Thursday, June 22, 2017

Morning Moments with God: Day 109

                             Image result for Book of Matthew
Day 109:To be Betrayed

Please read the Bible verses for today:
Matthew 26:14-16

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus

14 Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests 15 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.16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over." (Matthew 26:14-16)

What can be said about the most horrible betrayal of all time? Judas, a man who was one of the twelve disciples who walked and lived with Jesus for three years, a man who saw miracle after miracle, a man who listened to the most profound teachings ever spoken, a man who witnessed God's love and compassion, betrayed His master. How is it possible? How can someone be so physically close to God and reject Him? But that is what God calls free will. He reveals Himself to all of us and we decide if we want to surrender our lives to Him or not. Judas decided, after three years of viewing the most loving and Godly man's life, that He would not only reject Jesus as his Messiah, but go a step further and betray Him. He went to them, "...Judas Iscariot-went to the chief priests..." (Matthew 26:14) they didn't go to him. He sought them out with the intent to betray Jesus. 

Judas was paid thirty pieces of silver. I've learned two things about this amount: 1) Thirty pieces of silver is equivalent to 120 denarii. At the time of Jesus a worker and even a Roman soldier received payment of one denarius for a days work. Thirty pieces of silver was a huge some of money. 2) Thirty pieces of silver was what was paid for a slave. Judas was now the slave of the chief priests. 

Pray with me:
Jesus, you know what it is to betrayed by a best friend, a brother. You know what it is to be misunderstood. You know what it is to be rejected by your own. You know the pain and anguish of the heart. Jesus, you know what it feels like. Thank you for knowing. Thank you for living a life on this earth and experiencing all our hurt, pain and suffering. Help me to forgive those who have betrayed me and hurt me. Help me to love as you love. In Jesus' Name, Amen. 

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