Reading:
Matthew 27:1-10
"thirty pieces of silver"
This is really amazing, that for thirty pieces of silver, one of the beloved disciples would betray their Lord into the hands of those that would kill Him. Now we know that Jesus was to be delivered up to death and that He willingly laid down His right to life, so that He could apply His life to us. But really, when you have been with Jesus for the three years of earthly ministry and know that He is God in the flesh, how could you sell Him out for 30 pieces of silver?
Don't we though do the same each and every time that we fall into sin? We choose to walk away from God and go back to the filth and wretchedness that we left. We fall into sin because we still struggle against the old man that is in us. Just as Judas changed his mind and tried to undo what he had done, we too are hopefully struggling against the sin in our life. Instead of trying to make it right ourselves, we turn in repentance to Jesus Christ and look to the saving cross to be saved. We place our faith fully on Jesus Christ and what HE did for us. That is where we find forgiveness of sins and peace in our hearts.
We will continue to struggle in this life with sin and the devil. But we need to remember that greater is He that is in us (Jesus), than he that is in the world. Jesus has overcome sin, death and the devil when He went willingly to the cross. He experienced the pains of death that He did not deserve so that He could set us free from the bondage to sin. We are victorious because Christ is victorious!
May we not be like Judas who appears to have tried to make himself right with God by changing his mind about what He did, but not understanding the gift of the Gospel, he fell into despair and killed himself. May we hear the words and believe them that we are baptized child of God and an heir to God's kingdom. May we hear the words of Absolution from our faithful Pastors that we are truly forgiven on account of Christ. And may we hear the words of the Pastor at the distribution of Holy Communion,"The true Body and Blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Given and Shed for YOU!" and may this be our trust and hope.
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