Field of Blood

By Pastor Chad

Read: Matthew 27:1-26

Rebels are sometimes idolized in our culture. The independent renegade that does what he wants and doesn’t take anything from “The Man” is sometimes seen as one that manifests the true American spirit. For example, Bonnie and Clyde. A couple that murdered and stole their way across the south. They are heralded as cult heroes that were not afraid to buck authority. There are an abundance of books and movies focused on these bloodthirsty lovebirds, but few (if any) that laud the men who stopped them. Does that not strike anyone else as strange? What about Billy the Kid or Jesse James? Many stories depicting these rebels honor rather than vilify them. Is rebellion really worth this kind of esteem? Scripture doesn’t recognize disobedience in such a way. Take for example Judas, the rebel of all human rebels.      

Ask yourself this: Why did Judas rebel against Christ? Why did Judas betray Jesus? Scripture never explicitly says. There are several speculations, but no real consensus among Christians. There are quite a few that claim Judas betrayed Jesus for the 30 pieces of silver. In other words, money was the reason. If money were the main reason, however, why would he bring the money back to the Jewish leaders and declare in Matthew 27:4, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood!”? Did he not know Jesus was innocent all along? Again, we don’t know for sure. 

All rebellion is essentially produced from the same sin. More to the point, ultimately, Judas’ rebellion is borne from an unwillingness to submit to the will and plan of Jesus. In fact, that’s the sin of all unbelievers. They are unwilling to submit to Jesus. That’s the very sin one struggles with throughout life. In other words, though different in scale, Judas’ sin is similar to something we all struggle with: a disobedient heart. Disobedience just comes from a heart that is rebellious against God. The problem is this rebellion doesn’t lead to honor and fame in the eyes of God. It leads to destruction. 

After Judas realized his mistake, he threw the silver at the feet of the religious leaders. In reply, John writes, “[T]he chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, ‘It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is blood money.’ So they took counsel and bought with them the potter’s field as a burial place for strangers. Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day” (v. 6-8). Judas’ betrayal fee was seen as “blood money”– not even worth putting back into the temple treasury. 

Judas’ rebellion was the principle sin behind his death. Rebellion only produces death. Such is something that shouldn’t be idolized; it should be avoided.

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Prayer: Heavenly Father, stifle any rebellion that may rise up in my heart. May my anthem be one of complete and total allegiance to you.