Then what was spoken by [Zechariah] the prophet was fulfilled. (Matthew 27:9, NIV 1984).
I told them, “If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.” So, they paid me thirty pieces of silver. And the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—the handsome price at which they priced me! So, I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the Lord to the potter. (Zechariah 11:12–13, NIV 1984).
When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders. “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” [He] threw the money into the temple and left. The chief priests picked up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.” So, they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. (Matthew 27:3–7, NIV 1984).
My Musings – “In the fourth year of King Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah.” (Zechariah 7:1, NIV 1984). This was around 518 B.C. Another very specific prophecy fulfilled.
“Thirty pieces of silver.” The price of betrayal. The price of a slave. The price of ransom. To free us from being slaves to sin. Yet the true cost was immeasurable.
My Advice – If we could, “we [would] pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the [salvation of our soul].” (John F. Kennedy, paraphrase). But the price is too high, the burden too great, the hardship too severe, no earthly friend able to provide enough support, and a foe (sin nature) we could never successfully oppose on our own. What then could we give in exchange for our soul? Even if we gained the whole world. Insufficient funds.
“What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36–37, NIV 1984).
Yet Jesus paid the price, bore the burden, met the hardship, was the just the friend we needed, and conquered the foe we could never defeat. Foreigners to God’s Kingdom, until the Master Potter conquered the grave.
“Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:54–55, NIV 1984).
There is no need to forfeit your soul. The “handsome price” has been paid. We just need to take Him up on it.
The Brew Is A Musing 