Week 3 - Christ Gave Up His Charter of Rights and Freedoms.


My Daily Portion:
Monday: Genesis 29-30, Psalms 15, Matthew 23.
Tuesday: Genesis 31-32, Psalms 16, Matthew 24.
Wednesday: Genesis 33-34, Psalms 17, Matthew 25.
Thursday: Genesis 35-36, Psalms 18, Matthew 26.
Friday: Genesis 37-38, Psalms 19, Matthew 27.
Saturday: Genesis 39-40, Psalms 20, Matthew 28.
Sunday: Genesis 41-42, Psalms 21, Mark 1.



Matthew 26:14 Then Judas.... went to the leading priests and asked, "How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?" And they gave him 30 pieces of silver.

When I thought on this verse for awhile an old song began to play in my head. My dad used to sing it many years ago. I don't remember all the words, but it says this, "Thirty pieces of silver, was the price they paid. Thirty pieces of silver - just the price of a slave." The writers of this old Gospel song knew the significance of those thirty pieces of silver. Judas was given a sum of money for the betrayal of Jesus, and that amount was the same amount that could have bought a slave in those days.

A quick look at Philippians 2 verse 7 says, "Instead, he gave up his divine privileges, he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being." Jesus took the whole slave treatment serious! He was literally treated as a slave from His humble birth when there was no room for Him at the Inn, to His betrayal and the thirty pieces of silver for which He was valued at.

The thirty pieces of silver was all a part of the Divine Plan, as this number was even mentioned in the book of Zechariah 11:12-13, years earlier. So, when it happened that Judas was given this amount of money to do his dirty deed, it was already planned by God and was all coming to pass as the prophet had foretold.

One of the most incredible and powerful documents as a Canadian, is our Charter of Rights and Freedoms. It is a part of our Canadian Constitution, and as such, is the highest law in our nation. That Charter is so important to most of us, yet we probably never take the time to think of it's great value to us. Our charter is filled with the rights granted to all citizens of our great country, including the right to life and liberty, the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, equality for men and women alike, and a right to have a voice in the democratic process.

After growing up here in Canada, I can't even imagine the horrors of dictatorships, tyrants, communism, fascism, and many other 'isms.' Can you even imagine leaving it all behind and willingly subjecting yourself to a place where all freedoms are taken from you? Not only that, but to a place where most couldn't recognize you or your previous status (ie. God and Creator of the Universe), and you were instead beaten and then forced to carry your own cross, while naked, then slowly tortured and treated like the worst criminal as if you deserved death?

Jesus, our lovely and wonderful Jesus, did this for us! He left all of His rights and privileges as God, and came to the earth, to be mistreated, unrecognized, and unrealized by most. However, there were some who did! Some did believe Him when he talked of His home country, Heaven! Some did call Him "Lord!" Some did look past the slave - and could actually see the Son of God! Those ones eventually gave their own lives, literally, for the One who gave Himself first, for them! His value to them, was much more than thirty pieces of silver, but instead, he was worth everything!

When I think of all He gave up, I am amazed once again at His love for me! He must have thought it was worth it! He must have thought you and I were worth it, and because of that, I give Him my complete everything. Why? Because He's worth it! I thank God today, that He gave up HIs rights, so I could have Him!