The Betrayal Judas Prepared

THE Betrayal JUDAS PREPARED WHAT YOU’RE WORTH

TODAY’S READING: ZECHARIAH 11:4–13

Caitlin blogged about the depression she battled after fighting off an assault. The emotional violence had cut her deeper than the physical struggle with her attacker. She felt it proved “how undesirable I was. I was not the kind of girl you wanted to get to know.” She felt unworthy of love; like she was the kind of person others use and then throw away.

God truly understands. He lovingly looked after His people Israel, but when He asked them what He was worth, “they paid me thirty pieces of silver” (ZECHARIAH 11:12). This was the price of a slave; what masters had to be given if their slave was accidentally killed (EXODUS 21:32). God was insulted to be offered the lowest possible value—“[look at] the handsome price at which they valued me!” He said sarcastically (ZECHARIAH 11:13). And He had Zechariah throw the money away.

Jesus truly understands. He was betrayed by Judas, one of His friends. But more than that, the Jewish leaders so hated Him that they only offered Judas thirty pieces of silver—the lowest price you could put on a person—and he took

THE Lord SAID TO ME, “THROW IT TO THE POTTER!”

ZECHARIAH 11:13

it (MATTHEW 26:14–15; 27:9). Judas thought so little of Jesus he sold Him for nearly nothing.

If people undervalued Jesus, don’t be surprised when they undervalue you. Your value isn’t what others say. It’s not even what you say. It’s entirely and only what God says. He says you are worth dying for. o MIKE WITTMER

Where do you turn to find value and worth? Things are worth what somebody is willing to pay for them; how does Jesus’ death help you think about yourself according to God’s point of view?

Dear God, please remind me just how much You love me. You sent Your Son to die in my place and make me Your own child. Help me remember this is my true identity and value.

HOW THINGS LOOK

TODAY’S READING: JOHN 13:1–22

It is in our nature to make judgements based on how things look to us. We say, for example, that some people look guilty or seem trustworthy. But history’s biggest villain didn’t look guilty at all.

Judas was one of Jesus closest friends. John tells us, “The devil had already prompted Judas . . . to betray Jesus” (JOHN 13:2). Then Jesus showed His friends what serving leadership looks like by washing their feet. After that He told them, “He who shared my bread has turned against me” (V. 18). The disciples didn’t get it, so He told them clearly, “One of you is going to betray me” (V. 21). Still they remained “at a loss to know which of them he meant” (V. 22). They never thought it would be Judas. He looked just like the rest of them: a good friend of Jesus.

But in the middle of this uncomfortable scene, Jesus said something else no one saw coming. He told His friends, “Whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me” (V. 20).

Something much bigger than Judas’ betrayal was happening. Jesus would send the disciples into the world with this good news: God the Father had sent His Son Jesus to bring salvation to anyone who would accept Him. God can turn even a betrayal to our benefit. No matter how things look, God’s great plan will continue. o TIM GUSTAFSON

WHOEVER ACCEPTS ANYONE I SEND ACCEPTS ME; AND WHOEVER ACCEPTS ME ACCEPTS THE ONE WHO SENT ME.

LUKE 13:20

What do you think the difference was between Judas and the other disciples? How does it encourage you to know that every situation is completely under God’s control?

Father, thank You for the truth that Your plan, power, strength and love are far greater than how things may look today. Help me to keep my eyes fixed on You.

“AND IT WAS NIGHT”

TODAY’S READING: JOHN 13:21–32

Eli Wiesel’s novel Night starkly confronts us with the horrors of the Holocaust. Based on his own experiences, Wiesel’s account flips the biblical story of the Exodus. While Moses and the Israelites escaped slavery at the first Passover (EXODUS 12), Wiesel tells of Jewish leaders being arrested following Passover.

Lest we criticise Wiesel and his dark irony, consider that the Bible contains a similar plot twist. On the night of Passover, Jesus (who was expected to free God’s people from suffering) instead permitted Himself to be arrested by those who wanted to kill Him.

John ushers us into the holy scene before Jesus’ arrest. “Troubled in spirit” over what awaited Him, Jesus predicted His betrayal at the Last Supper (JOHN 13:21). Then, in an act we can scarcely comprehend, Christ served His betrayer bread. The account reads: “As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night” (V. 30). History’s greatest injustice was underway, yet Jesus declared, “Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him” (V. 31). In a few hours, the disciples would experience panic, defeat and dejection. But Jesus saw God’s plan unfolding as it should.

When it seems as though the darkness is winning, we can recall that God faced His dark night and defeated it. He walks with us. It won’t always be night.

AS SOON AS JUDAS HAD TAKEN THE BREAD, HE WENT OUT. AND IT WAS NIGHT.

JOHN 13:30

o

TIM GUSTAFSON

When have you experienced panic, loss of hope and despair? How would you describe how you felt after you came through that dark experience?

Thank You, Jesus, for keeping Your Father’s plan in view when You went through the steps to the cross. Thank You for conquering death for me.