A Study of Peter

continued from Sunday class article

Envy was the true reason why the Jewish leaders wanted Jesus dead. There were other reasons which we’ll look at later, and I believe it is one of the reasons Judas Iscariot turned Jesus over to them. Webster describes envy this way: To feel uneasiness, mortification or discontent, at the sight of superior excellence, reputation or happiness enjoyed by another; to repine at another’s prosperity; To fret or grieve one’s self at the real or supposed superiority of another, and to hate him on that account. Jesus was superior to them in every respect, and they hated him for it, therefore they wanted him dead.

Judas Iscariot saw that Mary’s character was one of superior excellence, in that she did a good work for Jesus by anointing him with very costly perfumed ointment, to prepare his body ahead of time for burial. By using this precious ointment on Jesus, he [Jesus] said of her, "She has done what she could." She showed moral excellence because she gave Jesus her all. So with malice, fueled by envy, Judas condemned her love and devotion to Jesus by calling it a waste. Then with pretense because he really was a thief, he said the perfume could have been sold and the money could have been given to the poor. We are told he cared nothing about the poor.

When comparing these two disciples, it’s easy to see who we should emulate.

Thank you Jesus!

 — Jim L