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Love
and Betrayal Lesson 1
INTRODUCTION
This lesson answers for
us, one of the questions that has bedevilled the Church and believers ,
namely “ What is First Love ?”; something God obviously prizes.
It also addresses the question
of what is “True Love” in a believer, and how is it manifested. Jesus' comments about the
action of the woman disciple named Mary, tells us that the action of this
woman was a most wonderful thing, that is, it was behaviour with great
intrinsic value. In fact, it was so highly rated by Christ, that he eternally
linked this action with his gospel. Every
where his gospel was preached or told, the story of what this woman did
would also be preached and told. This implies clearly,
that if the story of this woman’s action ceased to be talked about, then
the gospel also would cease to be talked about. There then must be
something remarkable in it, and we should pay close attention to this
woman and her actions, and look at ourselves to see if we can learn
something from this, and imitate her attitude and actions. Let us never forget the
Jesus looks at things differently from the way that the world looks at
things. He is not fooled by
glamour and glitter, but he rates things according to their value in the
sight of God. We should
therefore observe Jour Lord to see what is most important for believers,
and hopefully we will learn to focus properly, that is, focus on Him. The story is introduced
to show the opposite extremes possible from professing believers in God,
namely, the deepest of love and the deepest of betrayal. The time of this incident
is also very instructive, as is the comment about the stage of Jesus'
ministry and testimony. Matthew 26: 1 tells us
that this was two days before the Feast of the Passover and the Feast of
Unleavened Bread, two feasts that had begun at the time of the Exodus from
Egypt. The Passover was a
time of God's great and gracious mercy to Israel, for God spared their
firstborn when they obediently sprinkled the blood of a lamb without
blemish on the doorposts and lintels of their homes, to mark them out as
people of obedience and gratitude, with humility before God.
God's judgment thus “passed over” them when it fell on Egypt. The Feast of Unleavened
Bread was instituted to remind Israel that their ancestors, before they
left Egypt, they were to clean out their houses and remove all trace of
leaven (yeast), for leaven was a symbol of sin.
This feast therefore stood before Israel to remind them, that they
should search carefully for any sign of compromising with sin, and
ruthlessly cleanse their life and their homes of even the tiniest of sin,
for sin could spread and work silently and subtly, corrupting all of life. It was at this time that
Jesus finished all that he had to say, he was no longer in the role of
Prophet, Healer, or Teacher, and now began to prepare to enter his role of
a Priest. He then reminded his disciples that the situation in Israel had so deteriorated, that after the coming Feast of the Passover he would be betrayed. THE
TEXT
Verse 3.
These were sad times. The religious leaders had no interest in what
these Feasts meant. They were
not interested in searching their lives to see if there was any evidence
of sin, or in humility thank God, who had graciously spared them from a
death they had fully deserved. Here they were plotting
to kill an innocent man, not paying any attention to the holiness of the
Feast days, or the contradiction involved in killing the innocent during
these special religious services. They
did not consider the feelings of God, nor were they worried about the fear
of God. There had been many plots
against the life of Jesus but this one was the most serious. Now
there was an assembly of the Chief Priests, the scribes, who are the
Doctors of the law, and the elders of the people who were judges in civil
matters. This meeting involved some of the people who sat in the great Sanhedrin council that governed all of the nation of Israel. They met in the palace of the High Priest Caiaphas, a man who was at the centre of this wicked confederacy against Christ. Verse 4-5.
We are not told the precise nature of the plot itself, but we do
know that they clearly wanted nothing less than his blood. They did not want to be up front with their plan, but like most vile hypocrites met in secret, using subtlety to achieve their ends. Evil among professing believers always thrives in secret places, and uses the weapons of subtlety to achieve their satanic ends. This has always been the case and will always be the case. The enemies of God are never interested in the honour of God, the fear of God, cheerful obedience to His Word, or to matters of morality. The enemies of God are only interested in their own ends and personal aggrandizement. One writer says: “ So cruel and
bloody have been the designs on Christ's by his church’s enemies”. They were only afraid of the people, and that for their own safety, for if they seized and killed Jesus, they felt there would be an uproar among the people, who regarded Jesus as a Prophet, and some might even take up arms against them. This was a strategic
decision and had nothing to do with promoting the honour of God. They did not care about the fact that this event now coming was the culmination of the historic foreshadowing of the great Sacrifice of Redemption, when Christ our ‘Passover’ would be sacrificed for men. Verse 6.
This verse begins to describe a very important incident. There Jesus was in Bethany, attending some function in the
house of a man called Simon the Leper. Obviously this man had probably
been cleansed from leprosy by Jesus, but the name “Leper” still stuck
to him. But he entertained
Jesus, and Jesus was quite willing to be in his presence. One writer comments on this matter: “ Though he was
cleansed, yet he was called Simon the Leper. Those who are guilty of
scandalous sins, will find that, though the sin be pardoned, the reproach
will cleave to them, and will hardly be wiped away.” Verse 7.
There is much argument about who this woman who came in to the
feast was. Though similar
incidents are recorded in other Gospels the location of this event was
quite specifically named. A woman brought in an alabaster box of a very highly prized, expensive perfume called ‘spikenard”, broke the box and while Jesus sat down eating, poured the ointment on Jesus' head. This was a powerful aromatic perfume and the odour would have filled the whole house creating a refreshing fragrance and unmistakable excitement and discussion. Verse 8-9
tells us that this brought howls of indignation from the disciples. They
murmured taking offence at her action, which they defined as a waste and
an unwarranted extravagance. Though Jesus had been telling them of his coming crucifixion they still had the nerve to ask the question “ To what purpose is this waste?” Note carefully the bias
in the question. They had
defined her action as a waste without any serious analysis. It is strange to think
that these men could regard something done to Jesus as a waste, especially
in view of his immediately preceding teachings. They then tried to give
support to their bias by saying that it would have been better to have
sold the perfume and given the money to the poor instead. Their words and their
emotions betrayed their lack of understanding.
This was zeal for the poor, but it was not according to knowledge.
They were not prepared to give the woman the benefit of the doubt,
and accept that even though she might be over doing it, she might have
wanted to show great love for their Master. Obviously things directly
done to Jesus Christ cannot be thought of as a ‘waste’, and disciples
should have known better. From our present
situation, we ought to be careful in how we judge things that are spent in
the service of Christ or in the work of piety.
This is not to say that there is no such thing as waste and
extravagance, for in the history of the Church, we see the church spending
fabulous sums extracted from the poor to build cathedrals and palaces,
which the poor were hardly ever able to enjoy. We too should be aware
that emotion and even indignation aimed at achieving what we think is
correct is not necessarily so, and might even be against the wishes of
God. In this case we are told
by John that the charge was led by Judas, who was not at all interested in
the poor, but because he was a thief, he wanted the large sum of money
that the perfume represented to come under his control. This of course reflects
badly on the ‘Eleven’, for they had no indication of his true
character, and were blind to his real purposes and intentions.
They were on the wrong side on this occasion. Again we note that statements by professing believers must be interpreted in the light of their character. It is not everything that sounds good and attractive, is in fact good and attractive. That is why we insist that people confine their opinions to the path laid out by the Word of God. Verse 10. Jesus immediately rebuked them, and made it abundantly clear that what she did was a “good work” upon him. Clearly they were unaware of the spiritual revolution that lay at the heart of Jesus’ teaching. They certainly did not understand the plan of God, and had obviously interpreted his teachings in their personal framework of messianic expectation. Again we have an example where the women that were around Jesus were the most sensitive, helpful, and honourable of his servants. They put the men around Jesus to shame. Clearly she loved Jesus and gave him a beautiful gift to reflect her gratitude and her love. The woman, who is thought to be Mary, obviously believed Jesus when he said he was going to die. The disciples, who also loved Jesus, refused to believe him, because they might have been thinking about the empire that the Messiah would build and their position in it. Verse 11.
Jesus then dealt with this issue of the poor, putting it in its
proper perspective. He made
it clear that there would always be poor people around, and therefore
there would be continued opportunities to do good to them. On the other
hand, there were other opportunities to do good which came on rare
occasions, and which demanded attention and priority over those acts of
good that were constantly there. In this case the bodily
presence of Christ was not something that would be always there, and since
he would have to go away, special acts of devotion to him were called for. In addition, generosity,
in the form of some acts of kindness, should not be done in order to get
applause, so that people would think that you're doing the right thing. Therefore, our acts must be determined by the guidance of the Spirit, and if we follow the Spirit we will see that God prefers some specific things to be done at specific times over other ‘ good things’. The plan of God and the wishes of God do not often follow a rigid formula that we think we have a handle on. Verse 12.
In this case Jesus said, she was doing something that had deep
mystical significance, for she did it for his burial. Some think that the woman
understood Christ's frequent teachings on his death and sufferings better
than the other disciples. Jesus certainly seems to
indicate that her action was an anointing, an embalming prior to his
burial, whether we think it was specifically intended are not.
He knew that after his death there would be no time for proper
embalming of his body, for by the time the women would have come to do
that, he would have triumphed over death and would have been resurrected. Her act of kindness therefore was very reasonable and made a great deal of sense. It could never be considered a waste. AN
ACT OF FIRST LOVE
Let us examine her
actions in some detail and see why Jesus so highly commended her.
We should learn a great deal about our relationship to Christ from
her actions. Note that the heart of
the woman, which we will call Mary, had been touched by Jesus and
therefore this was an impressive and expressive impulse of a heart of
love, without the contamination of calculating whether it was her duty or
not, or whether it cost a lot or not. Because of her heart of
obedience and love, she did not calculate the cost, but in simple love,
took the most precious thing she could find and poured it on his head.
This was an act of the heart and not of calculation. This was first love. Her heart had been
renewed. She was responding
exactly like that of a child who loved unconditionally and without any
form or pretence. We nowadays don't
generally behave like that. When
our heart tells us to do something for Christ, we stop to think whether
someone had done such a thing before, whether others would approve or not,
whether it would be
considered reasonable by our peers, and whether it was safe for us to do
it. We first try to see if
the act we are thinking about fitted in with our duty. Clearly then we do not
act out of the divine impulse of a heart fully consecrated to Jesus.
We therefore do not understand the heights and depth of the love of
this woman. We know that Jesus never
counted the cost but gave everything he had to save us.
In Jerusalem the Apostles went where they were sent without
quibbling. Others even sold
what they had and distributed to the poor. But in contrast many of
us are content with just doing the routine things and performing our
formal religious duties. Note
that this is not “first love” nor even “ true love”. A second matter that we
should note is that this woman did something purely for Christ, directly
for him, which he could not give away to someone else, but which belonged
to him alone. Do we do things purely
and directly for the sake of Christ? There is a difference
between preaching to help your fellow men, which is good, helping the
poor, which is good, teaching a class in church to help the young, which
is good, and doing something focusing totally on doing it “for him”. For when we begin to
think that we are doing acts of good for the church, the Sabbath School,
our fellow men, the poor, or for the sake of the children rather than for
the sake of Christ, that is, exclusively for Him, we cannot truly say we
have obeyed Him in all respects. That is why people balk
at doing good because they do not understand that they should be
concentrating on doing things for Him, and if they do not do things for
Him, exclusively, they cannot expect him to be happy with them. This woman wanted to give Jesus something directly. We should note this comment by one writer: “ You will do your
acts in religion far better, if you can cultivate always the desire to do
that all for Christ. Oh!
To preach for Christ! What
precious work that is! When
the mind is fatigued and the body weary, this will make a man strong to
labour and to suffer too, if he hears the whisper,
“ Go and do it for thy Master's sake.”
Oh! To visit the sick
for Christ, and distribute to the poor for his sake! This will make toil light; self-denial will become a
pleasure, it will cease to be self-denial altogether, if we remember that
we are doing it for him! But
we do not now as this woman did. I
fear or love is but faint and cold” Let us also note that
what she did was quite extraordinary, for she loved so much that she did
something which would lead others to call her mad, foolish, and wasteful.
She followed the promptings of the Spirit, and brought a blessing
to the Saviour. Jesus certainly deserved
to be given this extraordinary treatment, but in many cases he does not
receive that kind of treatment. People
seem to reserve their ardent affection, devoted service and loyalty to the
impostors of the world, and the leaders of cults. The followers of Christ
prefer not to be called fanatics or eccentric, and seek a respectable
name. They are ashamed of the
Master who bore the stripes for them, and forget what he gave up to suffer
for them. We really need believers
to show extraordinary affection for Christ, such as the passionate
devotion and enthusiasm that this woman showed in service. When we think about what
Christ has done for us, can we say that there is no need for this kind of
service? Note that Jesus said she
had done a good work “Upon me”. Actually, work for the poor is
good but there is no better kind of work than work done “on Christ”. Sometime the Spirit leads
us to do things which are more significant than we know or are aware of,
for in the case of this woman, there was probably more in her act than she
knew. Let us therefore examine ourselves to make sure that the flame of love for Christ still burns in our heart, and that we do not forget that we should be doing things for our Master. Verse 13. No wonder then that Jesus stated that this remarkable act of faith and love would never be forgotten, and that all men throughout the ages would learn of this woman and what she did, because of her faith and simple love. Verse 14-15.
This great act of kindness to Christ was immediately followed by
the greatest act of unkindness or betrayal. Among the brethren there
are always the faithful friends, as well as the false, the pretenders and
the hypocrites. One writer comments: “ There are those,
even among Christ's followers, that are worse than anyone can imagine them
to be, and want nothing but opportunity to show it.” THE BETRAYER Let
us to first look at the context of Jesus celebrating the Passover with his
disciples. The Passover plot
was in full swing for some time and Jesus’ enemies were ready.
The disciples were arguing and fighting among themselves about who
was the greatest and who would have the most honour in the Kingdom of
Jesus. Judas of course was at
the Passover with Jesus. This must have been a
very difficult time for Jesus and his humanity was showing.
He knew his death and suffering was imminent.
He also knew that his arrest, suffering and death would be aided
and abetted by the betrayer Judas, who was right there with him.
But he never hinted to the disciples that he knew that Judas would
betray him. There was no sign of
resentment in Jesus toward Judas, nor one little touch of bitterness.
He seemed to love Judas before he kept reaching out to him, warning
him about the consequences of what he would be soon doing. Jesus was surrounded not
only with betrayal, but with pride which dominated his closest friends,
and their appalling ignorance of what was happening around them. John tells us that Jesus
was troubled in Spirit, that is he was agitated, grieved, and deeply hurt. The traitor was Judas,
and there is no hint in Scripture that he was misguided in a ‘good’
way, or that his motives were honourable.
The Bible simply tells us that his motive was money. Jesus knew that there was
increasing greed in Judas, changing him from the dedicated follower with a
reputation for honesty which led to him being chosen as treasurer for the
group. But over time covetousness, greed and a hunger for the world
began to motivate Judas. Though he was an intimate
of Christ and had every reason to love him and be true to him, he
nevertheless betrayed him. There
was no love or gratitude. Note that Judas went to
the Chief Priests. They did
not approach him or try to make a deal with him, for they could not
imagine that one of Christ disciples would be so false.
These rulers knew that their conspiracy had run into a brick wall,
for they could not arrest him publicly, and would not be able to find him
privately given the over two million faithful Jews that were in the city
and its environs. They could go no further
except when the Devil would step in to help them.
The Devil now had to find a traitor disciple that would betray
Christ. Judas knew what the movements of Christ would be, and so he was the ideal person to deliver Christ to them at a convenient time and place so that they would be no uproar. Verse 20-21.
Here we begin a section where Jesus was prepared to forgive
even Judas, but he refused to accept the forgiveness of his sins, which of
course would involve in turning around and following the will of God. There is resistance to
changing our ways in all of us, but let us note that we must not be
resistant to receiving this gift of forgiveness, for if we do, we will not
be found acceptable to God. Jesus had given his
disciples instructions for this celebration of the Passover and the Feast
of Unleavened Bread. Preparation
had been made and the twelve disciples sat down with Jesus. It was evening time, for that was the time when the Passover meal would be eaten. John records that Judas was given a place of honour, only John seated on the other side could hear what Jesus would say to him. This would be a strange meal for as they ate, Jesus began to talk about betrayal, telling the group that one of them would betray him. This was enough to spoil their appetite. Verse 22.
All the disciples felt extremely terrible and one by one began to
question whether he was referring to them. It might have been that
they were unsure of themselves and very grieved by the possibility that
Jesus might consider one of them as a traitor.
They knew that Jesus knew the hearts of men and they probably could
never have dreamed that there could be a traitor among his closest
friends, men who had been given the power to heal, cast out demons, and
perform mighty acts of power. Though they probably did not like the idea of taking up the Cross, and might have experienced temptation brought by Satan to deny the specific route that Jesus had chosen, they were grieved at the thought. They might have remembered that they had very recently been quarrelling among themselves, as to who would be the greatest in the Kingdom, and therefore they might have thought that they were all suspect in the eyes of Jesus. The language indicates that they were becoming very despondent. Verse 23.
Jesus' response obviously did not rule out anyone, for all of them
would have been dipping their bread into the common dish. He probably was referring to Psalm 41:9, indicating that this
was the fulfillment of that prophecy about betrayal by one that was a
close friend and a special friend, but who was not a true friend but an
imitator. The thought that anyone sharing in a highly valued and special meal such as a Passover meal would be planning such a betrayal, would be absolutely shocking to the disciples. This kind of crime Jesus was speaking about would be a most heinous and unspeakable act. Verse 24.
Jesus then, without specifically identifying the betrayer, went on
to point out that the Scriptures had prophesied that the Son of Man would
be betrayed and would suffer. He then added a warning
which Judas would not miss, for he was giving Judas every opportunity to
hear about the fate of the one who would betray him. He pronounced a most serious woe on the betrayer, for this was a most horrible sin, with terrible and unimaginable consequences for the traitor. Its as if Jesus was offering Judas an opportunity to repent and to prove himself to be a true friend. Verse 25.
Despite all this Judas refused to confess, responding “Master
is it I”. He could have
asked for forgiveness and accepted this from Jesus, but he continued to
imitate friendship. This of course reminds us that often we do not face the truth about ourselves, and refuse to acknowledge our personal sins and our disobedience to the commandment of God. We look at God in the face and cover up our sins, behaving as if we do not understand its implications. CONCLUSION
God wants simple unadulterated love. The focus must be on him alone. Let us accept the warning of Phil. 3:18-19 and turn away from false professions. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: hose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.
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