Chapter 5: The Perfume and the Betrayer

The following evening Jesus was in Bethany, reclining at the table of a man named Simon. Among those present was Mary, the sister of Lazarus. She had come carrying an alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume worth roughly a year's wages.

Alabaster jars were sealed stone containers. Breaking one open meant committing the entire contents at once. There was no saving any for later. Mary broke it open and poured the perfume over his head.

The disciples watching were indignant. Judas voiced what several were thinking.

JUDAS“Why this waste? This perfume could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.”— Matthew 26:8-9

It sounded reasonable. It was not generous. John's Gospel notes that Judas handled the disciples' money and had been taking from it. His concern was not the poor.

Jesus stopped them.

JESUS“Why do you trouble this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. She has anointed my body beforehand for burial. Wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”— Matthew 26:10, 12-13

The room went quiet.

Not long after, Judas went to the chief priests. No argument, no visible anger. He simply went.

JUDAS“What will you give me if I deliver him to you?”— Matthew 26:15

The question was cold and direct. The chief priests did not hesitate.

CHIEF PRIESTS“Thirty pieces of silver.”— Matthew 26:15

They counted it out and placed it in his hands. From that moment Judas was looking for the right opportunity to hand Jesus over quietly, away from the crowd.