“He [Judas] allowed himself a secret sin and God gave him up to one more open and horrid.”
William Gurnall
Last Sunday’s sermon was entitled Mary and Judas: A Study in Contrasts. (See John 12:1-8) In this passage we observe contrasting actions, motivations, results, and rewards. Mary’s love for Christ and her consistent desire to learn from Christ (she is always at his feet) led her to anoint Jesus in preparation for his burial. (See the corresponding passages in Matthew 26:6-13 and Mark 14:3-9 to fill in other details.) She breaks open a precious alabaster box and anoints Jesus with its very expensive contents. She goes to such an extravagant expense because she has his death in mind. For such an act, Christ promises her an amazing reward, a testimony forever linked to the gospel!
Judas, on the other hand, has a more sinister motivation:
“But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.” (John 12:4-6)
It is rare for an individual’s motivations to be made so plain in the text. Judas was a thief long before he was a betrayer. We should not minimize his crime. Not only did he steal, but he stole from a position of trust. The other disciples allowed him to take charge of the funds. They looked to him for wisdom in their distribution and for its safekeeping. Not only did he steal from the disciples, he robbed the poor. That he questioned why it wasn’t given to the poor indicates that, at least occasionally, it was the practice of the disciples to help the poor and to be generous with their resources. Judas pulled the bread from the mouth of the poor every time he stole. Not only did he steal from the disciples and the poor, he defrauded the very donors who sought to advance the ministry of Jesus. The Scriptures record various individuals, including very influential women (Luke 8:1-3), who would give to Jesus and the disciples. Judas defrauded those donors by stealing what had been entrusted to that ministry. And finally, and at the heart of it all, Judas not only stole from the poor, and the disciples, and the donors, he stole from Jesus Christ. From the very one who loved him, taught him, and provided for him. Mary sacrificed greatly for Christ and was focused on his death and burial. Judas stole from Jesus Christ and became instrumental in his death and burial. What a study in contrasts! Have a blessed week and we will see many of you on Sunday.
Love in Christ,
Pastor Dale
