Ways We Betray

Jesus was betrayed by one of His own, the apostle Judas. Judas Iscariot approached the chief priests offering to betray the Christ into their hands and "they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver" (Matt. 26:15). According to forumancientcoins.com, "Shekels of Tyre were the only currency accepted at the Jerusalem Temple and are the most likely coinage with which Judas was paid for the betrayal of Christ."

When we behave in ways Jesus has forbidden or fail to stand up for Him to others, in effect we betray Him. This visual contains 30 images: fifteen of the front of the Shekel of Tyre and fifteen of the back. The back of the paper coins is blank. Teacher should write one way the students might betray Christ on each coin. Alternatively, older students may be given blank coins to write their own "ways we betray" on the back.

Note: Please use caution to write only those bad choices that students of your class may be familiar with. Take care not to suggest new ideas of bad behaviors to students of any age!

30 paper coins approx. 3.5" in diameter and one sheet of suggestions for text.

Credits: Coins from the collection of Luke Griffin; Photo by Mary Haney