What Are You Worth?
“Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priest and the elders, saying, 'I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.'” – Matthew 27:3-4, (ESV)
Hello Dear Friend,
Thirty silver pieces, that was the magic number that Jesus was worth to the chief priest and elders that Judas bargained with. Thirty, was the number that bought Judas’s betrayal as he sealed the deal with a kiss and handed Jesus over to the Roman guards for his payment. The man that Judas loved, the man that he followed, the man that he served, the man that he slept and dined with, Judas was willing to turn around and hand Him over. For Judas, Jesus was worth betraying for thirty pieces of silver.
Like you, I’ve questioned my own worth at times. It’s easy to ask ourselves the questions from time to time, “How much am I worth to you? What are you willing to pay for my talent and skills? If I were to walk away from this relationship, would I easily be replaced by another?” We’ve all been there, we’ve all done it, we’ve all doubted our self-worth and taken hits that have damaged our self-esteem. We’ve all been nagged with the feelings that have us wondering how we are seen and/or are valued by others. Often, unhappy with the feeling that we aren’t enough, how we feel we are valued (or lack thereof) by others ends up dictating our actions and the course we take in life.
Jesus knows how we feel. Jesus experienced what it’s like to be betrayed by someone close to Him while He stood and watched it all unfold right in front of his eyes. Have you been there? I have. I’ve stood witness to the unfolding of the plot twists in my own story. Feelings of disbelief and misguided trust flood the mind, as hurt and frustration cloud your judgement. You begin to question what’s real, what's honest, what’s true and you’re immediately living your life on guard. Jesus felt it, seeing someone He knew and loved abuse the relationship they once had. Jesus felt the stab in the back when Judas kissed Him and He was bound, wrongfully accused, dragged away and put on trial.
I’m sure the payment Judas received seemed like a pretty large sum especially for someone who was living his life as a vagabond. But it’s hard to believe that Jesus’s life was only worth a mere thirty pieces of silver to the world. The world that He came to save put a price mark on His head.
Blood Sacrifice
Jesus gets it. No matter what value the world has put on you, no matter the price tag they’ve marked you with, you are worth far more in the eyes of God. You are worth the life of His only Son. In the eyes of the King, there’s no limit to what He's willing to do for you, there’s no price He wouldn’t pay - for Jesus, you are worth everything. You were worth dying for.
Jesus came down from Heaven, for you. He left the comfort of His kingdom, for you. He was betrayed, for you. He was scorned and mocked, for you. He was denied, for you. He was bound, whipped and beaten, for you. His skin cracked open as He bled, for you. He carried the cross for you. He was clean and blameless and yet He picked up all your burdens, sins and every dirty mark on you and He took everything that made you unclean and carried it all for you. As He nailed your dirty laundry to the tree with Him, He felt the wrath of the Lord and rejection from God. When He carried out your death penalty He was forsaken by His Father.
Jesus chose you above all else. He still chooses you, today. The horrific painful death that he endured symbolizes how much you are worth in the eyes of the Most Holy. When Jesus was asked how much you’re worth, His response was, “I would die for them!” and He did. He lived and died for you so that you would never be apart from Him. He offers you eternal life with Him in His kingdom. That is what you are worth.
When the world tries to knock you down and spins a web of lies to deceive others into thinking that you are less than you are, remember your value in the eyes of the One who saved the world. When the enemy tries to come against you and sits encamped around you, remember you are a daughter/son of the King of kings and He’s commanded His army of Guardian Angels to encompass you. When others mock you, deny you and turn their back on you because it’s no longer cool to have any kind of relationship with you, remember Jesus chooses you. When you stand isolated in a crowded room feeling rejected and alone because your moral values aren't the popular opinion understand Jesus stands with you. And when the Prince of Darkness plants thoughts in your head that you are worthless and will never be enough remember you were bought by the blood of the Lamb.
Nothing and no one can defeat the One who died in your place. Jesus came as the blood sacrifice for you. Jesus will never stop fighting for you, He will never stop standing with you. He will never stop chasing the ones He loves. You are priceless in the eyes of the One who paid the ultimate price for all of humanity.
With love,
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