Mark 14:3-4. And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head. But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply. …10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Him to them.

Here in the book of Mark, the author tells a well known story of Mary coming to anoint Jesus’ body while at the house of Simon the leper.  That statement is significant in itself, the fact they were eating at the home of a former leper speaks of Jesus healing power (the book of John tells this same story and we find out a risen Lazarus was also present).  Yet it is here where the rubber seemed to meet the road for Judas.  I call it his breaking point, because it was here when Mary broke open the alabaster box of perfume smelling oil (alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard), that she would unknowingly be preparing Jesus’s body for burial.  

However, this breaking of the alabaster box, sent Judas spiraling.  He couldn’t fathom how something so expensive could be wasted on Jesus and not given to the ministry that he was working so hard to finance.  We later in John’s gospel find out it was Judas making the comment, and we see here that he had others also angry as it said  some who were indignant (moved with indignation or resentment, to be very displeased).

So much so that Judas, Evan after Jesus pleas for them to understand that what Mary was doing held special value, he immediately got up and went to the chief priests to betray Him (Jesus) to them (the high priests).  Wow resentment (bitterness) will make you quickly loose the big picture, fracture relationships, make permanent decisions based on temporary circumstances

That’s where I want to park today, Judas could not obviously determine from this ladies one action, that Jesus, who they knew to be the Son of God, needed to be betrayed.  I beg you to consider that these feelings had been building up.  We having hindsight know that his betrayal was a part of the divine plan, but his humanity still had to get him to this decision point.  What was it.  Was it that fact that when he came aboard to follow this rabbi, Judas had different expectations?  Could it be that because Judas was in charge of the money, all of the denarii he watch pass through their coffers, he realized how lucrative this could be or maybe how much he could have?  Maybe Judas was thinking about the life he left and what he loss to follow this guy who maybe didn’t seem to the King Judas hoped he would be.  Maybe his relationship had soured with Jesus and this was the last straw, the last difference of opinion, the straw that broke the camel’s back.  

Judas would then make a decision that changed everything.  It destroyed his walk with Jesus; his faith in God; his relationship with his brothers and filled him with embarrassment and shame. It cost Jesus his life; it destroyed the ministry they had built (as he knew it) and it ultimately cost him his own life as well.  If only he could have waited until the circumstances around him changed.  How different would life had been for him. 

What resentment are you holding on to, I mean gripping to for dear life.  Who hurt you that bad, that your blinders are up and all you see is read.  You have completely cut off the relationship (at least the way it was and could still be); you have isolated your feelings to the point where your heart is rock solid.  

Stop!!! Let Judas help you.  The circumstances are about to change, hold on I know it hurts but open your heart again.  Let Jesus do what He was about to do for Judas, Change Everything.  Jesus revealed the truth of who He was (in his persecution and execution on the cross) to the disciples, yes even Judas and while it was too late to stop his rash decision, it was not too late to save his life.  Jesus died for all of our sins including that decision Judas made.  And also for you and that person you currently resent.  But resentment will cloud your judgement; open you up to irrational decisions and ultimately lead to guilt and shame.  If Judas was here I guarantee he would have many sermons to offer on this topic, but for now let his life do the speaking.