Why did Judas Iscariot criticize Mary in John 12:4? Narrative Context: The Anointing at Bethany Mary of Bethany pours “about a pint of pure nard” (John 12:3) on Jesus’ feet (Matthew and Mark record His head), wiping them with her hair. The self-sacrificial act demonstrates extravagant honor toward Christ, anticipating His burial (John 12:7). In every Gospel where the anointing is recorded, a rebuke arises, and John identifies the instigator: Judas. Character Profile: Judas Iscariot 1. Treasurer of the traveling band (John 13:29). 2. A thief who pilfered from the common purse (John 12:6). 3. Already entertaining betrayal ambitions (John 6:70–71). 4. Ultimately indwelt by Satan (Luke 22:3; John 13:27). His outward discipleship masked an inward agenda; Mary’s gift exposed the contrast between feigned allegiance and authentic worship. Mary’s Act of Devotion Nard (nardos pistikēs) was imported from the Himalayas, costly and aromatic, sealed in an alabaster container (archaeological parallels: first-century Jericho tomb perfumes and Masada cosmetic flasks). Three hundred denarii equaled approximately a year’s wage for a day laborer (cf. Matthew 20:2). Mary willingly exhausted this inheritance-level asset, illustrating that Christ is worth one’s total livelihood. Judas’s Objection Recorded in Each Gospel • John 12:4–5 names Judas. • Matthew 26:8-9 and Mark 14:4-5 attribute the criticism collectively to “the disciples” or “some,” implying Judas’s influence on others. The consistency of substance with varied perspective illustrates eyewitness authenticity rather than collusion. Motivational Analysis: Greed, Hypocrisy, and Satanic Influence John clarifies: “He did not say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief” (12:6). The outwardly pious appeal to charity masked covetousness. Scripture elsewhere links greed and betrayal (Exodus 23:8; 1 Timothy 6:10). Judas’s fixation on monetary value prepared his heart for the thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-16), fulfilling Zechariah 11:12-13. Economic Reality of the Perfume Three hundred denarii ≈ 300 × a denarius (Roman day’s wage). The Roman historian Pliny (Natural History 12.26) prices nard between 300–400 denarii per pound, dovetailing with the Gospel’s figure. Thus the account aligns with known first-century economics. Contrast with True Discipleship Mary’s costly surrender versus Judas’s calculated greed parallels Cain and Abel, Saul and David, the rich young ruler and Zacchaeus—Scriptural patterns contrasting heart posture toward Yahweh. Jesus defends Mary: “Leave her alone; she has kept this perfume for the day of My burial” (John 12:7), prioritizing worship over utilitarian pragmatism. Fulfillment of Scripture Psalm 41:9—“Even my close friend…has lifted up his heel against me” —prophetically foreshadows Judas (John 13:18). The protest at Bethany previews that heel-raising, revealing his heart before his hand. The burial preparation Jesus cites (John 12:7; Matthew 26:12) fulfills Isaiah 53:9, that He would be assigned a grave, yet honored. Symbolic Foreshadowing of Burial Jews anointed bodies with spices (John 19:40). Mary’s act functions as a living prophecy that Jesus, though soon slain, is King deserving royal burial fragrance. Judas’s materialism underscores humanity’s blindness to the cross’s redemptive necessity. Theological Significance: The Worth of Christ Christ’s infinite value eclipses any earthly treasure (Philippians 3:8). Judas’s critique betrays a worldview where money has supremacy over Messiah. Mary’s deed proclaims that worship is measured not by cost efficiency but by Christ’s supremacy. Moral and Pastoral Applications 1. Examine motives: pious language can camouflage sin. 2. Generosity toward Christ and His Gospel remains paramount. 3. Poverty alleviation is vital (Deuteronomy 15:11) yet never eclipses devotion to Christ, whose presence sanctifies all charity. 4. Treasuring Christ prevents the Judas syndrome of betrayal for temporal gain. Historical and Cultural Corroboration Excavations at Bethany (modern-day al-Eizariya) reveal first-century burial caves consistent with Lazarus’s tomb account. Perfume flasks from the period (e.g., Herodian glass, alabastron jars in the Israel Museum) confirm the plausibility of Mary’s container. Such finds illustrate the Gospel writers’ concrete knowledge of Judean life, reinforcing reliability. In sum, Judas criticized Mary because greed, hypocrisy, and satanic influence blinded him to Christ’s worth. His objection served God’s sovereign purpose, revealing the heart-divide between false and true disciples and setting the stage for the redemptive events of the cross. |
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