Conversations on the way to the Cross 4: The Anointing

Judas goes to the High Priest

"My name's Judas Iscariot, my lord. Zach.. Zach here said you might... you might be interested in some, um, some information about Jesus. Jesus of Nazareth."

"Jesus of Nazareth! Yes, indeed! And tell me, young man, what kind of information might you have?"

"Well, I'm... I was one of his friends. His disciples. The Twelve, he called us. I know where he's staying, what he's doing. He trusts us. Me. It would be easy."

"He trusts you. I see. And why, Mr Judas Iscariot, should I trust you? What makes a trusted disciple of Jesus come running like a rat to his enemies?"

"He... I told him! He could have had this city in the palm of his hand, and he knew it! I saw his eyes light up, and I knew. And then there was that dumb donkey, and then tonight... tonight there was that woman... no better than a common whore..."

"Your revered teacher has been consorting with prostitutes? I didn't think he was that type."

"No!! Yes! Well, no, not consorting with, not like that, but she poured perfume on him! Nard! Pure nard, can you imagine? Three hundred denarii down the drain, and oh yes, she can afford it, but the rest of us have been living hand to mouth these three years, giving up everything to follow Jesus, believing.. trusting him when he says he's going to bring in a kingdom, and what does he do?"

"I take it he didn't ask for a receipt."

"A what? No. No, he sat there, expensive perfume dripping down his beard, and said he'd been anointed for his burial. His burial. He's given up. He was the only person in this whole damn world... the only one... he could have changed everything, and now... now he's given up. I should never even have hoped in the first place."

"Well, Mr Iscariot, there's no use crying about it. All our idols fall in the end. And you've earned yourself a little pocket money in coming to us, anyway. Not quite three hundred denarii, but I think we can run to... hmm, thirty pieces of silver. There you go.

"Now, dry your eyes and let's talk details. I think you will be very useful to us..."

Mark 14: 3-11

Other Conversations from the Cross
1: The Donkey
2: The Commotion
3: The Authority

5: The Betrayal
6: The Burial
7: The Precaution
8: The Resurrection

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