Jesus, Judas, Easter and "It's a Wonderful Life"

On this Easter weekend as I read Matthew's account of Jesus betrayal by Judas and subsequent crucifixion, I was reminded that Judas, feeling remorse, took the 30 coins of silver back to the chief priests to return it but the chief priest would not take it, so Judas threw the coins in the temple. Since the money was blood money, the priests could not put the coins in the offering so they bought a field used by potters (i.e. a potters field) and created "a cemetery for foreigners that died in Jerusalem. that is why it is still called "The Field of Blood"" (Mt. 27:7-8).

Interestingly, the subdivision created by the antagonist ("Mr. Potter") in "It's a Wonderful Life" is called "Potters Field", where, I would suggest, absent the resurrection, represents living in death without hope of salvation.

George Bailey, the Christ figure, was dead (literally no longer existed) and Mr. Potter (Satan) was allowed to rule the land and death reigned (i.e. Potter's Field) but once George was resurrected (i.e. given his life back), he was saved by God's love (i.e. the outpouring of gifts to payoff the debt owed to Mr. Potter (Satan)) as we are saved through Christ's death and resurrection.

May we live each day with a deeper appreciation of the gift God has given us and may our gratitude bring peace and healing to us and to a broken world so that even the tax collector (Matthew... aka the IRS agent in It's a wonderful life) see Him through us, that we will be a link in a chain of salvation now and always.

Blessings and peace to you.