sKILLFULLY HIDING OUR SINS

Let real servant leaders lead
retire the bullies

John 12, Part 2

https://www.richardblackaby.com/the-nathan-syndrome/

My previous blog was about Mary pouring out the sweet ointment on Jesus’ feet and of how that wonderful fragrance filled the house. (see @ THE SWEET FRAGRANCE OF HIS PRESENCE) The fragrance was an analogy to the sweet Presence of God that should emanate from the heart and life of God’s people. Notice in these next verses, how quickly sin attempts to make that sweetness smell rotten.

John 12:4   But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said,

5   “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”

6   This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.

Do you understand that repentance is a lifelong experience? Are any readers sure of their own perfection? Christians are not excluded from the Lord’s continuous injunction,

Mark 1:15   … “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

What Judas said makes perfect sense to the carnal mind. Wouldn’t just a little bit of that expensive ointment have had the same effect? Carnal thinking has no comprehension of the symbolism of Mary’s loving use of that oil. Her sacrifice seems like a great waste.

We can rejoice that verse 6 immediately follows verse 5. There’s no opportunity for the sweet fragrance of Mary’s sacrifice to rot and stink. The verse succinctly exposes the evil in Judas’ heart. Look at it in the Amplified Bible.

John 12:6   Now he said this, not because he cared about the poor [for he had never cared about them], but because he was a thief; and since he had the money box [serving as treasurer for the twelve disciples], he used to pilfer what was put into it. (AMP)

Sure sounds like those self serving politicians who get themselves, and their cronies, great wealth from our tax dollars. (Just had to throw that in). Point is, we all have to answer to God for the sins we hang onto.

2 Corinthians 5:10   For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Hebrews 4:12   For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Here is, then, an important part of What Makes Jesus Tick. He addresses the issue in His usual loving and convicting manner. With no finger pointing, no anger expressed toward Judas, He just explained why it was appropriate for Mary to do what she did. Lovingly, He diverted the conversation from Judas’ negativity to the positive of what Mary did and why.

http://dreamstop.com/beggar-dream-
meaning-and-interpretations/

The following statement should have touched Judas’ heart with conviction. Sadly we see no remorse on his part. His sin was so deeply hidden that he didn’t see it.

John 12:7   But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial.

8   For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.”

Here is a brief reminder of the famous Bible story of King David’s sin with Bathsheba and going to great lengths to hide it (read it @ 2 Samuel 11:1-5). David put together a clever scheme for sex with his neighbor’s beautiful wife. It might have worked but she got pregnant. The God appointed King of Israel tries to cover it up. He brings her husband home from the war, fully expecting he would have sex with his wife so that it would appear that David was not the father. The faithful soldier could not, in good conscience, sleep with his wife while his comrades in arms were in a battle. David gets him killed and thinks everything is taken care of. The Lord shows His prophet Nathan what’s going on and David is nailed, convicted and repentant. See 2 Samuel 1:13

Psalm 90:8   You spread out our sins before You— our secret sins—and You see them all. (NLT)

Though David had several wives, and numerous concubines, his sexual appetite was not satisfied. He fed it with a promiscuous lifestyle that diverted His eyes from God, his lust was eating him alive. Though we may see his behavior as extreme, we all lust after something. Hopefully that drive is to please God and share His love with people. If you say that you’re completely in such a place you’re most likely not seeing all your sins laid out before you.

God is so faithful, so loving, so forgiving. It’s too easy to take that goodness and love for granted. People who know better just continue to stumble, superficially repent, receive forgiveness only to turn around and fall in the same pit over and over. My prayers for God’s people are that:

•    We come clean before God, acknowledge those sins Holy Spirit is bringing to our attention
•      We turn from sin with His power to do so.
•    We have the fire of God burning so hot in our gut that we flee from the appearance of evil.
•       God would continuously transform our character to be a reflection of His.
•    Our hearts yearn for every opportunity to demonstrate God’s love, purity and power to the world.

Is your response, “Amen” OR “Oh me?.” If you’re honest towards yourself and to God you’ll probably say both.

In so much of the John’s Gospel we see the bullying Pharisees glaring example of selfishness, pride, arrogance and hunger for controlling. There are only a few exceptions, such as the Godly man Nicodemus. The Pharisees’ zeal for God was so polluted they had no idea of how damaging their attitudes and behavior were to themselves and those they led away from God. These next verses show it clearly,

John 12:9   Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead.

10   But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also,

11   because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in
Jesus.

Verse 11 exposes the evil lust for control by ungodly leaders. Sadly we see such Pharisees in current politics where a few radical leftist elites have excessive control over their political party. Anyone who crosses their agenda is chastised and they lose influence in legislative decisions. Sadly Pharisees still show up in churches and other religious organizations, in businesses and in many other places, even families. Immunity to this trap only comes from walking in God’s Spirit. Let real servant leaders lead and the bullies retire. An abundance of the fruits of the Spirit, and no attempt to hide one’s sin, are the first qualifications for leadership.

Prayer:

Lord, purge our hearts. Continue to stick your fingers in those closets of our hearts where we try to hide things from you. May we, Your people, walk in righteousness and truth, in Your love and power. Open our eyes that we would see Jesus and our hearts to be dispensers of His character and love to a sin sick world.

Andy’s note: Thank you for reading all the way through. If God touched your heart through this blog then PEASE respond by copying and pasting the blurb and link that led you to the blog into your social media. We would love to see the blessing reach the widest audience possible.   Thanks and be blessed.