The Easter season is upon us, the time we Christians commemorate the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Christ.
In the run up to Easter Sunday, for several denominations, it is a time of prayer and fasting. Many use this season to reflect on their relationship with God and renew their dedication to Him. This time therefore involves all sorts of personal sacrifices as believers rededicate themselves. If done for the right reasons and with a genuine heart, God is pleased with our sacrifices. On the other hand if they are done for show, to earn His favor or with other wrong motives they go to waste.
At the time before the crucifixion, we read about a particular incident that happened at the house of a man called Simon (not Peter). At this place, Lazarus (who had been raised) together with his sisters Martha and Mary made a feast for the Lord. I believe they had never had a chance to properly thank him for erasing so much grief by restoring their brother. Jesus visited Bethany with his disciples and the sisters took opportunity to express their gratitude.
During the feast, Mary took out an alabaster jar and anointed the Lord with very costly ointment. She did this in the sight of all who sat around or near Jesus. This was the grateful heart of a woman Jesus had healed and saved from grief. Mary was doing this for her Lord and Savior, in the sight of many to bring him honor.
The sacrifice was great, almost a year’s wages worth of perfume. It was probably her life’s savings as there’s no indication that she or her siblings were wealthy. This sacrifice came from her heart and was received well by Christ. No wrong motives were found.
But we all know the story does not end there. There was a completely different response from some of the disciples who knew the cost of the ointment. Judas in particular was riled by her actions and said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” (John 12:5).
This appeared to be a good suggestion at the time. Some of the other disciples agreed with him. Their Lord had taught them the importance of helping the needy and wouldn’t it make more sense to help several people? They had given up their own wealth for the benefit of the poor after all.
Jesus however defended Mary saying, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. You always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her” (Matthew 26:10-13). That prophecy has been and continues to be fulfilled – as it is even with the writing of this piece.
So why did Jesus look down on Judas’ suggestion to feed the poor and uphold Mary’s perfume offering? The simple answer is motives.
In the book of John the heart of Judas is revealed: After he had suggested that the perfume be sold and proceeds given to the poor, the Word says, “He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it” (John 12: 6).
This makes it clear that the Lord always goes by what is in our hearts. Why do we do what we do? I mean what is really behind it all? In this Easter season let us try to keep the right motives and do not simply think God is pleased with our self-denial as it is. He examines our hearts to see whether we are genuine or simply trying to gain for selfish reasons.
For the genuine heart there was a blessing of recognition and honor for the sacrifice made. For the deceptive heart there was offence and no blessing. In his anger, Judas soon went to the Chief Priests and took thirty pieces of silver to betray Jesus. And we know what the legacy of that name Judas has become.