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ZECHARIAH 11:12,13

"WHAT'S YOUR PRICE?"

I. THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS WAS NO FLUKE.
        A. It was planned by God.
                1. God gave details of the event hundreds of years in
                   advance.
                2. Dr. Schonfield's book, "The Passover Plot".
                3. Here in Zechariah we are told the price Judas would be
                   paid to betray Him, and what would subsequently be done
                   with the money.
                        a. Read Matt. 26:14-16; 27:3-8.
                        b. This is the price one man was willing to take
                           to sell out his relationship to Jesus.
                        c. Under the law, this was the price of a gored
                           slave.
                4. Details told here in Zechariah.
                        a. The price would be thirty pieces of silver.
                        b. The money would be cast down in the house of
                           the Lord.
                        c. The money would be used to buy a potter's
                           field.
        B. If the crucifixion was all a part of God's plan, purpose did
           God have?
                1. God sought to show man how much He loved him. 
                        a. "For God so loved the world..." 
                        b. "Herein is love, not that we love... "
                        c. "For God has manifested His love."
                        d. "Greater love..."
                2. God was showing the value He places on you. 
                        a. The most valuable thing you possess is your
                           life.
                                1. Satan, who is an expert on human
                                   motivations, said:  "Skin for skin, all
                                   a man has will he give for his life."
                                2. Jesus was willing to give His life in
                                   His prime in order to redeem you.

II. THE GREAT PARADOX.
        A. Man placed such a small value on God.
                1. He was willing to sell out for 30 pieces of silver.
                2. That's all God was worth to Him.
                3. Judas was the first of a long line who have sought to
                   profit from their relationship to Jesus.
        B. God places the value of man greater than any material
           possession.
                1. More than all the silver in the world.
                2. Man puts such a low value on God, while God puts such
                   a high value on man.

III. THE ACT OF JUDAS HELD IN CONTEMPT, HIS NAME HAS BECOME A BYWORD FOR
     MEAN, CONTEMPTIBLE, HEARTLESS PEOPLE. "HE'S A JUDAS" IS ABOUT AS BAD
     A THING YOU CAN SAY OF A PERSON.
        A. Why the contempt?
                1. Because of the low price?
                2. Would we admire him if it were 30 million pieces of
                   silver?
                3. People often admire the godless rich today.
                4. Because he betrayed his Lord.
        B. Some of you are as Judas, you have sold out your relationship
           to Jesus.
                1. How much did you get? What was your price?
                        a. An illicit affair? Tell me, is it worth it?
                           Better yet...
                        b. Dishonest dealings?  You've maybe gone far
                           beyond the 30 pieces. You may have enough.
                        c. The euphoric highs of drugs or alcohol?