Christ, the King of the World, was sold on clearance

Betrayal is the action of betraying one's country, a group, or a person. It is a secret treachery. This is an experience that sometimes may occur in the most intimate kinds of relationships and settings. Both domestically in our family structure and externally in our society, the aspect of betrayal has its part in the degradation of humanity.

This is the path Judas decided to take when it came to Jesus, whom he called master. In his heart he was willing to sell off his so called master like a cheap slave.

Matthew 26:14-16 says, “Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.” “The exact value of thirty pieces of silver is somewhat difficult to determine, but it was undeniably a small amount, not a great amount.”(Guzic)

A lot of us thought we were backstabbed by our co-workers or employers and fired on our job because we were being replaced with better, but the truth is that you were being replaced with someone cheaper. The wages they offered the new employee is not even good enough for a poor man picking up cans to receive. If Christ was devalued and underpriced, we who are his bride cannot expect to be seen as having a value any greater than his.

A young girl who feels undervalued her whole life may be found out by the sex-trafficker who discovers her low self-esteem and in turn makes her into a two-dollar whore.

Joel 3:3 says, “And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink.”

The word of God says a virtuous woman’s value is far above rubies (Proverbs 31:10), but because the predator values getting his/her needs met over respecting the boundaries of other humans, many women (and men) are in therapy today. They were sold for a cheap, quick thrill.

If Judas had known Jesus’ worth, he would have asked for way more than 30 pieces of silver. If the Sanhedrin had known Jesus was God in the flesh, they would not have allowed him to be slapped with the palms of common men’s hands (Matt 26:67). They buried the son of man who is Jesus, not knowing that as soon as he went into the lower parts of the Earth, he would defeat death and prove them wrong.

“Christ must be sold cheap, that he might be the more dear to the souls of the redeemed ones.” (Poole)“Yet many have sold Jesus for a less price than Judas received; a smile or a sneer has been sufficient to induce them to betray their Lord.” (Spurgeon)

In contrast, how much does it cost for us to sell out completely to Jesus? What will that look like in our own individual lives? What we do know is this: Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you (Matthew 5:12).

Dear Lord Jesus: Everyone has their own cross to bear, but you promise that the reward will be worth the hassle. We ask that you help us to endure until you come back here to get us. We want to do more than endure until the end. We want to thrive in your glory and walk in your greatness. In Jesus name, amen.

The Reader's Choice

Tina Pressley