Friday
No wonder Judas felt compelled to complain. Although, isn’t it interesting that the one who was identified as a thief, was the only one who felt he should say something? Was he wishing he could get a hold of some of that perfume for himself?
So Judas says, “that perfume could have been sold to provide for the poor.” Judas was only saying that because his heart was becoming more and more focused on money and not on Christ. He didn’t care about the poor.
In this story, what Judas should have been thinking was Jesus is worthy of everything we could ever possibly give Him. All that we have is only ours by God’s grace. Judas’ concerns might have had more meaning had he been honorable, but since he had this love of money, he has opened himself up to the lies and deceptions of Satan, who by the way is the father of lies. I think we can see though how Satan is getting a stronger hold on Judas, to the point where in a few days he is willing to sell out Jesus for a few coins. (Thirty pieces of silver to be exact.)
How do you feel about money? Does it control you or influence you? You know you don’t have to be wealthy to have money control you, the poor are often obsessed about money. What I have discovered over the years is that money only buys things – that will break, or that I will lose, or it will be used up. Things are just that – things… stuff. I used to have several collections. (Cause you can’t have just one of something.) Why? Why does someone need a teddy bear collection, or a salt-and-pepper shaker collection? Why try to find room for depression glass or tea pots? What happens if a tornado comes through and destroys everything or a flood? What then? Will I still have all that stuff? Will it even matter to me?
We often see people after a tragedy and what are they always most grateful for? Yep, that their family, their loved ones are safe.
Stuff is stuff, nard is nard… the important point of this passage of scripture is that Jesus Christ is all that is necessary, everything else will be destroyed or rust or decay. But Jesus will always be with us.
Are we spending as much time with Jesus as we are looking for, and buying stuff? Do we care about money more than Jesus? Ask yourself honestly if this is true?
Loving Jesus
Pastor Kathy