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The Betrayal of Christ
I was carried down to the time when Jesus ate the Passover
supper with His disciples. Satan had deceived Judas and led him
to think that he was one of Christ’s true disciples; but his heart
had ever been carnal. He had seen the mighty works of Jesus, he
had been with Him through His ministry, and had yielded to the
overpowering evidence that He was the Messiah; but Judas was
close and covetous; he loved money. He complained in anger of the
costly ointment poured upon Jesus. Mary loved her Lord. He had
forgiven her sins, which were many, and had raised from the dead
her much-loved brother, and she felt that nothing was too dear to
bestow upon Jesus. The more precious the ointment, the better could
she express her gratitude to her Saviour by devoting it to Him. Judas,
as an excuse for his covetousness, urged that the ointment might
have been sold and given to the poor. But it was not because he had
any care for the poor; for he was selfish, and often appropriated to
his own use that which was entrusted to his care to be given unto
the poor. Judas had been inattentive to the comfort and even to the
wants of Jesus, and to excuse his covetousness he often referred to
the poor. This act of generosity on the part of Mary was a most
cutting rebuke of his covetous disposition. The way was prepared
for Satan’s temptation to find a ready reception in the heart of Judas.
The priests and rulers of the Jews hated Jesus; but multitudes
thronged to listen to His words of wisdom and to witness His mighty
works. The people were stirred with the deepest interest and anx-
iously followed Jesus to hear the instructions of this wonderful
teacher. Many of the rulers believed on Him, but dared not confess
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their faith lest they should be put out of the synagogue. The priests
and elders decided that something must be done to draw the attention
of the people from Jesus. They feared that all men would believe
on Him. They could see no safety for themselves. They must lose
their position or put Jesus to death. And after they should put Him to
death, there would still be those who were living monuments of His
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