(Matthew 27:3-6 NLT) When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and other leaders. {4} "I have sinned," he declared, "for I have betrayed an innocent man." "What do we care?" they retorted. "That's your problem." {5} Then Judas threw the money onto the floor of the Temple and went out and hanged himself. {6} The leading priests picked up the money. "We can't put it in the Temple treasury," they said, "since it's against the law to accept money paid for murder."

I read this passage of scripture and bounce off the walls! How in the world could anyone who has just condemned an innocent man to death be concerned with what to do with thirty silver coins? How can one be concerned with the morality of offering management when he has just conspired to murder?! In fact, why would anyone even try to keep up the charade of religion when he has violated the very heart of its covenant?

Why, indeed! But we do it all the time.

Passion Week is no time to be pointing fingers. While it is true the scriptures paint an accurate picture of the historical events that surrounded the betrayal and execution of the Son of God in Jerusalem somewhere around 1970 years ago, that history isn't recorded so Christians can despise and hate Jews. No, these recountings describe the perfidy of us all. Don't forget: it was while we were God's enemies that Christ died on the cross. We didn't go out of our way to make God our friend; he went all the way to close the gap between us.

This story reveals the hypocrisy in us all. Blessings and cursings can come out of the same mouth. The same person can protest the execution of a murderer on death row and cheer at the bombing of a military housing area in Belgrade. The woman who proudly displays an "I brake for Animals" sticker can be a heartless slumlord. And genocidal maniacs can love fine art and good wines.

And what about my two-faced hypocrisy? When's the last time I worried about how to give the tithe or how to dispose of sacred elements while acting with callous disregard for sacred souls for whom Christ lived and died?

Oh no, this isn't condemn-those-terrible-Jewish-leaders week. It's the week for seeing myself as God sees me—and for giving thanks that he doesn't treat me as my sins deserve.

Lord, when I see those leaders scratching their heads over what to do with blood money, I see myself. Thanks for giving me Jesus instead of giving me death. You have given me Liberty indeed. Bless the men and women in the Pentagon and at NATO headquarters tonight as they plan and execute war against Yugoslavia. Give our leaders, both civilian and military, the courage to do the right thing. And use them for your glory. Amen.

—Dale Forrester