“Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pense and the money given to the poor? This he said not because he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag and bear what was put therein.”
Sometimes things are not as they appear, and sometimes people are not who we perceive them to be. Judas was the very last person the disciples suspected to betray Jesus. He was the treasurer, the faithful follower of Christ, the friend and kindred brother to the men who left all to follow the Messiah. They so trusted him that even when Jesus revealed his true identity as his betrayer at the Last Supper, the disciples didn’t believe it. It just never dawned on them that it could be Judas, for he was such a convincing showman, so cunning was his disguise. Surprisingly to the disciples, that is exactly who he was, and Jesus knew. When did this truth about Judas become clear? Perhaps it was in the moment when his true value of Jesus and who Jesus was, was made plain.
In the book of John chapter 12, the story is recounted of Mary and her extravagant gift to her Saviour. “Then Mary took a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and annointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment. It is then that Judas objects to this lavish demonstration of love and value that Mary had just shown her Saviour and Lord. To Judas, this was waste, this was money being thrown away, this was his money, and he had his eye on taking it’s possession. Mary had squandered what he had been coveting, and he was indignant. Of course he masked the true condition of his heart with religious piety. Pretending to care for the poor, he rebukes this act but at the same time he reveals to Jesus his true character. Judas didn’t value Jesus, he valued money, though he tried to appear benevolent, he actually was full of greed. He was a hypocrite. He had more concern for the outward appearance of doing good works, giving to the poor, while secretly planning to keep the money and satisfy his own lusts. So far was his heart in this moment from the worshipful and thankful heart of Mary, whose chief concern and desire was to honor her Saviour, to love Him in these final hours, to communicate to Him in the most powerful way she could how precious He was to her. But Judas didn’t value Jesus. He didn’t need Jesus, and he wasn’t trusting Jesus to be saved. Sadly, we learn later in the New Testament of his subsequent death by hanging, having returned the thirty pieces of silver he was paid by the Pharisees to betray Jesus. Judas’ faith, love, and devotion to Jesus was just an illusion, and a sham. His true heart would be revealed. But the Lord knew it all along.
Why would someone not value Jesus? There can be only one reason, they don’t know how precious Jesus is. Jesus is precious, and He is our only hope in this life. He is the Son of God, and He is the great “I Am”. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. He is the Bright Morning Star. His blood and His choice to shed it on the cross of Calvary is the only provision offered for forgiveness of sin, and eternal life in heaven. He made the plan of salvation simple. He states in John 6:40 “verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me hath everlasting life” . He has already paid our sin debt. He has already endured the wrath of the Father on our behalf on the cross. He has completed the work of salvation. There is nothing left for us to do but to believe on Him, and receive Him, trust Him for forgiveness of sin, and the free gift of eternal life. Jesus is precious!
Many sit in church pews week after week in a spiritual illusion, just as Judas was. They believe they are beneficiaries of good works, their good works. They are trusting in their religion, their deeds, their “fruit” in keeping with repentance. But they are not trusting Christ! He is not precious to them. Their good works, lifestyles, track record, that is precious, that, they greatly value. Bypassing the straight gate, the narrow way unto eternal life, they chose another way, another hope altogether. But it will prove a false hope.
When we come to see our true condition before a Holy God, that we are sinners in need of a Saviour, and we come to the realization that Jesus Christ is the only Saviour, He becomes very precious indeed.
Sarah Hopkins Art 