He Was Anointed First

Special People for a Special Purpose

The feeling of being betrayed is never fun, betrayal is very difficult when we are betrayed by people who we are close with, people we have spent time with. Betrayal can even have generational impact depending on the involved parties. Betrayal has caused parents and children not to speak to one another, it has caused siblings to stop talking. Betrayal has very devastating implications that can impact us for life.

On the other end it feels good to be chosen. It feels good to be accepted, befriended, see the emphatic yes during a wedding, be chosen to be ones friend. The joy one feels to be elected, or chosen in someone’s life makes the feelings of betrayal so gut wrenching. As it pertains to the anointing, Jesus is anointed. Albeit seeming foreign to those disciples, because they couldn’t wrap their mind around the cost, Jesus is King and Kings are anointed.

John 12:2-8 “There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 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. But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.””

Matthew 26:6-10 “And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table. But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor.” But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me.”

Considering this, shortly thereafter Judas agrees to betray the Lord. Matthew 26:14-16 “Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.”

It’s interesting in life when you understand the lengths that people will go to support you and understand the lowly amount it takes for people to betray you. It boils down to two characteristics, value and selfishness. How you treat people, how you talk to people is highly determined on how much you value them or how selfish we can be prompts us to make the choices that can be a blessing or a detriment to our lives.

Remember Who You Were Before Betrayal

In context it’s imperative that we understand why Jesus understood his assignment above his betrayal.

It’s no secret that betrayal can derail your mission if you let it. The way to remember to stay on purpose is remember you were anointed before you were betrayed! Betrayal is not your fault and is not a reason to forget that God put you here for a reason.

We see that Judas agrees to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, but prior to that betrayal it’s Mary who anoints Jesus for Burial.

Anytime you are dealing with betrayal remember how far God has brought you before you allow yourself to be destroyed by the actions of others.

Nonetheless remember betrayal from those close to you might lead to the triumph that you are looking for.

You were chosen by God way before Satan got into family, friends, and even enemies to set you up for betrayal. When we are dealing with betrayal remember the words of Joseph, Genesis 50:19-20 “Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.”

Everyone Doesn’t Understand Your Anointing

Matthew 26:8 “But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste?”

This wasn’t just a disagreement, these invididuals were furious at the fact that Mary used this expensive fragrance on Jesus. The disciples were angry! I’ve always found it interesting when we want to put a cost on service! Never let anyone put a cost on your opportunity to serve the Lord, nothing given in love to Jesus is ever wasted, what’s wasted is when you put money over the valuation of your soul. Mary gained life while Judas lost it.

Let’s compare figuratively based on conversion calculators the oil that Mary used was approxiamately 13 thousand dollars or even a years wages. Nonetheless the cost of betrayal was approxiamtely 197.40. I can’t even fill up my gas tank for a month for what Judas decided to betray Jesus for.

Exodus 21:32 “If the ox gores a male or female servant, he shall give to their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.”

Basically Judas valued Jesus the same as an enslaved female. Understand your value through the eyes of God not the eyes of man because if it’s up to man, they would sell us to the lowest bidder!

Everyone is not going to understand your anointing, and everyone is not going to understand your service! Truth be told it’s not for everyone to understand. If God is on my side, what everyone else says has no bearing on my ability to serve God!

Never let the betrayal of someone keep you from serving God!

Remember God chose you before some self-seeking person decided to put their interest before the mission of God. The next time someone betrays you, remember if God allowed Satan to enter the person to betray, He has the power to encourage you to overcome it! Service is priceless but betrayal never is worth the pain it provides.

I might not be worth much to you, but to God, He saw fit to value me enough to offer eternity!

You might not think much of me but thank God that He sees me enough to provide for me when I’m feeling all alone!