Aftermath

When Jesus came down from the area of the garden in which he had just taken upon himself the sins of the world, had sweat great drops of blood, and suffered more than any person can comprehend, he knew it was only the beginning of his struggles when he received the next measure of treason. A kiss delivered by one of his own, pain through his heart by the soft touch of flesh in what would normally be recognized as a touch of kindness was a treasonous example of greed and bribery. For 30 pieces of Silver a man that was loved for all his perfect abilities as well as his flaws sold that love for an immediate need. What came next was to change history forever, but how could Judas have known that. He fortified his needs, momentarily, then realized the aftermath of his decision.

In life we sometimes are faced with similar examples of this same kind of behavior, but to often we over look it. Greed and the enticement of the carnal world in which seems to plague our surroundings appeal to us much like they did to Judas in his day. It is easy, I think, to forget those thing we learn sometimes like "Choose the right", "our Duty to God" , "Strength for Youth", so on and so forth, when the bribery looks so good.

Recently in my home I felt my own level of betrayal, and though my life and story are nothing like that of Jesus or Judas, the things that have happened recently reminded me of such. My heart was broken, my trust gone, and harsh reality  had set in that those closest to me were acting on their own accord, with their own aspirations in mind. I was betrayed by one who I worked so hard to save from the vain ambitions of the carnal world, traded for materialist pieces of silver.

I can't say how Jesus felt or how he dwelt with the betrayal he endured, because I wasn't there. The fact that Jesus suffered, died, and rose again because of the plan of salvation and the meaning of the atonement was something magnificent that had to happen and was planned out from the beginning of time. The fact that Judas betrayed Him, that had to happen as well, his greed however cost him his life, and his place with his Father forever.

I guess sometimes the fact that we know the outcome of the choice we make doesn't seem to matter at the time. However the impact, or Aftermath that it creates can echo for eternity.