Fear, Reverence, Denial

In Matthew 26:1-16 we find the three things listed in the title of the post. The chief priests and elders of the people are again operating off of fear, so much so they want to figure out a way to seize Jesus and kill him. They would have argued that putting Jesus to death was because he was blasphemous, and it was all perfectly justified under the law, but it was simple fear. They had so much fear they didn't want to do it till after passover, lest the people riot. There would have been so many people in Jerusalem, coming to give sacrifice for the passover. God would not allow the chief priests and elders to lay a hand on the Passover Lamb, not yet.

Then we have a woman, who we have no recorded word spoken by her, enter Simon's house, break open an expensive bottle of perfume, what would most likely have been the most valued thing owned by this woman, and anoint Jesus with it. Who was she? It doesn't matter. If it did God's word would have told us. But she came, giving her all, her worship, her heart to the Savior. She recognized him to be Messiah. The disciples get a bit upset at the 'waste' of the ointment, because they could have sold it and feed people. 3 years of walking with Jesus Messiah, and they still didn't get it.

And then, we have Judas, whom scriptures says, 'when Satan entered Judas...' What a frightening prospect. Judas filled with evil, went to the a fore mentioned chief priests and told them for a price he would give up Jesus. The 30 pieces of silver didn't really amount to much, one source said about five weeks wages. Judas probably could have named any price and would have received it. Perhaps he thought 'just enough to get me out of town' for when the deed was done.

What contrast. Fear. Reverence. Denial. We continue to have a choice, daily. We can either walk redeemed, worship our Lord, and give him daily our all, or we can live to satisfy ourselves and walk as the rest of the world as if we didn't know the Savior. Who will the world say we look like? How will you show today you belong to the Lord? Today, will you walk in fear, reverence, or denial?