Judas's Response
In John 12:4-5, author John has clearly and distinctively showed and explained Judas's response and his intention on what he said;
4 But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, 5 “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii[a] and given to the poor?” 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.
John 12:5
New King James Version
John clearly explains the raw intentions of Judas before and after Judas responded to ensure that the readers don't get confused. But if John had not explained the intention of Judas in verse 6, how do we differentiate between good intentions or greed in the face of good intentions? In other words, how John would have discerned that Judas was not telling that in a genuine manner?
Looking at the event and Judas response, it didn't seem shocking because the perfume was very expensive to be poured indeed. He even justified that the money from the trade of the perfume can be used for charity purposes. Wasn't that what Jesus always taught and preached? Even I would have supported Judas at that moment if I didn't know how to discern the magnitude of sincerity and genuineness in one's response.
Now let us see some examples and try to relate it to this scenario in the hope that we learn something from here. Why is this clear view of charity and "in the mask of charity" important is that, in today's world we see many Judas kind of people doing charity but we don't have Johns to explain and reveal them. So we are left undecided and some even trust their outward good looks and get cheated. So let us once for all clear this out?
How to know whether Judas was genuine is his response or not?
2 years ago, when I was still a non-believer, I had a chance to see a movie titled "3 Idiots". It was a Hindi movie starred by Amir Khan and it was well received by most non-indians. Now why am I saying this? There was one scene in that movie where Amir Khan will ask Kareena Kapoor to think wisely before getting married to her fiancée because he was a "price tag"; meaning money concerned guy. So Amir tested it out to Kareena by spilling the Pudina Chutney on his new shoes. When it spilt, he screamed shouting the price of the shoes in public remarking how expensive it was to be a plate for pudina chutney. Hahah! Let's not get carried away. That was in the movie. I took this example because in today's world we do see many scenarios like this. Lets analyse it slowly. There could have been 2 kinds of response when the chutney was spilt:
a) Oh my God! My shoes! There are so precious to me. I just bought it.
b) Oh my God! My shoes! It costed RM1000.
Now what's the difference between both the scenarios? Event A shows that the guy was more concerned about the shoes rather than the money and that is why we see more emphasize was on shoes in his cry. Event B however shows that the person had more concern for the money rather than the shoes itself. Is it getting clearer? What people mention first are the basic and most fundamental state of mind of theirs. This is called basic deduction from a psychological view.
In Judas's case, he responded by stating the Value of the item first before justifying it later by saying that it can be used for charity. He even stated the exact amount . This clearly shows that he was not satisfied that such costly item being wasted away in that process but he was more interested in making money out of it but to make him travel is a safe boat, he added the glimpse of charity in it. This was how his raw intentions came to light.
In today's world we see many charitable events are being performed by all parties. But how far they are done with concern and sincerity we do not know. They might do it with great love like Mother Theressa or might be even another modern day Judas. I myself have seen many charities are done in expectation of something in return like maybe votes, support, popularity etc. Jesus did not teach us to do charity this way. He said let not our left hand know what our right hand does. Keep it down and do it big. People nowadays even reaching to the extent of publishing their charities in websites, papers, news etc. I won't deny that many NGO's today are silently helping out many, let it be Christian or Non-Christian organization for our God is one, Lord Jesus. So, He promised that whatever good deeds we perform in silent, He shall reward us in public.
So my brethren, live to do good in the sight of The Lord and glorify His name till the last breath of our lives.
AMEN!
