Mark 14:1–11 Now the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some sly way to arrest Jesus and kill him. “But not during the Feast,” they said, “or the people may riot.”  While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as 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. “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “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. I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” 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.

After being welcomed to Jerusalem as a conquering hero, cleansing the Temple, and spending time teaching the people with parables, the Jewish leaders had it with Jesus. They wanted Him dead and gone.

On Wednesday, Jesus was in the home of Simon in Bethany. While at the supper table with His followers, one of the women named Mary anointed Jesus with very expensive perfume. The disciples thought it an unwise use of resources. Judas wanted the money for himself. It was on this day that Judas made arrangements to hand Jesus over to the Sanhedrin in exchange for money. He would carry out his plot the next day.

Do you see the irony that it was a sin that handed Jesus over to the Jewish leaders to be crucified so that He could pay for the sins of everyone? Jesus’ death paid for the sin of Judas’ betrayal as well!  He could have been forgiven for Jesus’ sake, just as everyone else in the world has the opportunity to be forgiven, no matter what their sin might be.

You and I need to rejoice in that good news today.

Alas, and did my Savior bleed
And did my Sovereign die?
Would He devote that sacred head,
For such a worm as I.

Was it for crimes that I had done,
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity, grace unknown,
And love beyond degree!

Well might the sun in darkness hide
And shut His glories in;
When Christ the mighty Maker died
For man, the creature’s sin.

Thus might I hide my blushing face
While His dear cross appears;
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness
And melt mine eyes to tears.

But drops of grief can ne’er repay
The debt of love I owe;
Here, Lord, I give myself away,
‘Tis all that I can do.

The Lutheran Hymnal #154