Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Matthew 27:5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.
EARTH'S JOYS GROW DIM
"Good Friday" was when it happened, the day of Jesus' crucifixion. One of His own disciples, the one whose heart Satan had entered the night before, also met his death that day.
How swiftly his plans changed and his life's day came to a close. Perhaps he thought that Jesus would walk through the midst of His captors, as He had that time at Nazareth, and then Judas could pocket the cash -- his chief joy on earth.
Didn't work out that way! Guilty of innocent blood, he could not reverse what he had started. Now the joy of having those pieces of silver grew dim. The glory of possessing thousands of dollars passed away. He had betrayed his Master, and there was nothing he could do to make up for it.
How tragic that he didn't seem to remember Jesus' greeting in the garden: "Friend ..." Greater love has no man than that he lay his life down for his friends. And the Shepherd who was laying down His life had called him "friend!"
Have we been guilty in various ways of trying to turn our Savior into coin in our pockets or some other form of "profit?" Perhaps it was honor from people, or their business, that we sought -- so we used His name not to help others, but to "help ourselves." Still He dies for us, calls us "friend" and forgives us! Was ever love like that?!
Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;
Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see.
O Thou, who changest not, abide with me!
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 552:2)
