Welcome back to our series “The Suffering, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus.” Jesus’ physical suffering and death on the cross was preceded by today’s emotionally painful, but necessary incident.

Si Judas Iscariote, isa sa Labindalawa, ay nakipagkita sa mga punong pari. “Ano po ang ibibigay ninyo sa akin kung tulungan ko kayong madakip si Jesus?” tanong niya. Noon di’y binayaran nila si Judas ng tatlumpung pirasong pilak.

Mateo 26:14–15

The day of the Passover was drawing near. Jesus did not go back to Jerusalem and was resting in Bethany at the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. People, including Jesus and His disciples, were busy preparing for the Feast.

Meanwhile, the chief priests and the teachers of the law were also busy but with something else. Nagpaplano sila kung paano mahuhuli si Jesus. Was there anybody from the inner circle of Jesus who could help them? The answer to this question came in the form of Judas.

Satan entered Judas and prompted him to go to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard. Caiaphas, the Jewish high priest, offered Judas thirty pieces of silver for Jesus. The temptation was too hard to resist for the treasurer who was actually a thief. John describes him as such in John 12:6, “… he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.”

How could somebody like Judas, who spent three years with Jesus, sell his master for a mere month’s wage? Whatever his real motivation, the Bible tells us that Jesus was not going to be blindsided by His disciple’s betrayal. In fact, nothing catches God by surprise. He always knows what is going to happen. With the betrayal of Judas, Satan might’ve thought he was winning but no thirty pieces of silver can match what Jesus was willing to give to save the world.

Whatever it is that you’re going through, remember that Jesus knows what is happening. He will not turn His back on you. Join us again tomorrow for our series “The Suffering, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus.”