Here Jesus Is Experiencing Love And Betrayal At The Same Time

John 12:3-8 - Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair;… But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, who was intending to betray Him, said,  "Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and given to poor people?" Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it. Therefore Jesus said, "Let her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial. For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me."  NASU   
                

• Love From Mary 

Mary has in her possession a very costly amount of perfume. 300 denarii means 300 days of wages. If you were paid $10/hr for an eight hour day that would be $80 and multiply that by 300 days and you will arrive at $24,000.
 
Mary anoints Jesus with $24,000 worth of perfume. John says, "Costly perfume of pure nard…" What a display of love. What an act of selfless giving.
 
What have I ever given to Jesus that was that costly? Nothing!
 
Wow! Mary loves Jesus with a love that is truly amazing, and totally superior to any of my minor acts of love.
 
But what does she receive for her self sacrificing act of love?
 
She receives criticism and ridicule. The disciples treat her with indignation.
 
Their actions remind me of what John said about Cain: 1 John 3:11-12 - we should love one another; not as Cain, who was of the evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother's were righteous.
 
Many times I have seen Christians harassed from evil people and John informs us why this has happened because the motive of the person who is doing the harassing is evil. 
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• Betrayal From Judas 

Judas will go so far as to ask, "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor?"
 
Isn't it amazing today how one Christian can do something for the Lord out of pure love, like Mary and this very same act will be called into question by other disciples?
 
I can tell you right now from 35 years of experience in the local church I would rather have a congregation full of Mary's than even one Judas. She loves and it was evident by what she gave. Judas was filled with greed. He was a thief and gave nothing to help the cause.
 
There are two lessons here for us the first is to be careful who you allow to influence you in life. Be influenced by loving and giving people and not greedy hateful people.
 
The second lesson is don't allow criticism to stop you from doing good to others. Be like Mary and do all the good you can for Jesus and His creation.
 
Jesus said, what Mary was doing was the right thing for her to do. Can you hear God telling you what you are doing is the correct action?
 
Think About This:
 
A Christian is the one who makes it easier for other people to believe in God.

Stay Pumped,
 
Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word