Mensa Otabil - Judas' Issue (10/14/2025)
John chapter 12, verses 4 to 6: But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray him, said, «Why was this fragrant oil not sold for 300 denarii and given to the poor?» This he said not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief and had a money box, and he used to take what was put in it. Well, you know, somebody would say that there is always a fly in every fragrance.
So, Mary pulls her fragrance, and this is the fly that comes to spoil the ointment. Judas- we know Judas very well; this is an introduction to him. He takes exception to what Mary had done and seems indignantly unhappy, scandalized that such a worthy fragrance should be wasted or lavished on the Lord Jesus Christ. The value in monetary terms is noted: 300 denarii worth of oil. 300 denarii was about a year’s wages because a normal worker was paid one denarius for a day’s work, so this is a lot of money- a year’s salary poured on Jesus Christ. I mean, you can say that Judas probably has a case; he’s a conscientious person. He doesn’t like wastage; he’s committed to the poor, he has good intentions, and he’s socially active.
But that’s not the reason; the Bible opens a window to his soul, and the passage says he didn’t say it because he cared for the poor. You know, there are many people out there raising all kinds of issues and campaigning for all kinds of issues, and you think it’s because they care for the issues they’re campaigning for, but their motive is very far from what their words are saying, and that’s an example with Judas. So, the passage says he didn’t do it because he cared for the poor; he was a treasurer. That means if the oil was sold, the money would be given to him, put in his bag, and the passage says he was a thief. He used to put his hands into the bag and take out what he wanted. That’s what he was fighting for-his own benefit. He couldn’t see that this thing was not going to benefit him, and Jesus actually wasn’t really interested in whether he got the fragrance or not.
So, Judas thought it was a waste. Are you one of those people who raise objections at everything simply because it doesn’t benefit you? I hope you’re not. Because sometimes we find in the church people who criticize, saying, «Oh, why do you give a tithe to God? Why do you go to church and give the offering? You could give it to an orphanage, or you could give it to others.» Well, later we’ll hear Jesus’s response to this, but you know people raise all these objections, and we have to ask: is it really because they care? Because if you cared for the issues you’re talking about, you would do something about it and not ask somebody else to do something about it.
Judas would have gone to give to the poor without asking Mary to give to the poor. Whenever you are asking somebody to do things and you are not doing it yourself, it could be hypocrisy. It could just be hypocrisy, and I hope all of us are mindful of that. But Judas is introduced, so now we’ve seen Martha devoted to the Lord and Mary devoted to the Lord, worshipping with her fragrance, while Judas is devoted to the pocket and to his money.
He’s the only one serving himself in this picture, and I pray none of us would be like Judas. Let’s pray-say with me: Heavenly Father, protect me from greed and selfishness. Help me to see what is important to You. In Jesus' name, amen and amen. Well, I’ll catch you again; I’m Pastor Mensa Otabil. Shalom, peace, and life to you.