consumed him and made him forget the promise to Jesus.
But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, ”Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.”62And he went out and wept bitterly. Luke 22:60-62
I cannot imagine Jesus’ face at that moment; it had to have haunted Peter the rest of his life. It’s easy to say that we will not betray, but it is harder to live up to. Am I so different from Judas? Do I not betray Christ every day? Does Peter make me angry knowing that at Christs’ most vulnerable time, he swore an oath (Matt 26:72) and then invoked a curse on himself and swore (Matt 26:74) that he was not a follower. Yet, how often do I try to blend in with the world or walk a thin line to not appear too “religious”? I am guilty. Most of the time, it’s for far less than a months wages. I betray Jesus for comfort when I don’t reach out, for convenience when I don’t serve and for self righteousness when I don’t care. Every day when I preserve self in some way instead of living Christ; I betray Him. And to make it worse, I explain it away. I tell myself that if I’m not current and relevant, I won’t be able to witness and then tell myself that I don’t have the gift to witness. I tell myself that the traditions were old fashioned and make sure that I don’t stand out in the crowd. I tell myself that I’m liberated and loving when, in reality, I’m making it easier to be a follower. No, this isn’t about man-made rules versus the Word. This is about me denying, betraying and breaking Jesus’ heart. I am no better.
Luckily, there is another side to the coin and we only have to flip it!
………….to be continued!
