Holy Week – Wednesday – All or Nothing

Wednesday is right in the middle of the week. It’s a day that seems pivotal for our attitudes and mindsets. During Passion Week there was no exception. The bible tells us about two people who, at that moment, on that day, made decisions that forever marked them and changed them. One was Mary, the sister of Lazarus, and the other was Judas, one of Jesus’ disciples.

Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him.  “But not during the festival,” they said, “or the people may riot.”

While He was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on His head.

Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume?  It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly. (Mark 14:1-5)

Imagine being present at both locations. The first was in the palace of Caiaphas, the high priest. The other in the home of a believer with Jesus. One was plotting and scheming, desperately trying to find a way to kill Jesus. The other was a home filled with friends, fellowship and the presence of Jesus.

The first brought out the worst in people. Their selfish desires, their pride, jealously and their complete blindness to who Jesus was. The second brought out the desire to worship the Lord, to give fully and completely everything of value to Him and to bask in His presence.

Both scenes took place within hours of each other and were radically different. They revealed that we have a choice to make about Jesus. Either we believe who He is, love Him and follow Him, or we hate and reject Him. Hate seems like a harsh statement, but neglect, dismissal, unbelief and betrayal of Him is rejection. We either love Him or hate Him; it’s all or nothing. There can be no middle ground. And remember…no choice is still a choice.

Mary’s choice was to worship Jesus with everything she had. Her most precious possession was lavishly poured out on Him, in devotion to Him.

Jesus responded by saying, “Leave her alone, why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.  The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me.  She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial.  Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

Wouldn’t you love to hear Jesus say, “________________ (insert your name) has done a beautiful thing for me. _______________(insert your name) did what she could.

The contrast to her response was that of Judas. Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them.  They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

Judas chose to follow his own selfish ambition and betrayed Jesus with a kiss. He has also been remembered throughout history but not in a way that anyone would desire to be known for.

Father, thank you for giving us free agency to choose for ourselves. I pray that we will make the choice to follow You. Believe in You. Live for You and be completely devoted to You. Take us from the middle ground we tend to settle on and fill us with a passion to give all and do all for You. Lord we want to do beautiful things for You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Go Deeper with Passion Week Readings

• Alabaster jar – oil poured out – Matthew 26:1-13 Mark 14: 1-9
• Judas agrees to betray Jesus – Matthew 26: 14-16 Mark 14:10-11 Luke 22:1-6

Make It Personal

Which path will you choose?