Mensa Otabil - Here Comes Judas
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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?» And 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 pours her fragrance, and this is the fly that comes to spoil the ointment. Um, Judas-we know Judas very well. This is an introduction to him. He takes exception to what Mary had done, and he seems indignant, 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 the normal worker was paid one denarius after a day’s work.
So this is a lot of money-a year’s salary poured on Jesus Christ. You can say that Judas probably has a case; he is a conscientious person. He doesn’t like wastage, he is committed to the poor, he has good intentions, and he’s socially active. But that’s not the reason, because the Bible opens a window to his soul, and the passage says he didn’t do 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 are 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. He puts it in his bag. The passage says he was a thief; he used to put his hands into the bag and take it out. And that’s what he’s fighting for; he’s fighting for his own benefit. He’s fighting for something he can benefit from, and Judas couldn’t see that this thing was not going to benefit him. Jesus actually was not really interested in whether he got fragrance or not.
So Judas thought it was a waste. Are you one of those people who raises objections at everything simply because it doesn’t benefit you? I hope you’re not, because sometimes we find that in the church, people criticize churchgoers and say, «Oh, why do you give a tithe to God? Why do you give this to God? Why do you go to church and give the offering? You know, you could give it to an orphanage; you could give it to that, and you could give it to this.»
Well, we’ll later 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 do the same.
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, as you’re saying, Mary is devoted to the Lord and worshiping with her fragrance; Judas is devoted to the pocket and to his money. He' s just serving himself; he’s the only one serving himself in this picture. And I pray none of us would be like Judas.
Let’s pray 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.