There are two contrasting ways of dealing with money pointed out in these two connected passages. Mary, the sister of Lazarus expends a years wages for a common man doing a good deed for Jesus. He said it was a beautiful thing and she did what she could. One of the Apostles who scolded Mary was Judas. He then went to the enemies of Jesus and, for thirty pieces of silver, betrayed Jesus into their hands. It was an ugly thing and a selfish thing. Which example typifies your attitude towards Jesus and your wealth? Both Mary and Judas have lasting memorials. One is celebrated; the other condemned. Mark 14:3-12 Jesus Anointed at Bethany And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “ Why was the ointment wasted like that? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.” Judas to Betray Jesus Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought an opportunity to betray him.
Posted on: Mon, 14 Jul 2014 13:06:48 +0000