Judas Iscariot
Life had not been kind to him. He had waited over the years for someone to free them from Roman oppression. Every day, as he walked the streets, he chafed against the presence of the Romans. Everyone knew Caesar was king, and Herod was just a pawn. Many men tried to resist, but gradually they all died at the hands of the Romans along with his dreams of freedom.
When Jesus had come, Judas had a glimmer of hope. The Teacher had an authority about Him that was not reckless like that of many of the rebels. When He spoke of His kingdom, Judas believed him. The day Jesus asked Judas to follow Him, he was quick to respond. Maybe, finally, Jesus would be the One to rout the Romans. Once again, the Jews could be a people free from tyranny.
The money Judas had hoarded over the years gave him security. Though the Romans taxed him heavily, they could not outright take it from him. No one knew where he kept his bag of money. It was something he could hold in his hands, something real.
Jesus trusted him to keep the money for their ministry expenses. Guilt needled him each time he stole from the bag. Judas told himself that Jesus would never know. But, every time Jesus looked his way, Judas felt He was looking into his very soul. Maybe He was.
Mary, of Bethany
Life had not been kind to her. She had waited over the years for someone to claim her in marriage. Gradually, her prospects dulled as she aged. Despite his healing, her father would always be the leper. Lazarus would take his place when he died. No matter how hard she worked, her older sister, Martha, would always be the home manager. Mary never had found a place to fit in the household.
When Jesus had come, Mary had a glimmer of hope. He listened to her. When Martha chided her for her laziness once again, Jesus defended her. She loved to hear Him teach. As much as she longed for marriage, Jesus’ words gave her a deeper longing for something she could not quite grasp. Then, He had brought her brother back from the dead! Between Lazarus’ fame and Martha’s management, Mary was lost. No one remembered she was there. No one seemed to care. Except for Him.
So, she continued saving her money and poured it into a tangible treasure. The alabaster box of costly oil was all she had to offer a potential husband. All she had to prove she had some worth. She hid it away. No one knew it was there. That box gave her security. It was something she could hold in her hands, something real.
She trusted Jesus. When He visited, she wanted to tell Him about it. It somehow seemed less important when He was there. Having her sense of security resting in a box seemed silly when He looked her way. There was no way He could know her hiding place for the costly perfume. But, every time Jesus looked her way, Mary felt He was looking into her very soul. Maybe He was.
Judas Iscariot
It had not turned out like he expected. Jesus’ powerful words had drawn him in and kept Him hoping. But, the Jewish leaders were openly antagonistic. They did not see Jesus as the answer to their freedom from Rome but were actively seeking to kill Him. Judas could not see that happening. Jesus had gotten away from them before.
However, he could see Jesus’ promises being lost in the sea of empty promises that so many other insurgents had made. Maybe it was time to cut his losses. He thought of the money bag he had concealed at home. There might just be a way he could regain all the time he had lost over the last 3 years.
Mary, of Bethany
It had not turned out like she expected. Jesus’ powerful words had drawn her in and kept her hoping. But, rumor had it that the Jewish leaders were actively seeking to kill Jesus. She could not see that happening. Jesus was too kind and gentle. His words were too powerful. Surely, they could see that He was the true Messiah, come to save them all!
However, she could see the tiredness in Jesus’ eyes when He and His disciples came for another visit. The men gathered at the table with Jesus. There was no way for her to comfort Jesus, to let Him know that she believed in Him and His message. Maybe it was time to cut her losses. She thought of the box carefully concealed. There might just be a way to regain all she had lost.
Judas Iscariot
He slipped in, unnoticed by those closest to him. The men gathered there looked up impassively. Wetting his lips nervously, he asked, “What will you give me if I bring you to Him?” Everyone knew Who he meant. He was the One everyone wanted, in one way or another. They agreed to give him thirty pieces of silver if he would only give up Jesus.
Judas left, mind whirring. All he had to do was show them where Jesus was. Then, he would receive his money. The price of a slave. The fleeting thought plagued him: “He is worth so much more than a slave! He is a king!” Judas shook his head. No, Jesus would get away. He would go back to His life as a carpenter. Judas would go back to his life of making money and waiting for the next deliverer.
Thirty pieces of silver were worth the death of a dream.
Mary, of Bethany
She slipped in, unnoticed by those closest to Him. The men gathered there were listening to Jesus. She swallowed nervously. All she had to do was get close to Him. She grasped the box in the folds of her robe. With the box, she could live for a year on her own. Her heart tripped. Then the thought swelled in her mind: “He is worth so much more than my box! He is my King!” She nodded her head. This was the way she could comfort Jesus, show Him she did not doubt Him, and that she loved Him with all of her heart.
Jesus was worth the death of her dream.
Judas Iscariot
No! This could not be happening. They had condemned Jesus! The Jewish leaders were having Him killed, and He did not stop them this time. Even if He was not the deliverer Judas thought He was, Judas did not doubt that He was the most innocent man who ever walked the earth.
Judas staggered into the room before the group of men. They watched again, impassively. “I was wrong! He’s innocent!” The men shrugged. They knew it. He knew it. They did not care. He now cared very much. But it was too late. He looked around wildly, then down at the bag in his hands.
Judas launched the bag from his hands. The bag broke open, coins clattering against the floor. He rushed out into the night. He heard them behind him, “It is the price of blood….”
“He’s going to die because of me! I cannot accept that. I cannot bear the cost of His Blood!”
His dream was shattered, and his security lay at the feet of the priests. He took his shame into his own hands, his body shattered never to rise again.
Mary, of Bethany
No! This could not be happening. She had watched Him die, and she had seen them roll the stone in front of His tomb. Her mind could not wrap around how the Messiah could have died. Even if He was not the Messiah they had thought He was, Mary did not doubt that He was the Son of God Who had walked on earth.
The women left to anoint His body at the tomb. She could not bring herself to go. Mary remembered His words then, “She has poured this ointment on my body…for my burial.” She had already done her part.
She remembered the shattering of that bottle as she broke it open. The ointment flowed over His head and down onto His robe. He looked at her with such love and understanding.
She remembered the Blood flowing down His head and over His broken body. Still, He looked down at all of them with love. And forgiveness.
“He died because of me!” She had to accept that. It was true. She and all humanity bore the cost of His Blood.
Her dream was shattered, and her security was buried with the only One Who had truly seen and loved her. She gave her shame into His hands and buried it with Him. Mary thought of His body, broken. Would He ever rise again?
Judas or Mary?
Judas. Mary of Bethany. Jesus memorialized them both. One for his betrayal of the One Who loved him. One for her devotion to the One she loved.
Both of them were sinners, in need of a Savior. Jesus sacrificed for both of them. When Jesus rose, one of them was forever lost in his unbelief. The other saw her living Lord and believed.
What is the difference? One saw who he was but did not realize Who Jesus was. One saw who she was but also knew Who Jesus was. One decided to sacrifice his life rather than accept the sacrifice of Jesus to save him. The other accepted the Sacrifice on her behalf, gave Him her life, and found resurrection life.
The question this Easter season is this: What is His Precious Blood worth to you? Are you Judas or are you Mary?