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Introduction: An Uncomfortable Mirror
Some phrases cut like a sword. This is one of them: “Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 silver coins… but you do it for free many times.”
It’s not a quote from the Gospels, but it might as well be something Jesus would say today to those who call themselves Christians but live as if He didn’t exist. It’s a silent judgment, an urgent invitation to look at ourselves without excuses—a piercing question: how many times do I betray Christ without expecting anything in return?
This reflection is not a condemnation, but a wake-up call. An opportunity to understand what Judas’ betrayal truly meant—and how, without realizing it, we may be repeating it today. Not with a kiss in the Garden of Gethsemane, but with every lie, every act of indifference, every sin we choose instead of Him.
Let’s dive deep into this topic: from the biblical and historical context of those famous 30 coins, to the modern ways we continue to stab the heart of our Redeemer—often without even realizing it.
Judas Iscariot: The Apostle Who Didn’t Understand Love
Judas was one of the Twelve. Chosen by Jesus Himself, he lived with Him, heard Him speak, saw Him perform miracles, multiply loaves, raise the dead. He wasn’t an outsider. He was part of the inner circle. And yet, he sold Him.
Why Did He Do It?
The Gospels give us some clues. In John 12:6, we’re told Judas was in charge of the communal money bag—and stole from it. In Matthew 26:14-16, we read how he approached the chief priests and said:
“What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?”
Thirty silver coins was the agreed price.
Was it greed? Political disappointment in a Messiah who wouldn’t overthrow Rome? A twisted test to see if Jesus would resist? We may never know. But what is clear is this: Judas betrayed incarnate Love… for a sum that wasn’t even extravagant.
What Were Those 30 Coins?
In the Old Testament, thirty silver coins was the price of a slave (Exodus 21:32). By accepting that amount, the temple authorities were declaring—unwittingly—that Jesus was worth no more than a servant. And Judas agreed. God made man, priced like a common worker.
The Betrayal Continues: How We Repeat Judas’ Act
Judas isn’t just a historical figure. He’s an archetype—a warning—a mirror for any disciple. His drama is ours whenever we:
- Willfully choose sin.
- Sell out our faith for acceptance or convenience.
- Stay silent in the face of injustice to avoid conflict.
- Justify wrongdoing with “everyone does it.”
- Live a lukewarm Christianity: Mass without commitment.
- Stop praying out of laziness, serving out of selfishness, or obeying the Gospel because it’s inconvenient.
You don’t need money to betray Jesus. All it takes is an excuse. A screen. A moment of indifference.
How Many Times Do You Do It for Free?
The difference between Judas and us isn’t as big as we’d like to think. He had a (terrible) reason. Often, we don’t even have that. And still, we fall. Repeating the same sin in confession. Receiving Communion without love. Claiming “Yes, I’m Catholic” with words, but denying it with how we live.
Have you ever asked yourself how many times you’ve chosen pleasure, reputation, or your own schedule over what Jesus asks of you? Or worse—how often you haven’t even stopped to think about what He wants?
Betraying the Lord doesn’t always look dramatic. Sometimes it’s disguised as routine, as spiritual laziness, as passive silence. And we do it—for free.
A God Who Knows Betrayal… and Keeps Loving
The story doesn’t end with Judas’ kiss. The greater mystery isn’t that a man betrayed God—it’s that God kept loving that man. Jesus knew what was coming. He shared bread with Judas at the Last Supper. He called him “friend” in the very moment of betrayal (Matthew 26:50). He didn’t reject him. He didn’t shame him.
And He does the same with you.
Christ continues to accept your false kisses, your empty promises, your half-hearted prayers. Not because He approves—but because He loves. Because He’s patient. Because He wants you back.
Every time you sin, you betray Him. But every time you confess, you embrace Him. The real tragedy isn’t sin—it’s staying in sin. What destroyed Judas wasn’t the betrayal, but the despair. His lack of faith in forgiveness.
What Do We Celebrate During Holy Week?
This theme becomes especially poignant during Holy Week, when Judas once again takes the stage. Holy Wednesday, in particular, is traditionally associated with his betrayal. In many cultures, it’s remembered as “the day Judas sold Christ.”
But it’s not about condemning Judas, as if we’re immune to sin. It’s about seeing ourselves in him, learning from his fall, and choosing a different path.
Holy Week isn’t just a liturgical theater. It’s a divine invitation. You’re either with Jesus… or you’re selling Him out again from within.
Today’s Call: Wake Up
This article isn’t here to depress you—it’s here to wake you up. To help you see that yes, you can betray Jesus… but you can also comfort Him. You can be like Peter, who denied Him, wept, and returned. Like Mary Magdalene, who turned from sin to sainthood. Like the thief on the cross, who recognized Him at the last moment and was welcomed into Paradise.
You decide if you’ll keep selling Him for nothing… or start living as someone bought by the Blood of the Lamb.
Conclusion: Are You Worth More Than 30 Coins?
Jesus loved you to the extreme. He held nothing back. He allowed Himself to be betrayed, humiliated, scourged, and crucified… for you. Not for a generic ideal, but for your name, your story, your wounds.
So, are you still going to turn your back on Him? Or will you return?
Now is the time for conversion. The time to stop betraying Him for nothing. The time to truly embrace Him.
Because you are not worth 30 coins.
You are worth a Cross.
And a Heaven that longs to open for you.
If this article stirred something in your heart, don’t let it pass. Go to confession. Return to Mass. Pray with your whole heart. Begin again. And above all, remember:
Judas sold Him for 30 coins. But you… you no longer have an excuse to do it for free.
