May 18 - Do You Kill Joy?

May 18 – Do You Kill Joy?

Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”

When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well, since it was on account of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus. (John 12:1-11)

You’d think that being the Son of God would pretty much assure you an easy life, wouldn’t you!  Every time Jesus turned around, someone was there to make annoying statements and force Him to get involved … even His disciples.

A lot had happened and He was finally able to relax at the home of His friends, Mary, Martha & Lazarus in Bethany.  Mary, who had moved Jesus to tears at Lazarus’ death had to have been incredibly grateful for the return of her brother and the fact that Jesus cared for them so much.  To show her gratitude, she washed His feet with scented nard or perfume and dried them with her hair.  A beautiful moment, right?

Wrong. Judas got nasty about the fact that she hadn’t given him the money instead to share with the poor.

Isn’t that the way it always happens?  I have been in more churches where the nasty-mouthed, complaining, nagging meanies control not only the money but the activities of the church.  If something incredibly wonderful happens, they show up the next day with complaints that will ensure it never happens again.  Judas not only stole money from the coffers, but he stole the joy of that moment from Mary and from Jesus.

Then, to top it off, poor Lazarus had a death sentence laid out on him because Jesus had brought him back from the dead.

There was no joy in the simple (and profound) moments of Jesus’ life. Everyone had their own agenda and were willing to reduce anything good so that it could be destroyed.

Do you encourage joy or do you move immediately to the negative aspects?  Judas’ words sounded as if he were just being practical.  Does your practical nature strip joy out of a situation? 

Jesus came so that we may have joy and that we might have abundant life.  Share that with each other today!