EASTER: SLAVE OR KING?


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Some decisions in life are irreversible. These decisions make a big statement unbeknownst to a majority of us. My attention in this Easter season is drawn to the events that took place prior to the crucifixion of Christ. There were two people who made very powerful and irreversible decisions that changed the course of history; Judas and the woman as seen in Matthew 26:1-15. We’ll look at the value they placed on Jesus and the powerful statements that accompanied their actions.

Of particular interest to me is verse 14 and 15 which helps us understand the huge contrast between Judas and the woman with respect to the value they placed on Jesus. “Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests  15 and said, "What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?" And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver.” Here’s a man who had just seen the kind of gift that had been lavished on his master (an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume- a gift that befits a king) by a woman and because he differed with Him, he decided to betray Him with thirty pieces of silver. Thirty pieces of silver was the price of a slave (Exodus 21:32). That’s how much he devalued his master. After serving and working with Christ for some time, he acted contemptuously towards Him. So sad! Familiarity breeds contempt. May this not be said of us. 

The woman’s action prompted Christ to make a very powerful statement that holds to date,  Matthew 26:13  "Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her." Why? Because she exemplifies better than anyone else the dedication that all followers of Christ should have. Her act was the expression of her deep devotion to and profound love for the Master. On the other hand Judas’ action prompted a serious unadorned statement from Christ in Matthew 26:24  The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born."

I wonder what He would say about you and me. Is Christ worth a slave to you? Or is he worth more than a king? How I pray that the latter will hold and that through our actions we’ll esteem Him highly in this Easter season and beyond.

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