A Tale Of Two Followers

Whether or not Judas's thought process happened as I've speculated, the result was the same. Matthew and Mark both place Judas's dark turn of heart as happening immediately after Mary's extravagant act of love. Life has a way of bringing to the surface who we really are, the deep hidden motivations of our heart. It certainly happened in Judas. But it happened in Mary as well. While the situation caused the evil dormant within Judas to rise to the surface, it was the same instance that brought something beautiful up from the depths of the maiden from Bethany. Instead of just sitting passively and listening to the Savior, instead of being overwhelmed by grief, this time Mary responded. She gave herself in worship to the One who had given so much to her and her family. Not so with Judas, apparently. Though Jesus knew the disciple's weaknesses, he had given Judas chance after chance in the three years they had traveled together. Imagine spending three years of your life with the Messiah, yet walking away more or less the same-or even worse than when you started. Judas did just that. It can happen to any of us if we don't settle, once and for all, the question of Christ's lordship in our lives. Until we determine whom we will serve, we run the risk of developing a Judas heart instead of a heart of sacrificial love. For whenever our interests conflict with his interests, we'll be tempted to sell Christ off as a slave to the highest bidder, rather than spend our all to anoint his feet. (From: Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World)