Mark 14:3-11. 3And 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. 4There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? 5For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. 6But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. 8She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. 9And 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.” 10Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. 11And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought an opportunity to betray him.
Monday and Tuesday of Holy Week were full of drama. Jesus went to the Temple both days claiming authority and condemning the old religion of works righteousness. We don’t know much about what happened on Wednesday in Jerusalem. Which conversations did Jesus have? Which arguments did he win? It’s a little tricky to tell. But we do know what happened on Wednesday night. Spy Wednesday it’s sometimes called, because this is the night that Judas will decide to betray Jesus. But also, in stark contrast, this is the night that Mary will anoint Jesus in Bethany.
We were Judas.
Judas is the “seed of Satan.” He is opposed to Christ’s mission. He is greedy and rebellious. He only sees Jesus as someone to use for his own gain. Likely a political gain. He fails to see his real need, the need for a Savior from his sin. He fails to see the need for Christ’s death and resurrection. He sees only glory, but a glory without a cross. His own cross. Judas could not find his place at Jesus feet. And so he left. He sought his own way, and in so doing he sought his own destruction.
But none of this is a surprise to Jesus. In fact, it was prophesied a thousand years earlier by his father David:
Psalm 41:9-13. 9Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me. 10But you, O Lord, be gracious to me, and raise me up, that I may repay them! 11By this I know that you delight in me: my enemy will not shout in triumph over me. 12But you have upheld me because of my integrity, and set me in your presence forever. 13Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! Amen and Amen.
All of us were once Judas. As Paul says, we are all born to be sons of disobedience, children of wrath, following the course of this world and the prince of the power of the air (Eph. 2:1-3). We were created to be the close friends of God, eating his bread at his table, but our selfishness, greed, and pride have caused us to reject the banquet table of God. But then the love of God broke through and our hearts melted in his grace. By faith we have received the life of Christ and union with him. Now…
We are Mary.
On that Wednesday night, Mary is the one follower of Christ that embraces his death. In pouring out her alabaster jar she is anointing Jesus for burial. She’s seen a resurrection up close and personal with Lazarus her brother, and now her faith in Jesus’ own resurrection allows her to embrace his crucifixion. And her own. She gives everything she has to Christ. Not only her extremely valuable ointment, but also her heart.
Mary is united to Christ. They are of the same mind – the mind of sacrifice. Their hearts are knit together as one. Like Judas, Mary seeks glory, but it’s the glory that comes through sacrifice, sorrow, and even shame. Mary has found her place at the feet of Jesus once again. A place of love and honor from her Savior.
While Mary worships her soon to be crucified king, Judas enters into the night to strike a deal with the High Priest. Thirty pieces of silver, the cost of a slave, will be enough to sell Jesus to the system. But it won’t be enough to thwart the triumph of Christ.
Judas’ betrayal is not the only fulfillment of Psalm 41, thank God. Raise me up, delight in me, uphold me, and set me in your presence forever all find their reality in the resurrection of Christ, and by our union with him, they find their fulfillment in us.
To live is Christ means his future is ours. His triumph is ours. His blessing is ours. His eternity is ours. Ours to share from everlasting to everlasting. And when we trust completely in this shared future with Christ we can then lay everything at his feet like Mary. We can embrace his death and our dying knowing that together with him we will rise in glory and grace.
You: You once were Judas but now you are Mary. Can you see this change at work in your life?
You in Christ: How does knowing we will rise in Christ allow us to die in Christ to our selfish pride?
Christ in you: What “alabaster jar” do you need to pour out for Jesus?
Prayer: God we know who we are in the story. We are Mary not Judas. But this is only because of your saving grace. Jesus knit our hearts to yours. Let us find your glory through your sacrifice today and every day. Amen.
To Live is Christ 