Monday April 2, 2012

Read Matthew 26:1-16; Mark 14:1-11

 

As we draw near to Easter our reading notes will turn to the Easter narrative because no where in all Scripture (and no where else in the world) will you see more clearly and plainly the Fatherly compassion and tenderness and love of God than at Calvary.

 

The narratives of Easter often focus on the Passion of Messiah but here we see that Judas had already agreed to betray Jesus and went to the Chief Priests. He was unsolicited and must have known that they were after Jesus. Very early in the gospels we read that these officials wanted Jesus to be put to death. Judas willingly obliged and opened the door for them. They couldn’t have been happier - they now had a mole within the inner circle.

 

We don’t know what went through Judas’ mind as he raced off to the Chief Priests. Yet, we do know that he was a thief and helped himself to the corporate money bag that the disciples kept (John 12:6). Perhaps the wasted perfume that could have been sold for a small fortune tipped Judas over the edge. Perhaps he thought that being with Jesus would bring wealth and fame and fortune. Unfortunately, we’ll never know. Yet we do know that Judas was the catalyst that allowed our Lord and Saviour to die at the cross, rejected by man and rejected by God.

 

While we may never think of it as such, every sin, every blasphemy, every lustful thought and every vengeful thought is a betrayal of the Son of God. In a sense, our sin is worse than Judas’ sin because when we sin, we are choosing to reject the Lord God Almighty who has taken up residence within us. We should and do know better. There is no single scrap of evidence that Judas was filled with the Holy Spirit. He was simply acting in accord with his sinful nature.

 

Prayer:

¥ As we draw near to Easter ask the Lord to show you 3 people/families you can invite to church to hear the saving message of Christ Jesus. Ask the Lord to give you the courage to invite them and to prepare them to accept. Pray that everyone in your congregation will have the same mindset.

¥ Pray that the message of Easter will flow loudly and clearly across this nation that is seeking to bury the truth in Easter bunnies and chocolate and outdoor camping/fishing adventures. Pray that Jesus’ love will shine through all this rubbish.