Passion Week: Mary Compared to Judas

Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 12:1-8

Matthew and Mark place the anointing of Jesus by Mary next to the commitment of Judas to betray Jesus during the Passion Week. By placing these two stories together, we see a great picture in the difference between a genuine follower and one who is a follower in name only.

The story of Mary anointing Jesus is a prophetic and loving act by her. Though she did not know it at the time, she was portraying the coming burial of Jesus after the crucifixion. She used expensive nard to demonstrate her worship of Jesus. She did this despite the ridicule that she gets from Judas and the other disciples about how much her sacrifice was worth. Culturally, she was not considered to be anyone of importance, but her selfless act of worship is praised by Jesus and is forever remembered as a act of devotion.

This is contrasted with the act of betrayal by one of the supposedly devoted disciples, Judas. His actions reveal that his devotion was really to himself and his own desires and not the desires of Jesus. His action is as selfish as Mary's act is selfless.

As we prepare for Easter, we should evaluate our lives in light of the Gospel. Are we genuinely in relationship with Jesus and willing to give everything, or are we a follower in name only and are really driven by our own desires? May God grant us the ability to die to ourselves and follow Him.