Silver Coins

“They were glad when they heard this, and promised to give him money.” (Mark 14:11) “Immediately while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, . . . had given them a signal, saying, ‘Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him and lead Him away under guard.’” (Mark 14:43,44)

The eternity of a wasted life – described in less than 30 words. Or perhaps 30 pieces of silver. 

We have probably all played around with the “How much would it take for you to do . . . something outrageous?” game. You know – “If I gave you one hundred dollars, would you . . .?” When you reply “No,” I up the ante.  “Five hundred?”  “A thousand?” A game of light-hearted banter can morph into the deadly world of a wasted life if we aren’t careful.

We really know very little about how Judas got to be the infamous character we know him to be. Matthew is the one who tells us it was “thirty pieces of silver.” (Matthew 26:14-16) All four gospel writers tell us about the role he played in betraying Jesus – primarily providing information about an opportunity to arrest Jesus away from the crowds. John seems unable to mention the name Judas without a bit of commentary.

There is all kind of speculation about the motives of Judas. But that is only speculation – the gospels don’t provide the kind of information that allows one to know whether his motives were good or evil. The fact that he returns the money and ends his life would suggest that it didn’t work out like he thought it would.

The eternity of a wasted life – bought, sold, and wasted over 30 pieces of silver. From afar, that is an easy target to point fingers at; up close in the mirror of my own soul, it is enough to make one weep.

It is easy for me to say, “I’m not Judas.”  Or a hundred or more other examples of people whose lives betray the nature of faith in ways that are reprehensible. But the problem with that approach is that you  can’t find a “at least I’m not as bad as” example of spiritual growth in Scripture. The real question for me -  and you – during Holy Week is not “am I Judas?” but “am I the person God has called me to be?”

I doubt that the motives of Judas were just money.  Thirsty pieces of silver is not the kind of money that puts one on easy street. Yet every day of my life I am confronted with the potential issue of what value I place on following Jesus. Is my job and a promotion worth more than being a follower of Jesus?  Is my reputation among my peers worth more than following Jesus? Is my commitment to the kingdom of God more important than the fancy vacation I have planned for the summer?

I can easily point fingers at Judas.  Thirty pieces of silver. Cheap. Really not that big of a deal.

But the person I look at in the mirror every  morning  of Holy Week, I’m wondering what price he is willing to accept as payment for betrayal?

It is frightening to think about.