Thursday, March 24, 2016

jesus and the thief


Cartoon of jesus and disciples walking along path. Judas is carrying money purse. One disciple further back says to the others near him, "You know Judas is still a thief, right? He's been stealing from the common purse." Text below cartoon says, "said the doubter to the liars." Cartoon by rob g.

4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
John 12:4-6 NIV

So Judas is a thief, stealing from the common purse.

If the writer of the gospel knew this, wouldn't at least some of the others have known it? And perhaps Jesus himself might have known about it? Yet Judas was still in their midst, still a disciple...

As was Thomas who doubted like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind, Peter who later refused to publicly acknowledge Jesus before others, Matthew who as tax collector had exploited God's chosen people on behalf of the oppressive Romans, Simon the zealot (might some label him a terrorist today?), James the son of Zebedee and John his brother and the other two fishermen disciples who surely are liars (though some call it telling fish stories) ...

What's with that? What kind of church was this Jesus guy building? No wonder we threw out that nasty business of putting up with everyone and are back to being holy as God is holy.


HT to Maureen whose mention of Judas and the common purse in her sermon, inspired this post.


3 comments:

  1. in tonight's sermon Father Tim reminded us that Jesus did not exclude Judas, washing his feet along with the rest of the disciples.......more food for thought

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    Replies
    1. Yes indeed. Thanks for that, Linda.

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    2. Yes indeed. Thanks for that, Linda.

      Delete