Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.
Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.
Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair.
And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.”
He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.
You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”
John 12:1-8
There is a fascinating verse in John 12 that raises an important question.
In the story, Mary has come to anoint Jesus’s feet with expensive perfume—an act of worship and foreshadowing (though I am not sure Mary understood that at the time).
As the expensive perfume is being poured out, Judas objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor?”
Jesus immediately defends Mary and tells Judas that he is thinking incorrectly.
But in the midst of this, John tells us something crazy: “Judas used to help himself to what was put into the money bag.”
Did you catch that? Judas, as Jesus’s Treasurer, used to steal from Him!
Jesus, the Son of God, had to know this. So Jesus knew that Judas was actively stealing from Him and yet continued to keep him around.
Why do you suppose? Why did He keep Judas in His inner circle? I mean, if you found out your church treasurer was stealing, would you keep him around?
To be honest, I’m not sure I know the answer to the question. I suppose some might say, “Because Judas had to fulfill the prophecy of betraying Jesus.” And I guess that makes sense.
But I can’t help but think there must be more to it. At the very least, He could have removed him from the role of Treasurer. But He did not. He left him in charge of the money.
I don’t know the answer to the question of why Jesus kept Judas around.
But I am led to one thought that I can’t shake today.
I don’t know why Jesus kept Judas close to Him, but I am glad that He did. Because if Jesus kicked to the curb any of us who betray Him or disobey Him with our lives, none of us would be around very long.
But Jesus is patient and forgiving and faithful. And even though we mess up—often—He keeps us close.
And today, I am thankful for that fact and choose to focus on it.
Prayer
Lord, thank You for Your grace and mercy that is new each day. Thank You for loving me and keeping me close. Though I sin more than I want, mold me more each day into the image of Your Son. That is my heart and my desire. Thank You. Amen.