Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I betray him to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.
Matthew 26: 14-16
As a child in Sunday School we learned about Judas betraying Jesus. That the chief priests paid Judas thirty silver coins to betray Jesus. And maybe it was because I didn’t understand, or maybe it wasn’t explained, or maybe we didn’t read this passage of scripture and we just focused on the scene of the betrayal in the garden – but I always thought that the chief priests came to Judas, enticing him to betray Jesus.
But it is not that way at all! Of course Judas knew the chief priests were upset by Jesus – all of the disciples would have known! But I am guessing that it would be highly unlikely for the chief priests to approach Judas like I had thought they did over the last 20 years. The chief priests would have assumed that the twelve closest to Jesus would be more spellbound than the crowd.
Judas sought out to betray Jesus. It was not an opportunity handed to him on a platter. It wasn’t a trick set up by the chief priests. Judas intentionally sought to betray Jesus.
Why? After a lot of reading about Judas, it’s pretty clear that he is driven by greed. He’s in it for the money. One source I read indicated that each piece of silver was equivalent to about 4 days worth of wages, which means Judas could have gained 4 months wages from his betrayal. That’s a lot of money.
And while we can focus on the sin of Judas betraying Jesus like we often do, there’s an encouraging message for all of us in this.
At one point in our life, we have been/are/will be Judas Iscariot. We’re human. We make mistakes. We will sin against Jesus. And to some extent we will betray. It might not be to the extent of Judas’ betrayal, but it will still hurt someone.
So what’s the encouraging message? What is the hope for us?
Jesus chose Judas as one of his twelve disciples, knowing he would eventually betray him.
Jesus brought him close, loved him, led him, encouraged him, invested in him.
This should be a great message of hope. Judas was a sinner and knowing the sin Judas would later commit, Jesus would still use Judas. He would still love Judas. There was still a place at the Father’s table in heaven for Judas. Nothing could keep God from loving Judas.
And knowing all the sins we will commit, nothing can keep God from loving us. God still choses us. He seeks us out. And in the darkness of our sin, God still is with us, ready to forgive.
He won’t leave or forsake us, even if we try to leave or forsake him.
For Judas, the guilt after the betrayal led him to return the money and hang himself. Judas was embarrassed, but I believe had he gone to the Father in prayer, repenting of his sin and begging for forgiveness, that Judas would be forgiven.
God wants all of us, our every being. And even in our betrayal and our sin, God wants to reconcile with us. He longs to be connected to us and nothing will ever stop his love for us.
Jesus chose a sinner who would eventually betray him and cost him his life. If Jesus choses Judas, then why are we ever scared he wouldn’t chose us?
Abbey Jo
Adventures with Abbey Jo 
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