This incident with the alabaster flask was certainly significant enough to cause some grumbling among the disciples, but it doesn’t seem ‘that’ significant to directly motivate Judas to betray Jesus. It makes me wonder–when did Judas first allow the seeds of offense to begin growing in his heart? The outcome shouldn’t surprise me though, because that’s how offense works.
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Scripture
Mark 14:3-5,10
“And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her.”
“Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them.”
Observation
Scripture doesn’t tell us much about Judas. He was a necessary part of Jesus’ story, but we’re not given many insights into his heart and motivations. This passage is striking to me though, as a glimpse into his life and heart.
The woman in this story gave an extravagant gift to Jesus (nearly $53,000 in today’s money), and those who saw it were “indignant”, considering it a waste. Jesus defended her actions as being appropriate and beautiful, and immediately we see Judas slipping out the door to plot with the chief priests to betray Jesus.
This incident was certainly significant enough to cause some grumbling among the disciples, but it doesn’t seem ‘that’ significant to directly motivate Judas to betray him. It makes me wonder–when did Judas first allow the seeds of offense to begin growing in his heart? How long had this been festering and growing within him, unseen by the rest? How long had he allowed jealously, greed, or simply a critical spirit to grow, to the point that he could no longer even tolerate watching someone else worship the savior? The outcome shouldn’t surprise me though, because that’s how offense works.
Application
Offense, unforgiveness, and bitterness grow quietly like weeds. An irritation here, a frustration there, an unresolved tension over there…and the poisonous fruit begins to grow.
When I think back on the people that I’ve found it hardest to forgive, the ‘biggest’ issue often wasn’t the first one–it was simply the final one that I had allowed to pile on top of all the other little offenses that came before it. That’s the way offense works–one little thing on top of another, each easily resolved with a heart of humility and a conversation–but instead allowed to fester and permeate my heart like an infection.
I don’t want my heart to be ruled by offense! I don’t want to allow bitterness to grow in me until my stomach is turned merely by the sight of someone worshiping the one who deserves all worship!
So today, I choose to let go. I choose to let go of the small irritations and differences. I choose to confront awkward conversations instead of letting them linger. I choose to let God correct the things that are only up to him, knowing that he is much more effective than I.
Today I choose not to be Judas.
Prayer
God, thank you for your patience with me! Thank you for forgiving me, though you have every right not to. Help me to forgive others, and not allow offense to reside in my heart. Help me to confront what needs to be confronted, ignore what needs to be ignored, and forgive what needs to be forgiven…and give me wisdom to know the difference.
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