March 14, 2024
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in our Lenten readings from “The Life of Jesus”? Here’s today’s reading:
Day 25 in the Book: “The Life of Jesus“
The Week Jesus Dies
Read Sections 5.21 through 5.23 (pages 155-157)
This book is an account of Jesus’ life and teachings told through in chronological order from the four Gospels to create one continuous story.
*If you do not have a copy of the book please contact the church at (401)667-0775 and we can get you a copy.
So sad to think Judas who walked with Jesus, heard Him teach, saw the miracles He performed, and felt His presence each day would throw that all away for money! Jesus taught that “you can not serve two masters”, Judas heard this teaching and yet still sold out Jesus for 30 silver coins. Again we see God’s plan of Him being glorified not through Judas but in spite of Judas. And all the while Jesus loved Judas, treated Him no differently than the other disciples and knew he would be the one to betray Him! Speaks volumes of God’s love for us and about man’s weakness when it comes to pride and greed.
”But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.”“
John 12:7-8 NKJV
Steve McGowan
5:21 – 5:23
5.21 Mary Anoints Jesus at Bethany (Mark 14:1-3, John 12:2-8, Mark 14:8-9) Interesting that Mark’s account does not name Mary, and the account indicates she anointed the head of Jesus, while John names Mary and indicates she anointed His feet and wiped them with her hair (a much more detailed and intimate accounting, which is commensurate with John’s gospel). Mark also does not name Iscariot directly in his account, but John does. Either way, Jesus’ response is the same…again telling those with Him that He is being prepared for His death…yet, they still did not realize it.
5.22 Judas Agrees to Help Jesus’ Enemies (Luke 22:3-4, Matthew 26:15-16) Again, interesting difference in the gospel accounts here. Luke indicates that Satan entered Iscariot (as does John in his account John 13:2), while Matthew does not. All four accounts name Iscariot and indicate his betrayal. The question I have is whether or not this is another instance of God taking sovereign action in a person to accomplish His will (referencing my comments from yesterday about the Bible saying that God hardened people’s hearts i.e. Pharoh), or, if Judas ultimately did this on his own accord. Additionally, if that is the case…was Judas ever a believer? He is listed as an apostle. And he is even used as justification for origin of the Catholic apostolic accession…he was replaced with Mathias, and the Catholic faith believes that only the apostles were given authority to forgive sins (of course, that authority rests solely with God). Anyway, interesting questions here. If Iscariot was possessed by Satan to betray Jesus that God’s Will might be accomplished…is he still responsible for that betrayal? And (I’m sure we can talk about this next week, Pastor!) how does this relate to the question of perseverance of the saints or eternal security? We know Judas ultimately kills himself. Matthew 27:3 indicates that Judas actually regrets of his betrayal and attempts to give back the money…when he is unable to undo his wrong, he hangs himself. Again, this is troubling…was Judas repentant? How did Jesus handle his suicide? It would seem the question of satanic possession is relevant here…but, can a Christian be possessed by Satan? Of course not, we belong to Christ. A lot of questions here!
5.23 Preparations for the Passover Meal (Luke 22:7-14) Just another example of Jesus demonstrating His deity…”And they went and found it just as He had told them.” No big deal, right? 🙂
The Life of Jesus 5:21-5:23.
The Life of Jesus 5.21-5.23; Luke 18-19
Two totally opposite character traits:
Marys character was one of love and compassion to her Jesus. Her love for Him far surpassed the value of the expensive perfume she poured on His feet.
Judas, however, though he was a follower, displayed only his selfish character by thinking the perfume was wasted and the money too good to not turn Jesus over to the enemies. Makes me wonder about his intentions of even being a follower. His motives were not pure like Mary’s. He had no good motives at all.
The way we think, feel or act shows our quality of moral, integrity, honesty and overall character. Keeping these attributes in the forefront of our minds will build our character to be the people God wants us to be. The fruits of the spirit!
I seem to pray a lot for the fruits of the spirit to define my character and I have to be honest..sometimes it’s a struggle. But I don’t give up because I know what God expects of me…I just try harder.
Day 25! 5:21 – 5:23
Lenten day 25
Jesus and His followers were having dinner at the house of Simon the leper along with Martha, Mary, and Lazarus their brother. At least they were there but maybe not all eating. A few points of interest here. First they are eating at a lepers house. This Simon was probably already healed and his house cleansed from leprosy just for them to eat there. Of course the healing was probably done by Jesus. Secondly, Lazarus is eating with them of whom Jesus raised from the dead after four days. Can you picture this? Do we know when Jesus healed Simon? Then we have Martha the sister of Lazarus serving the food while her sister anointing perfume on Jesus feet all the while wiping His feet with her hair. Yet with this all happening Judas Iscariot is not pleased but instead thinks that this expensive perfume was wasted on Jesus and should had been spent on the poor. But it is stated about Judas what his real motive was. That he didn`t care about the poor and that he was a thief stealing from their group`s money of which he was in charge. He wasn`t a true believer but was only with them for glory, power, and money. His heart wasn`t in it. So after he saw he couldn`t gain more, he cut his loses and betrayed Jesus. Feeling sorry latter but not truly asking forgiveness but instead hanged himself. On the other hand you see Mary demonstrating her faith toward Jesus by anointing His feet. Mary along with the other followers including the 12 saw her brother, Lazarus raised from the dead and so many other things. But she seems to get it that Jesus will die. This is why she was anointing Jesus. For Jesus said Himself that she was preparing Him for burial. Yet the 12 don`t seem to get it although maybe Judas did and it was the final thing that caused him to give up Jesus. What can he gain anymore? Short sighted on his part. He then betrays Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Fulfilling prophecies. Zech. 11: 12-13. It was also the redemption price for a slave. Ex. 21:32. But all along Jesus knew who would betray Him. But the 11 finally did understand after the Resurrection of Jesus and went on to die as martyrs for Christ except for John who died of old age. Including the one who replaced Judas. That would be Mathias. God bless brothers and sisters in the Lord.
This post is from Dennis, not Melody….
Mary’s love and regard for Jesus was revealed before when she sat at his feet learning while Martha busied herself with chores. So once again, Mary does the most necessary thing by showing Jesus’ worth by anointing Him with expensive perfume. (Interesting that Martha is still serving the meal). Now there will always be critics and naysayers when we show extreme love and regard to Jesus, but we should not be daunted just as Jesus praises Mary for her actions and puts Judas in his place. Because Judas is just revealing his true heart, which was greedy and selfish. And therefore he probably did hedge his bets and figured he would make more turning Jesus over because where Jesus was headed was not working for him. And yet what grace and love Jesus showed Judas by letting him hold the groups’ money when Jesus knew He was a thief, clearly always giving him a chance to repent. But Judas’ heart is revealed again by not only turning Jesus over, but asking what he will get paid to do it.
And as Jesus’ time on earth comes to a close, He makes the arrangements for where the Passover meal will be. What a special time it will be for all of them as Jesus shares His heart, His vision and the provisions He will make for them.
Lenten 2024 – Day 25