There is a striking and uncomfortable contrast in Passion Week that refuses to stay buried in history. It confronts us today.
In one scene, a woman breaks an alabaster jar and pours expensive perfume on Jesus. The fragrance fills the room. It is extravagant, costly, and deeply personal. Some estimate its value to be about a year’s wages—an unthinkable offering in practical terms. (Matthew 26:6–13)
In another
moment, a voice rises in protest. Why this waste? Why not sell it and give the
money to the poor?
That voice
belonged to Judas.
Scripture later exposes the truth—this was not compassion, but concealment. John 12:6 tells us he kept the money bag and helped himself to what was put into it. The one who spoke about helping the poor was quietly serving himself.
Then comes the turning point.
Matthew
26:14–16 records the same man walking to the chief priests, asking a chilling
question: “What are you willing to give me?” The price was set—thirty pieces of
silver.
Think about that.
The man who
objected to a “wasteful” offering suddenly had no problem placing a price on
Jesus Himself.
This contrast
is not just about Judas and an unnamed woman. It is about two kinds of hearts
that still exist—often side by side, even within the same community.
The Two Groups That Still Exist Today
This contrast
is not merely about Judas and the woman; it represents two types of attitudes
that exist in society even today.
1. Those who
offer (The Givers):
- Those who give their own resources for the Gospel.
- Families who are willing to serve even while enduring
hardships.
- Those who invest their time, money, and life for God.
- Those who work without expecting any reward.
Like the woman,
they may not always be understood by others. Their actions may seem excessive
to some, but to Jesus, they are precious.
2. Those who
seek gain (The Extractors):
- Those who use the ministry for their own personal gain.
- Those who look at spirituality with a
"commercial eye."
- Those who, while outwardly standing close to Jesus,
inwardly wonder, "What will I get?"
- Those who do God’s work for the sake of positions,
money, and recognition.
Like Judas,
they may appear faithful on the outside. They might even be in the forefront of
the faith community, but their relationship with God is merely a transaction.
The Question Within Every Circle
We may be part
of many circles.
We may call
ourselves disciples or devotees.
Servants or
ministers.
Leaders or
laborers.
Clergy or
laity.
We may be working in a community of faith—a church or a fellowship.
We may be
involved in field ministry or leadership.
We may serve as
an office secretary or a general secretary.
We may be
founders of organizations or followers in movements.
None of these positions is the issue.
The real
question is this:
Why are we
here?
Are we doing
this to truly serve Him?
Or are we doing
this in His name, while quietly building something for ourselves?
This is not a question for others.
It is a
question each of us must answer before God.
The Danger is Closer than We Think
It is easy for
us to condemn Judas from a distance. It is much harder for us to examine our
own motives.
Because the
line between devotion and self-interest is not always visible to others—but it
is always visible to God.
We may never
betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver.
But we might:
- Hold back what we should give
- Serve with
hidden expectations
- Use spiritual
things for personal advantage
- Value comfort
over calling
Judas did not
start with betrayal. He started with small compromises.
The Fragrance or the Price
The woman gave what she could not get back.
Judas sold what
he could never regain.
One filled the room with fragrance.
The other
walked into the darkness with coins in hand.
One is
remembered for her love.
The other for
his betrayal.
A Question We Cannot Avoid
So here is the
question that confronts us today:
Are we pouring
out our lives for Jesus—or quietly trying to gain something from Him?
Where do we
stand?
Are we:
- Breaking the
alabaster jar?
- Or counting
the silver coins?
Because in the
end, every one of us will be found in one of these two postures—not by words,
but by what we truly value.
Let us take a moment and be honest before God.
Where do we
belong?
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4 comments:
A really good comparison and very relevant for our times. A good retrospective, applicative viewpoint… Because we usually forget that sometimes we're no better than Judas .. and also that we have a lot that we can learn and adopt from the woman who poured out her bottle of perfume for Jesus. About where we stand in a scale of wholehearted devotion.
Thank you for the message. The contrast between the attitude of Judas and the woman is glaring. This had already caught my attention and I usually mention it in my Bible studies. There is an element of ‘extravagance’ in love. You don’t count the expense. But Judas was counting and calculating!
The bottom line is the condition of one’s heart, which lies open and bare before God. While man looks at the outward appearance, God looks at the heart. He knew who Peter was, who Judas was, and who the woman was. Ultimately, it is not merely our actions and words, but our attitudes that God values most.thanks for the message. For me this is a new thought.
Thank you all for reading and taking time to comment.
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