Becoming Judas (Not)
"Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.
Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.
Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected,
"Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages."
He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
"Leave her alone," Jesus replied. "[It was intended] that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial." John 12:1-7
Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.
Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected,
"Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages."
He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
"Leave her alone," Jesus replied. "[It was intended] that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial." John 12:1-7
So after Lazarus has been given a brand new life, John tells us this story above where Jesus came to the home of Lazarus.
Here we see how Martha served them dinner (no complaints this time around), Lazarus was mentioned and he did what Mary did from the last time Jesus went to their home, and Mary, she upped the ante and this time around she poured expensive perfume on the feet of Jesus, wiping it with her hair. Every single one of them got elevated. Each one stepping up their faith walk.
Not Becoming Like Judas
All, except for Judas. And all because of an agenda that Judas had. He called out this seeming extravagant act given by one of the hosts of their supper to the guest of honor. Judas even came up with a good reason to condemn this act, done by the host inside her own home.
Backfire
But as we read, Jesus came back at Judas, telling him how wrong he was to criticize Mary's act of worship.
Background
Judas was one of twelve closest disciples of Jesus, being with Him from the beginning of His public ministry. Judas even had a special job (ministry) to do, being their group's treasurer. But how far did he fall from God's grace and God's trust.
So not proximity, not the time he spent with Him, not being among the longest tenured, not the many sermons and parables he have heard, not his ministry, not even witnessing the miraculous works Jesus and they themselves have performed, will be enough to not fall away from Jesus.
In essence it is so easy to become Judas (or be like him). And this is why Paul warned the church in Corinth (1 Cor 10:12), in the Message version, he warns not just that church but all of us: "Don’t be so naive and self-confident. You’re not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it’s useless. Cultivate God-confidence."
Yes, in other words, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you do not fall.
Yes, don't fall like Judas.
Comments
Post a Comment