Judas' Pavement of Decisions

Reading through Matthew, I'm saddened by the few verses that i see dedicated to Judas Iscariot in Matthew 26. I mean, i know what's going to happen and i know the end of Judas' story, however it's still amazing for me to sit back and read the words.

"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 hand him (Jesus) over to you?' So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. From then on Judas looked for an opportunity to hand him over." vs. 14-16

Just going through this short portion of scripture, i see the digressing steps that are leading Judas to his demise. Deep down, i had always hoped that Judas was sought out by the evil priests and taken advantage of. That he was tempted and lured into his poor decisions. But, this portion of scripture tells me quite the contrary. I see the chief priest asking themselves, 'How the heck are we going to get this Jesus? We need to get him, but how?' And then i see Judas who 'WENT TO' them.

Now, it's probably not by chance that this portion of scripture is preceded by the anointing of Jesus and the alabaster box of precious oil and the statement that the disciples became very 'indignant' about the oil being poured over the head of Jesus. In their minds, that oil should've been sold and the money given to the poor. And even though most of their intentions were probably pure, you have Judas - the treasurer - sitting there watching all of this money disappear over the head of Jesus. And in John 12 we find out that the one who made a vocal disapproval of this action was none other than Judas himself. 'Why wasn't this sold for 300 pence and given to the poor?' And this is followed by a clear picture into the heart of Judas, 'This he said, not because he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the money bag and often took some for his own use.'

Seeing this ointment and money poured over the head of Jesus must've enraged Judas. And the Bible says that he 'WENT TO' the chief priests. The word for 'went to' is the Greek word 'poreuomai' and means 'to pursue the journey on which one has entered'. So, we see Judas pursuing a journey on which he had already started. When did he start this journey? Was it the day he was born? Was it the day he met Jesus? Was it the first time that he stole from the treasury?

I am unable to pinpoint the exact point when Judas started his journey which led to his demise. However, i am able to look at my life and the lives of many people who have lived on this earth and understand that life is a progression... a path... a road to travel which is paved by the decisions which we make. The choices aren't always easy, but they will direct us as one decision folds into another which folds into another which folds into our destiny.

Every day we are forced to make decisions which will take us closer to God or further away. Maybe they aren't as 'extreme' as stealing from the purse of God, but they may be a question of what we'll say, do or see... It is one idea... followed by one decision... followed by one action.

Today, let's ask ourselves about the decisions we've been making. Where is the road of our life taking us? Where is our pavement headed? And, if it's not headed toward the destination that we desire, let's turn the car around before our 'right' decisions become a speck on the horizon that can't be seen with the naked eye...

GP
http://www.gphintz.com/