Reckless -- Part 2

Mark 14:10-11

Judas = reckless behavior

What comes to mind more readily with the mention of "Judas" is… betrayal. The writer, Mark, states, "Judas went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them."

But why? What caused this reckless behavior from one of the disciples?

When it comes to getting the scoop on Judas Iscariot, not much is known. He was a man of Kerioth, which meant unlike the other disciples he wasn't a Galilean. Entrusted as treasurer for the group, he pilfered from the purse on occasion (John 12:6).

Pilfering indicates greed and insecurity.

What else though? What was swirling around in the head of Judas that pushed him over the edge?

Luke paints a picture of Judas with a dark stroke -- that Satan entered this disciple.

Was it that simple though? "Satan entered Judas." End of story?

Judas made a conscience choice to betray Jesus. To make such a decision would indicate something dire had built up inside this disciple.

In the previous nine verses in Chapter 14, the writer could've easily told the story as follows: The chief priests and scribes sought a way to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. Judas went to the chief priests in order to betray Jesus to them. When they heard it, they promised to give money to Judas, which sealed the deal.

But that wasn't how the whole story was conveyed. The piece about the chief priests and scribes is a bookend, as is the piece about Judas deciding to betray Jesus. Between the two is the anointing at Bethany.

While certainly important that the unnamed woman's action was shared, was her recklessness the root cause for Judas' decision?

Did it boil down to money? In Judas' mind, 300 denarii was thrown away, which a few coins could've lined his pockets and eased his own needs. For three years, he had wandered here, there and beyond, following Jesus, living by the kindness of strangers, scraping by. Was that the way the followers of the Messiah should live?!?

Was Judas jealous he wasn't part of the "inner circle"? Jesus kept "favoring" certain disciples, but Judas was never included in the mix. When he spoke up against the waste caused by this woman (as mentioned in John 12:4-5), guess who was called on the carpet?

A key statement by Jesus follows the action of the woman and scolding of Judas, "She has anointed my body beforehand for its burial."

Once again, Jesus said he would die. Was that the way it was to be for the Messiah -- to die? Was that the way it was to be for Israel -- to remain under the rule of Rome? Because if the Messiah died, the Promised Land wouldn't be restored to the Jews.

Maybe Judas didn't want Jesus to die. Yes, going before the Jewish authorities would line his pockets with a few silver coins. No one would know about that if all went accordingly to his plan.

Yes, turning Jesus over to the chief priests and scribes would cause friction with his fellow disciples. They would forgive him if all went accordingly to his plan.

Someone needed to do something. Jesus' head wasn't on straight. If he were forced into action, Jesus could conquer his enemies and restore the land to the Jews. Jesus would be the Messiah of victory as destiny had been foretold!

A battle raged in Judas. He wanted Jesus to be as he saw him. Basically, Judas was saying to Jesus, "Follow me. I know better than you. I know better than God."

"Pride goes before a fall." Proverbs 16:18

Yet… how different are we from Judas? Do our own dreams ever cloud how we think? What about jealousy? Do our ambitions trump love and loyalty? Does money weaken our will to make the right decision? What desires of ours have overridden spirituality?

NEXT

"My body; my blood"

Reckless -- Part 1

Mark 14:1-9

Two separate sections; two "reckless" stories.

The time draws near for a major festival as well as a minor festival combined over an eight-day period: Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Jerusalem will be overrun with pilgrims. Especially during this remembrance, a nationalist feeling intensifies.

How so? Historically, the crowds arrived to celebrate their release from bondage in Egypt (Exodus 12:1 - 13:16). And now,… the people longed for another deliverance -- from Rome.

The Roman governor was so anxious, "special detachments of troops were drafted into Jerusalem and quartered in the Tower of Antonia which overlooked the Temple." [i] Great measures were taken to discourage an uprising.

Did You Know…?

"During the Passover, all lodging was free. Jerusalem could not hold the crowds, and Bethany and Bethphage were two of the outlying villages where pilgrims lodged." [ii]

However another type of uprising had occurred -- in the hearts and minds of the chief priests and the elders who gathered at the palace of the high priest Caiaphas. Jesus had to be arrested and killed but quick. Easier said than done, as this particular situation was rather sticky.

"After his arrest, there must be a trial. But the religious laws state that no trials can be held during Passover, and none can be held at night. Making matters even more pressing is the religious stipulation that if a death penalty is ordered, a full night must pass before the sentence can be carried out." [iii] Time was of the essence and reckless behavior was required. The arrest must be an act of stealth.

Juxtaposed against this story of hatred (and eventual betrayal) is one of love and devotion.

Within Mark's telling is simplicity, also found in Matthew 26:6-13. The notable difference is "some" were "disciples." John 12:1-7 expounds further on the story with slight variations, while the fourth Gospel -- Luke 7:36-50 -- shares an entirely different anointing scenario altogether.

Regardless of the telling in the Gospels, reckless action boldly lives.

Jesus and his disciples were at the house of Simon the (healed) leper in the village of Bethany. There, a woman broke open an alabaster jar of expensive ointment of nard and anointed Jesus with its contents.

"This phial held a very precious ointment made from a rare plant." [iv] "The ointment was scented with the flower of spikenard, which grows in the Himalayan region." [v]

The worth of the ointment of nard was "more than 300 denarii." For a common laborer, one denarius was a day's wage. More than 300 denarii would represent almost a year's worth of work for such a person. What was this woman thinking?!?

That question was angrily bandied about by some of the disciples, and they turned on the woman. Jesus intervened.

"Let her alone; why do you trouble her?"

What bothered the men was both the extravagance and the waste. This woman took it upon herself to pour out all of the ointment. She could've simply poured out a few drops on the head of Jesus. That was the custom of the day. Instead, look what she did! Consider what good could come from 300 denarii which could've helped the poor. "Let's not forget that, Jesus!"

Jesus hadn't forgotten.

"You always have the poor with you,..."

Seems rather callous if his words ended there, but they don't. "…and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish."

Reminding his followers of Deuteronomy 15:11, it is a duty of everyone to care for those in need.

He continues with, "But you will not always have me."  On several occasions, Jesus has told his disciples that he will die. While the disciples will have time to serve the poor, their time to serve Jesus ends soon.

Paraphrasing, Jesus says, "Look at how this woman has served me. With unselfish, unconditional extravagance. With recklessness." "She has done what she could."

How often in our own lives have we had the opportunity to do something which we were moved to do, but didn't? That gnawing impulse is left as… an impulse. Could've, would've, should've. Where is our reckless, loving action?

As for the woman, why didn't Mark name her? Was it because Mark wanted her to represent all "unnamed" women?

Who truly understood the magnitude of this woman's devoted act? Jesus tells them, "She has anointed my body beforehand for its burial."  But that's not the way it was supposed to be done. After death, bodies would be prepared in such a way. It makes no sense. Right?

Contrast this anointing of Jesus before his burial to Mark 16:1-8. It is then three "named" women attempt to anoint Jesus' body, unsuccessfully.

Where three "named" failed, one "unnamed" succeeded. Jesus knew what was to come and understood the magnitude of this woman's act of recklessness.

NEXT

Judas Iscariot -- reckless continues

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[i] The Gospel of Mark, Barclay -- p. 324

[ii] The Gospel of Mark, Barclay -- p. 324

[iii] Killing Jesus, O'Reilly & Dugard -- p. 207

[iv] The Gospel of Mark, Barclay -- p. 326

[v] Jewish Annotated New Testament -- p. 88

Be Prepared

Be Prepared

Mark 13:28-37

Two parables conclude Chapter 13 with a little controversy to stir the religious pot.

With his circle of four apostles around him, Jesus has revealed warnings of destruction and suffering, as well as an eventual return by "the Son of Man coming in clouds" and the Jews to the Promised Land.

Yet it's verse 30 where skeptics, atheists and secularists hang their hats. "Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place." Should his statement in verse 30 be taken literally? If so, was Jesus in error?

What did Jesus previously say about the end times? "This is but the beginning of the birth pangs." There is also a tie-in to verse 32, where Jesus states no one knows the day or hour when the Son of Man returns. Only God knows.

While on earth, Jesus was living into his humanity. Only God, our Creator, knows when the time will come. As God of flesh and bone, what Jesus "knows" is... there will be persecution, suffering beyond imagination, Jerusalem will fall and the Temple will be destroyed. Be prepared.

Adding into the mix,…

To whom was the Gospel of Mark being shared? With primarily gentile Greek-speaking residents of the Roman Empire. Did the author of this Gospel intentionally write these words to heighten the importance for making a life change? To make such a change would be extremely radical, with one's life on the line.

If Mark had instead written -- "Many generations will pass before all these things have taken place" -- how might the listening audience have reacted? Intention was behind that statement -- verse 30. There's no guarantee of tomorrow. Be prepared. When time is of the essence, significant choices will be made.

Then there's verse 31. "Heaven and earth will pass away,…" Heaven will pass away? Really?!? Does that make sense when taking "heaven" in a literal context?

Consider Leviticus 26:14-20. Notice verse 19 -- "I will make your sky (heaven) like iron and your earth like copper." God's view is personalized, as in Isaiah 1:1-2. God is describing and speaking to Israel. It's not about a literal heaven and earth.

Jesus brings forth a New Covenant. When given to the people, "heaven and earth" (life as it is known by the Law) will indeed pass away. The Old Covenant will be uprooted, and in its place, the New Covenant will be planted. Be prepared.

Jesus continues, speaking about the necessity for watchfulness. "Like a man going away,..." There's the master of the house/property who will be leaving on a journey. The servants have been entrusted with responsibilities.

When Jesus "leaves home," the apostles will be "in charge, each with his work." They have been empowered to do,… to be. Jesus has prepared them for this moment. And the apostles will help expand the community with the Good News, thereby empowering others to do,… to be.

In our own lives,… did a moment in time come when responsibility was placed upon you to be watchful? To care for something? As a child, did your parents say, "You're old enough now, so we're going to put you in charge while we're away"? What did that feel like?

Being on watch, being alert takes effort. It's much easier to sleepwalk through life. To just go through the paces so another day passes by. No effort required.

Incorporating the Boy Scouts motto -- "Be Prepared" -- one must be prepared to live a full and worthwhile life, to do whatever is necessary in any situation that arises.

To follow Christ, our lives will be radically changed. The world as we have known it will pass away. But it's not "the end."

Let us live life fully. Stay awake. Be watchful. Be prepared.

NEXT

The plot thickens; the anointing