“Now the Passover. . .(was) only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus. . .While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper. . .
“They were delighted to hear this and promised to give (Judas) money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.” (Mark 14:1,3, 11)
Two men. Two VERY different perspectives on life. Two men. Two REMARKABLY contrasting agendas. Two men. One who goes on to Golgotha “for the joy set before Him” (Hebrews 12:2). The other ultimately taking his own life by suicide (Matthew 27:5).
One of the men (Jesus), chose to eat at a leper’s home in the midst of the worst week of his life. Read that sentence again. Jesus chose to eat at the home of a leper during the worst week of his life. Was Simon the leper healed from leprosy? Probably. But obviously he still had the label. Outcast. No family. No job. No money. No savings. No social or cultural clout. Translation: this man could do nothing for Jesus in terms of gaining him more capital in life. He couldn’t help Jesus build his brand. He couldn’t make life “easier” for Jesus. He couldn’t help Jesus secure his life on the earth. If anything, the man needed Jesus.
And yet.
Jesus was hours away from being betrayed, arrested, beaten, humiliated, and crucified. One of the final places he chose to go and spend his final hours was at the home of a leper named Simon. If we were to have asked Jesus on the way to Jerusalem where He wanted to go and what He wanted to do before His death, He would have said He wanted to have dinner at a leper’s home.
This is astonishing (to put it mildly). It wasn’t too long ago I had a colonoscopy. All I could think about the days leading up to the day without normal food was all I wanted to eat and do during my “final hours.” For me, approaching the procedure pushed me to seek luxury and excess and a “get all you can, while you can” mentality. In other words, when I think of impending “doom” (I use this term very loosely) for myself, my default is to overindulge because I think I deserve it. I think getting what I can for Matt is what will make Matt happy. But I wonder if what Jesus does (spend his final hours at the home of a leper) is where true life and joy are found?
Contrast Jesus’s approach to life to Judas’s. The very evening Jesus was at Simon’s home, Judas met with officials to get money. Judas helped them set a trap to arrest Jesus. Judas gained favor with the cultural “powers-that-be” so he could have better financial security. He did whatever he had to do to look out for Judas. He did whatever was necessary to expand the Judas brand. He was doing what he had to do to keep Judas happy. Days later, he hung himself.
Just when I begin to think I am becoming more like Jesus, I ponder such things. Am I more like Jesus? Or does the approach of my life reflect that of Judas? Do I look for ways to position Matt in better light according to the ways of the world? Or do I look to give my life away to people whom the world will never know? Do I look for people who will move Matt further up the ladder? Or do I look to climb down my ladder-of-self to be with those who can do nothing for me (in the eyes of the world)?
Here’s the thing: Judas thought being richer and more popular was where life was found. He was wrong. Jesus, on the other hand, knew that life and joy and satisfaction and wholeness came in giving to and being with the “weak.” Most of my life is spent thinking that having more and securing more and positioning myself with those who can move me along the ladder of success. If we learn anything from this interaction, however, it’s clear this is not where true life and meaning are found. Jesus didn’t spend His final hours at a leper’s table because He was supposed to. He did it because that is what gives life.
Try an experiment. Sometime in the next week, think about what you think you deserve and then go get it (assuming you aren’t hurting anyone or committing some gross sin!). Take Judas’s approach. Eat the extra bowl of ice cream. Sit at the important seat in the board room. Order the second bowl of queso. Ignore your neighbor because you’ve had a long day. Go inside and binge something on Netflix. You get the idea. Then log how you feel about yourself and life. On another day, take the approach of Jesus with the leper. Give your life away. Have the conversation with the neighbor. Write a note to someone instead of watching a third show. Serve somewhere in your church and/or community. Afterward, log how you feel about yourself and life. Don’t do it because you’re supposed to. Do it to see where true life and joy are found. See if Jesus was onto something.
For whoever wants to save their life will lose it. But whoever loses it, ultimately finds it
(I think Jesus said that somewhere. . . ).
Matt your studies are remarkable , Not to mention moving