Thirty pieces of silver were the amount of money that the chief priests paid Judas to deliver Jesus into their hands (Matthew 26:14-15).

After Jesus was captured and brought before Pontius Pilate, Judas felt sorry that he had betrayed an innocent man.

This was the man whom he had followed for many years. The man whom he called “Rabbi.”

Judas returned the thirty pieces of silver to the High Priests, but they refused to accept the money, so he angrily threw it in the temple and left sorrowfully.

Judas was unable to live with the guilt of his sins and he hang himself. He died a bitter death without repentance.

The chief priests picked up the money from the floor and purchased a potter’s field to bury strangers. It was called the field of blood. (Matthew 27:1-10)

All of these events were prophesied by Zechariah chapter 11:4-17. The Lord told Zechariah to demonstrate the behavior of the people of Judah who had fallen into idolatry and disobedience.

The people slaughtered the sheep (the poor and victimized people), and they hated and dismissed His shepherds (the true prophets of God).

Zechariah broke the covenant with the people for thirty pieces of silver and threw it into the house of the Lord.

He broke the bond of brotherhood between Judah and Israel.

Events leading to the crucifixion

The crucifixion of Jesus was God’s plan of salvation for humanity. Hence, He controlled that the events that occurred before and after the crucifixion.

1. Jesu’ death was prophesied by the prophet and so when the time approached, Jesus revealed to His disciples that the Jews were plotting to kill Him (Matthew 26:1-5).
2. Jesus was anointed with expensive perfume by the woman with the alabaster box of ointment. This woman did not know that she was anointing Him for His burial (Matthew 26:6-13).

3. Jesus had the Passover supper with His disciples to solidify the new covenant of His blood. (Matthew 26:17-25)

The wine and the anointing oil symbolized the new covenant of Christ’s blood which was shed for the remission of our sins.

The oil also represents the Holy Spirit, who will dwell in our hearts to teach, guide, protect and keep us holy unto God.

Read more about the significance of the oil and wine.

Jesus revealed the denial of Peter and that all of the disciples would forsake Him when He was captured (Matthew 26:31-35).

Furthermore,

Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written:

‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ (Matthew 26:31 NKJV)

These words were also prophesied by Zechariah (Zechariah 13:7).

The final action of Jesus before He was arrested was to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane.

However, His disciples fell asleep instead of praying with Him.

They could not stay up with Him for one hour, not even Peter, who pledged to die instead of denying Christ. (Matthew 26:35)

If Peter had watched and prayed with Jesus he would not have fallen into sin.

But the disciples fell asleep during the first, second, and third watch of the night when the enemies were working full force.

“What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:40-41 NKJV)

Slumber overcame the disciples and so they fell into temptation when their master was captured.

A vibrant prayer life will prevent you from yielding to temptation especially when you constantly pray at the fourth watch of the night.

The devil is roaming like a roaring hungry lion seeking whom he may devour.

The devil is sowing seeds of discord and confusion among families and the communities as a whole.

He is stealing the joy of our salvation and he is corrupting the minds of our children.

We cannot afford to sell our souls for thirty pieces of silver.

How do you sell your soul?

By using drugs and alcohol.

By living a promiscuous lifestyle.

By planting seeds of discord among the brethren.

By being disobedient to the Holy Spirit.

Instead, walk in the new covenant that Christ established for you.

Anoint yourself with oil and speak life over yourself and your children.

Prophetic word to declare over your life

“This is my body that God has created in His image and likeness. It is the first gift that He gave to me at conception, and it is priceless, more valuable than gold or silver. My body is now a holy temple unto God. Therefore, I will not allow anyone or anything to defile it, but I will love, cherish and preserve it for God’s glory.”

I pray that the Lord will keep you from falling, and present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.

To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. (Jude 1:24-25).

Happy Resurrection Sunday