The Betrayer

N.T.#426 "The Betrayer"

Nov. 19, 2024 

Mark 14-Part 4 

LET IT GLOW 

Doesn't it hurt whenever a friend betrays you, telling a secret that you shared with them in confidence?  Maybe it was something you did that you only told one person and they spread it around or planned to pay you back for it. Jesus had a betrayer in His midst, one of His disciples. Read on to find out who it was.

It must have been a good time for Jesus to visit with His friends while eating at the house of a former leper. Oh how He loved His disciples and close friends.  e needed this time, for soon Jesus would hang on the cross, innocently. Jesus' ministry was hard with harsh religious leaders always questioning Him critizing Him, denying Him to be the Messiah. However, Mary showed her extravagant love for the Master by pouring out her expensive perfume on His head. (I wonder if it was her inheritance or a dowry for her wedding.

What was the reaction of those present? This was more than Judas Iscariot could stand. I figure he was one of those indignantly wondering why Mary wasted the ointment. (verse5) The perfume could have been sold and money given to the poor. The mumblers were discussing the matter quietly among themselves. Judas was the bag man, seeing to the money issues for the guys. 

Then Jesus steeped in. (He always knows what is going on.) 

He said, "Leave her alone. Why criticize her for doing such a good thing to Me? You will always have the poor among you, and you can help them whenever you want to. But you will not always have Me.  (verses 6-7NLT)

Talk about a defense. Mary did what she could. (verse 8) That act of Mary's is preached throughout the world, remembered and discussed whenever the Good News is preached. We don't read of anyone else sacrificing  extravagantly for Jesus, do we? He is always the giver of love.

Are we doing what we can in order to show Jesus' love?

LET IT GROW 

"Don't do it Judas," I want to yell at him. However, we know this was all in God's plan of redeeming His people-dying for them. The plot never changes when we read about it. 

What happened next? 

• Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests to betray Jesus unto them.
• He was one of the disciples. He had witnessed healings, miracles, and the wisdom of Jesus. He heard Jesus proclaim that He was the Messiah, the Son of God. 
• Judas made an arrangement to betray Jesus to those priests. 
• They promised to give Judas money for his deed of informing them about the whereabouts of Jesus. 
• Later, in John 13, at the Last Super, Jesus told His disciples that one of them would betray Him. Jesus revealed who it was whenever He gave a piece of bread dipped in sauce (sop) Judas ate the bread and Satan entered into him. (verses26-27)
• Jesus told Judas to hurry and do what he was going to do. (Some thought Jesus told Judas to go and pay for the food or give some money to the poor.) Little did the guys know what the next couple of days held for them all.

Don't we wish we could rewrite the ending of this story? Yet, it was all predetermined. God knew mankind would sin and we need a perfect sacrifice for our sins. Jesus was willing to be that Sacrificial Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. (John the Baptist0

Dear one, have you asked Jesus to forgive your sins and be your Savior/ He loves you so much that He was willing to die for you.

LET IT GO 

Oh what a Savior! Isn't He wonderful.

Help us to never betray You, Jesus, but to remain faithful until our last breath.