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READ: Mark 14:10-11
LISTEN: Mark 14

Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over. Mark 14:10-11

At the beginning of Jesus’s ministry, Jesus handpicks twelve disciples to be with him, learn from him and serve with him. One of these twelve was Judas Iscariot. For the next three years, Judas was with Jesus. Judas watched Jesus perform miracles and teach the masses. Judas even witnessed Jesus raise people from the dead. Yet, at some point, Judas was no longer interested in following Jesus. Jesus didn’t meet Judas’s expectations, so Judas wanted out.

Judas’s lack of trust and submission to Jesus is in stark contrast to the woman who poured out the expensive perfume (Mark 14:3-9). While the woman went to great cost to worship and honor Jesus, Judas left Jesus hoping to score riches for himself. The contrast between these two characters reminds us that we do not follow Jesus to get where we are going; we follow Jesus to get where he is going. Our call is to remain faithful to Jesus when life disappoints and is not what we expect. Unmet expectations and disappointments are dangerous spaces. It is in such space that we turn our backs on who or what we had previously given our allegiance to.

TODAY: The truths of this story should lead us to surrender and worship. Join Ada Bible Worship as they sing, “Jesus paid it all.” Consider these lines: “Thy strength indeed is small, Child of weakness, watch and pray, Find in Me thine all in all.” As you sing, ask God for the grace and strength to find Jesus to be your all in all.