We are half way between the unbridled joy of Hosanna on Palm Sunday and the spine chilling "crucify him" of Good Friday morning. Wednesday of this week is known in many circles as "Spy Wednesday" the day Judas went to the Chief Priests and took 30 pieces of silver to sell out his Lord. Spy Wednesday because the Gospel says "from that moment he (Judas) began to look for an opportunity to betray him."
I often wonder what my "Jesus selling price is."? How much have I been willing to sell my faith, my integrity, my relationship with my savior? I know that I sell him for instant gratification; I sell him for my own personal comfort and convenience; I sell him for political expedience; I sell him for personal gain. When we look at Judas the popular thing to do is to wag our heads and speak with outrage asking "how could his friend do that to him." But, I suspect, it is all cover. Any of us, committed Christ followers and non believers alike, have done the same thing to people we love countless times over. What is my betrayal price? The scary part is, when I am being honest with myself, I know that I have one.
Holy Week, to be redemptive, has to take us into the depths of our brokenness. Out of the depths of our brokenness we can finally see the amazing, unspeakable, unfathomable act of sacrifice and love of Jesus on the cross. St. Paul said in Romans 5 "Love is this, while we were still sinners (betrayers) Christ died for us. That proves God's love toward us."
Yes, it proves God's love toward us . . . but that level of love over my betraying heart is painful, indeed, before it is healing.
Dr. BJ
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