Wednesday Night Devo 2/12
The Trade Off
In 1919 Harry Frazee sold Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees. For $100K (about $2mil) today. Most people today still know who Babe Ruth is. The supposed curse and all the folk lore that goes with the story. It could easily be said that this propelled the Yankees into being one of the most prominent sport franchises or businesses in the world. Even today.
In 1803 530 million acres of land were acquired for the price of $15 million. Roughly 4 cents per acre. This was the Louisiana Purchase. Land sold for about $2 per acre in most business transactions. This deal is considered the beginning of making the United States the super power it is today. What if that land had become the property of Mexico. Or suppose the French had occupied it and the US had to fight for it. What would the ramifications of this be?
On February 10, 1962, a man named Dick Rowe, a music executive with Deca Records, passed on the Beatles. He decided instead to sign a group called Brian Poole and the Tremeloes. Then there is William Orton. He was president of Western Union. He had the opportunity to buy Alexander Graham Bell’s patent for $100k he turned it down. Two years later it was estimated to be worth $2 million.
Of course, you know about Benedict Arnold. He sold out for a pension of about $60K in today’s economy. He felt he was unfairly treated by the upstart new country. Twice he wanted to quit the Continental Army, but George Washington convinced him to stay because he was a master tactician and General. The Rosenbergs, Brutus and Cassius, Ephialtes (F E L tees) who betray the 300 Spartans. Think of the effect these choices and choices like them have had on history! The deep ripple from one person’s decision.
The 30 pieces of silver given to Judas is worth about $400 of buying power in todays economy. How far would $400 go today? A good set of headphones, a decent TV, tickets; to a concert, sports event or show, a lot of crafting material. It is not a fortune, is it? Judas really lost big on his deal. He not only gave back the 30 pieces of silver, but he committed suicide. He did not just betray Jesus; he did not heed the lesson Jesus taught. Judas took the paltry sum to betray his master, his teacher, and his savior.
John 13:2-5
2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
Jesus was washing the very dirt that Judas got on his feet from standing in front of the men to whom he betrayed Jesus. He washed off the dirt and taught a lesson of service and love to this man who going to greet Him with the kiss of a friend in order to have Him crucified. Jesus, in that moment gave Judas an opportunity for forgiveness. What a profound act of Grace!
Judas, didn’t take it. He walked out to close the deal, to dirty his feet again. It haunts me to think about the deals I may have made, consciously or not. Have I traded things that matter for things that don’t?
What are you trading your soul for these days? What value do you place on your soul? Jesus paid a great price to keep you from getting a bad deal. How dirty are your feet from walking in sin?
Jesus offers us salvation and cleaning through the waters of Baptism. If you have been baptized but are still walking the dirty path of sin, He will forgive you. No need to seal your deal with a huge loss.