by Angela Moreno

The world is literally sitting on Jesus’s shoulders. He knows His purpose and He knows the pain He is going to face. Jesus knows He has only a short time left on this earth; He is about to follow the will of His Father.

Jesus is staying at the home of Lazarus in Bethany. He is spending one of His last evenings on this earth with His friends relaxing and eating. While eating, Mary, sister of Lazarus approaches Jesus with an alabaster jar and pours the jar of very expensive perfume on Jesus and used her hair to wipe his feet (John 12:3).

All of His disciples were very upset about this. The perfume was expensive and could have been sold for a very high price.  But Jesus reprimanded them for their outburst. “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.” (Matthew 26:10-12).

Jesus’s response did not sit well with one of His disciples. Judas was the keeper of the money and he also was a thief who was upset that the perfume was not sold.  Judas would often help himself to some of the money and wasting this perfume instead of selling it meant a little less money in Judas’s pocket (John 12:4-6).

Luke 22:3 states that Satan entered Judas Isacariot. He then approached the chief priests and asked “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” (Matthew 26:15). The Pharisees has been looking for a way capture Jesus and one of Jesus’s disciples was willing to deliver Him to them.

Thirty pieces of silver bought the betrayal of Jesus. For three years, Jesus and Judas had traveled together, slept next to each other, and ate many meals together. Judas heard every sermon Jesus preached and saw every miracle He performed.  Judas was willing to throw away his friendship with Jesus for meager coins.

Tomorrow is the last day of freedom Jesus will see.

His greatest sermon will be displayed for all to see.

Our redemption is near.