Devotional 3-19-10

Judas the Disingenuous
Lectionary Reading: John 12 1-8

These passages discuss the anointment of Jesus at Bethany by Mary. She anointed His feet with an expensive perfume made from pure nard and dried them with her hair. Judas Iscariot complained about her using the expensive perfume. He said that it could have been sold and the money given to the poor. We learn two lessons here.

1. Jesus acknowledges the he knows that He is to die. He tells Judas to leave Mary alone. The poor will always be present but He will not.
2. Judas does not care for the poor. He was in charge of the disciples’ funds but often used the money for his personal use.

Jesus lets them know that he will be leaving them but Judas, who will eventually betray Him causing His death, shows his true side—he says one thing but believes in another. He pretends to care for the poor but uses disciples’ funds for himself. We see this many times in today’s society. We were warned to be careful in donating money to the people in Haiti because many of the groups collecting funds were not to be trusted.

We see the same in people who pretend to be devoted to Jesus but are not. Many so-called Christians seek riches in material things in the name of God. There are still many Judas’ among us.

Let us pray: Dear God, help us to keep the goal of becoming closer to you in this time of Lent. Let us not be influenced by the material achievements but by Your love. Amen

Carolee Brown