Letters to the Prison - Week 136

Hello, friends.  We’re so grateful for the opportunity to consider God’s word with you.  Be sure to thank the people who make these letters available.  We’re studying John 12.  Last week, we considered what Mary’s sacrifice meant for her.  John records some very interesting information about Judas Iscariot and his reaction to Mary’s sacrifice:
•But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. -John 12:4-6
In moments like these, we must remember that John wrote this account some 60 years after the events occurred.  So, he’s had plenty of time to reflect on Judas’ betrayal of Jesus and the fact that Judas was likely responsible for the “mysterious” disappearances of money from the “moneybag.”  It’s important to remember because, when this event occurs, no one suspects that Judas is about to betray Jesus.  No one has any idea that Judas is a thief.  No one sees Judas coming until it’s too late.  John, having been a witness to all these events, is keenly aware of this fact… that he himself had no idea that Judas –a fellow disciple of Jesus who was prayerfully and specifically selected to be a disciple by Jesus himself (Luke 6:17-19)—would one day (soon!) betray Jesus to the authorities and have him murdered.  John’s bitter recognition of his own inability to discern such a dangerous traitor must have stung for the rest of his life…  and gravely informed his thinking about whether or how to discern who the true and false believers were in a church…  if John couldn’t recognize the traitor in Judas after serving side-by-side every day with him for years… in the very presence of Jesus, no less… how could anyone else truly discern the spiritual status of a fellow church-goer?  John wrestled with this question throughout his letters and throughout the rest of his life.
Meanwhile, consider for a moment what these verses reveal about Judas and his thinking: He’s keenly aware of the monetary value of Mary’s sacrifice.  How is that possible?  Was he just guessing?  Or had he inquired about the value of this piece before?  This wasn’t the first time the disciples had been in this house…  had Judas been sizing up the item so that he could one day steal it for himself?  John recognizes that Judas didn’t care about the poor.  Judas’ “concern” for the poor was hugely ironic.  Of course, Jesus wants us to be concerned for the poor.  But here, Judas is only interested in what he can siphon for himself from a potential resource for the poor.  The only “poor” person Judas cares about is… himself.  Interestingly, modern fundraising companies often act this way.  They pull the heartstrings of people’s compassion for the poor and then direct substantial portions of the incoming donations towards the “infrastructure” of the company… in other words, their own paychecks.  So, here are “charitable” people living fatly off the resources they gather for the less fortunate.  Consider your charities wisely!  Moving on, Judas clearly didn’t care about Jesus, either.  Here, Mary has sacrificed this valuable item at (on!) Jesus’ feet, but this fact isn’t even registering in what Judas says.  The only thing Judas had in mind was the money he could have had.  Judas’ question betrayed his own motivation.
Nevertheless, Jesus has an answer for Judas:
•Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”--John 12:7-8

Dean A.