ANOINTING AND BETRAYAL

ANOINTING – MATTHEW 26:6-13

While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.

Matthew 26:6-7

Oh my gosh!  Can you see her walking in the door?  A woman enters and has something in her hands.  It looks like an alabaster jar and that would mean it contained expensive perfume.  (Today that one jar could be worth $25,000 - $55,000.)  The disciples stare as she breaks the jar and pours the perfume on Jesus’ head.  What should have been a relaxing time of eating, joking, eating, teaching, eating, and telling stories quickly turned into finger pointing and accusations of waste.

The disciples were indignant.  HOW DARE SHE?  How dare she what?  This jar of perfume was hers!  It could have been her dowry or her inheritance, but it was hers.  And she humbly gave everything she had to honor Jesus.  Can you see her lower her head as the disciples condemn her for waste?  Can you see the tears form in her eyes as she holds the empty jar? 

Can you see her fall to her knees as Jesus says, “Why are you bothering this woman?  She has done a beautiful thing to me.  ….. Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

Can you see the disciples ashamed for their judgment of this woman?

BETRAYAL – MATTHEW 26:14-16

Then one of the Twelve – the one called Judas Iscariot – went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?”  So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver.  From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

How this passage breaks my heart.  Judas Iscariot was chosen by Jesus.  He walked with Jesus.  He heard Jesus teach.    He saw a women anoint Jesus.  He went to the priests. 

Do you see Judas walking toward the chief priests?  Do you see them looking at each other and wondering what this disciple of Jesus wanted?  Do you hear Judas asking for money?  Do you hear the sound of 30 pieces of silver being counted? 

Extreme opposites

Anointing and Betrayal

Generosity and Greed

And now -

The disciples make preparations for Passover