Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over. (Matthew 26:14–16)
Judas, one of the twelve apostles, spent the Wednesday of Holy Week betraying Jesus. He had spent time with Jesus and saw him teach, heal, and perform miracles. He knew Jesus. Still, he chose to betray him. Judas thought a few pieces of silver would be more valuable to him than what Jesus could provide, and he sought an opportunity for his own temporary gain.
Meanwhile, for all the activity in Jesus’s life during his last week, there is not much of an account for his time on Wednesday. He seemed to be still.
While Judas was busy making a plan for his own benefit, Jesus was quiet and still. Judas saw what he thought was valuable through the limited perspective of his human mind, and it caused him to hustle for something that wasn’t even permanent—thirty pieces of silver. Jesus saw what actually had the most value through his eternal perspective and sat still.
In our own limited perspective, we often ascribe value to things that are temporary, like Judas did, in the hopes that it will give us what we want. We betray Jesus when we place anything else above the relationship with God that he died to give us. But Jesus showed us that we are what is most valuable to our heavenly Father by the sacrifice he made for us.
Take some time today—even just a minute or two—to be still. Ask God to show you what you value more than your relationship with him. Ask him to shift your perspective and help you see as he sees through the lens of eternity.
