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Judas: Blinded by Desire
by Douglas J. Rumford
Text: Mark 14:1-11
Topic: The unsolved mystery of Judas is that he said no to Jesus.
Big Idea: What a contrast between the woman who anointed Jesus with ointment worth a year's wages, and Judas who betrayed him for a relative pittance. Which are we?
Keywords: Betrayal; Desire; Poor; Priorities; Stewardship; Worship.
Introduction:
- Mark 14:1-11 describes the battle waged over Christ in his final days.
The tension between giving God your best in worship and giving to God's work will always be with us.
- The woman's lavish gift prompted a strong negative reaction from many.
-Illustration: Rumford's father, who headed the organ fund, bought a new $500,000 organ for the church. People criticized him, saying the money should go to the poor: "How can you waste all that money on worship?"
- When Jesus says, "Leave her alone," he's rebuking his disciples' hypocrisy.
- Our idea of virtue is incomplete; the way we treat Jesus is the main thing.
When we refuse Jesus's idea of who he is and what his kingdom looks like, we fall vulnerable to Satan.
- John identifies Judas as "a thief," and the woman as Mary (Martha's sister).
- He identifies Judas as the primary objector to the woman's gift.
- In Judas, we see that our own expectations can drive us further from Christ.
- In Judas, we see covetousness, deceit, jealousy, ambition, and fear.
When we see Jesus as a cause and not Christ, we create God in our image and idolize our desires.
- If you want to really learn from Christ, don't throw him out; throw your wrong thoughts out.
-Illustration: A rich couple new to Rumford's church wanted a ministry and leadership in the church. When Rumford didn't let them have it, the couple left the church in an ugly way.
- We demand things of God he never intended to give, and reject his greater gifts.
Rather than honoring Jesus as a cause, worship him as a person.
- There are four fascinating contrasts between Mary and Judas.
-Judas' greed vs. Mary's generosity.
-Judas' covert deception vs. Mary's open act of worship.
-Judas' pride vs. Mary's humiliation.
-Judas' cool detachment vs. Mary's unmeasured devotion.
Conclusion: Is Jesus a cause or an ideal?
- The mystery isn't that Judas betrayed Jesus, but that he never let Jesus in.
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