Thirty Pieces of Silver
Silver Coins – Can be plastic but colored silver, Small cross, Bowls or Plates
Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests 15 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. 16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.-Matthew 26:14-16
It is hard to equate the value of the silver coins in today’s economy. In that society, the rich were very rich and the poor were very poor. To Judas, this would have been a substantial amount of money; possibly even as much as half a year’s wages.
When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”
“What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.”
So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. –Matthew 27:3-5
Judas was able to put a value on his relationship with Jesus. How much is Jesus worth to you?
Pick up a coin and think about how much you value your relationship with Jesus. Say a prayer, asking Jesus to be your everything. Lay the coin at the base of the cross
Paradise
Items needed – Pictures of what people consider paradise to be. Alternate – Paper and Crayons
32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left.
39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.[d]”
43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” –Luke 23:32-33, 39-43
Two criminals hung in the exact same predicament. Yet one mocked Jesus and one trusted Jesus. Which one are you?
Take a moment and look at the pictures. These are persons’ best representations of what “paradise” may be like. We know it will far exceed any picture. Thank Jesus for the hope we have in him.
Alternate – Use the paper and crayons to draw what you think paradise is. Think about the fact that it will be so much more than we can ever imagine or draw. Thank Jesus for the hope we have in him.
Be sure to check out other posts in this series 11 Good Friday Prayer Stations Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4
Jason Huffman is an associate pastor at First Methodist Church in Palestine Texas. You can follow follow him on twitter.com/jasonbhuffman
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