Daily Lesson for February 24, 2022

 Today’s Daily Lesson comes from John chapter 12 verses 4 through 8:

4But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, 5‘Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii* and the money given to the poor?’ 6(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.) 7Jesus said, ‘Leave her alone. She bought it* so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. 8You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.’

Today is the Feast of St. Matthias, the Apostle chosen to replace Judas after his betrayal. 

The story of Judas is tragic and disturbing. Why he betrayed Jesus is a question for the ages, but surely it had something to do with the guilt and shame he felt for having pilfered from the poor. There had to be an anger and deep dis-ease within him, that alienated him from Jesus and the community. 

As a pastor now for nearly 20 years, I can say it is sometimes hard to know what all is going on inside the minds and hearts of people.  What can be said is that something sinister and evil had taken hold of Judas, and Jesus could see it. That is why Jesus told Judas to “Do what you have to do.” Jesus somehow knew Judas could not be helped. He had for whatever reason set his heart to coverup and destruction. 

There is a prayer for the Feast of St. Matthias which says these words:

“O Almighty God, who in the place of Judas chose your faithful servant Matthias to be numbered among the Twelve: Grant that your Church, being delivered from false apostles, may always be ordered and guided by faithful and true pastors . . .”

Judas is a sobering reminder that there are false apostles, and false pastors, and false leaders within the church. It is painful when these are revealed. The harm they have done is often irrevocable and life shattering. The coverup is often worse. 

We do indeed pray to the Almighty for faithful and true pastors and leaders. Christ continues to suffer harm when he is betrayed by those said to be closest to him, and the betrayals destroy churches, families, and friendships. They also destroy the soul. 

Yes, betrayals are bound to come; “But woe unto them by whom they come.”  

And woe also unto them who think they or their church could never be victim or victimizer.

Ryon Price is Senior Pastor of Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas.