7 Days until Easter

7 Days until Easter

Jesus had spent the night under the persecution of false witnesses, being beaten and mocked.    During His night of thrashing, they blindfolded Him.  When morning came, I wonder if His face was still covered?  Were His eyes swollen from the beatings?  Did He miss the sunrise of His last morning on earth? The red of the morning sun would soon reflect the red of the Son’s blood on the cross.  It's an interesting thought to me that the Son of God, who would rise in 3 days, giving us new life in Him, might have missed that sunrise signaling the new day had come.  He knew though.  He knew that He would rise and it would mean so much more than a new day.  It would mean sin and death would be conquered.  It would mean life.

It did not take Judas long to regret his sin.  However, the deal was done.  There was no turning back on his choice. I would be naive to think I could never stray that far from God if I allowed sin to take over my life. As I look at the example of Judas, I am made so very aware of the effect of sin and its consequences.  Judas threw those silver pieces, wanting nothing to do with the deal he’d made.  How many times in my life have I done that?  Although there is forgiveness, the consequences remain.

The chief priests, elders and council got up that morning and they bound Jesus, taking Him to deliver Him to His death.  They handed Him over to the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate.  When Judas saw Jesus being turned over to Pilate, he was overwhelmed with remorse.  Did Judas witness the beatings?  Did he hear the moans?  Did he hear the mocking and laughter?  With the coolness of the coins in his hands, could he still feel the warmth of Jesus’s cheek when he kissed it?  This was blood money.  This was the money paid for innocent blood of the Messiah.

Judas had been caught in the nefarious rip tide of sin.  It had pulled him under violently and he wasn’t strong enough on his own to escape its power and control.  A dark viscous wave of guilt crashed over him and just as the nature of waves go, they do with you as they please.  They force you to the bottom head first and hold you down.  They toss you like a rag doll under their mighty strength.  They discombobulate your senses and panic sets in.  Where’s up?!  Where’s down?!  How do I get air?!  It’s an awful feeling.  It’s a hopeless feeling.  Judas could not bear what he had done.  He took the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests and council and he confessed that he had betrayed the innocent blood of Jesus.  The chief priests and elders wanted nothing to do with the money so Judas flung it at their feet and left.

What went through his head when he heard the clang of the silver hitting the floor?  It must have been an overwhelming regret-- 30 pieces of silver for the life of an innocent Man, the Son of God, the Creator of the Universe, his good and faithful Friend.

Judas hanged himself.  The chief priests took the silver and recognized that it was blood money.  This money was exchanged for murder.  They didn’t want to use dirty money for the temple.  So with the money that Judas received for the betrayal of Jesus, the potter's field was purchased to bury strangers.  It became known as the field of blood.  So that money, which was paid out to put Jesus to death, became the resting place for the bones of strangers.

The silence of Christ as He faces His day of crucifixion is one of the most powerful displays of strength I've ever known.  Throughout the night He had remained quiet, with very few words spoken.  And as the time of His death drew near, He remained powerful in His meekness by using His words wisely and with great intent.

I have so much to gain from His example!  I can't count the times I wish I would have remained silent.  Silence can be louder than any scream, without being wrong and offensive.  As Jesus stood before Pilate, after a night of beatings, He was in no rush to pass the judgment onto the false witnesses or chief priests, elders and council.  Pilate asked Him a very simple question, "Are You King of the Jews?".  It was the same question that brought on the violent night leading up to this moment.  His response was the same, "You have said so."  The elders and council obnoxiously accused Him, and He responded with His silence.  Pilate gives Jesus the chance to defend Himself.  In fact, he encourages Him to stand up against their accusations, but a spoken response would not come from the King of Glory.  Silence!  It was an act so great, it amazed Pilate.

I have been wrongly accused in my life and I certainly did not remain silent.  I was quick to show myself and my accusers how wrong they were with a very vocal response.  Controlling myself against an injustice is a true weakness of mine.

"He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth" -Isaiah 53:7  

Our Savior used silence intentionally.  His silence was one with purpose and it was profound!  He faced His trial and torturous death with the integrity of His character and soul, which spoke louder than any sermon or defense He could have delivered with words!

My Jesus, Lord and Savior, the silence on the path to Your cross screams Your tremendous love!  Your trial was for me and you took it with silence.  I'm so overwhelmingly unworthy of such a defense from a King!  I ask that you will guide me through life, teaching me to remain silent in You.  The cross was enough.  I don't need use my words so freely and for my own gain!  The quietness stirs my being, as I think of what You faced.  You are almighty indeed!