THE MASK

Did you know the word hypocrite comes from ancient Greek classical theater? Greek actors were called hypocrites. Often, a single actor would play several different characters, and for each character, the actor would use a different mask. So, when they would switch characters, they would switch masks, but you never really saw the actors face. This was the case with the religious leaders of Jesus’ day, and if we are not careful, we can easily fall into the same sins. We must be on guard and protect our relationship with Jesus Christ to no end!

The main problem Jesus had with religious leaders is that they were hypocrites. I’m not guessing at that; that’s what He called them to their faces . . . 8 times!!! The religious leaders were working up a plan to arrest Jesus. They would use one of the biggest hypocrites in the history of the world to execute their plan- Judas Iscariot.

JOHN 12:1-8- “Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 3 Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment . . . and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for 300 denarii and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me (ESV).”

Let’s look at a couple of “Polaroid pictures” here based on this text:

• Jesus saw right through Judas’ false motives. V-5-6

Judas was perhaps the most “trusted” disciple, as he was given charge over managing the disciples’ money. However, Judas complained about Mary “wasting” money as she anointed Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume, citing that it could have been sold and given to the poor instead. However, Judas was actually stealing from the money pot! His interest in the poor was artificial. In fact, he said the perfume could have been sold for 300 denarii, which ironically was 3X as much as Judas accepted to betray Jesus (30 pieces of silver)!

• Jesus saw right through Judas’ false accusations. V-7

Jesus said to Judas regarding Mary, “Leave her alone . . .“ Mary acted in devotion to Jesus while Judas objected. So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. - 1 Peter 2:1 (ESV).

• Jesus saw right through Judas‘ false excuses. V-8

Jesus was saying here that there would always be poverty in a fallen world, together with the responsibilities of ministering to the poor as an expression of God’s love. However the opportunity of being present with Jesus and serving Him during His time on earth would not be repeated.

Jesus here does not discourage an affectionate concern for the poor whatsoever. His Words seem to be prophetic, stating that there would always be poor people to be taken care of and provided for. Jesus’ statement was alluding to Deu 15:11 (ESV): “For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, you shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.” In John 12:8 Jesus said, “But you do not always have Me . . .” meaning, with respect to His physical presence, which would be quickly withdrawn from them soon as His arrest was soon to come.

Like Judas, wearing a mask is a vain exercise, as Christ sees through it all right to the core of every single motive of every single person: “God is immanent in His creation; there is no place where men may hide from His presence. God is at once far off and near, and in Him men move and have their being . . . there is no place beyond Him for anything to be.”- A.W. Tozer.