As we begin Holy Week this year and our walk toward the cross and resurrection, let’s start even before Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. John 12:1-11 shows us how the seeds of sin and destruction take root and begin processes that can get out of hand. Let’s look at Judas. Oh how we often wonder how he could betray Jesus! But looking at the story of Mary anointing Jesus we see something interesting. As Mary is honoring Jesus with costly perfume John tells us he objects; but then goes into a little background. According to John, Judas had already been taking from the group funds. He had already been skimming off the top. Furthermore, this stealing had fostered a conditioned fake caring about others to benefit these practices. We see not only the obvious sin of taking money from the group but the more subtle sin of falsehood and pretending to care about the poor when he really didn’t (at least care enough to take action).
If your home is anything like ours, as we walk this Holy Week we are surrounded by the wonderfulness of spring. This spring comes with new growth in the yard and on the trees and looks beautiful! However looking closely, you also see the weeds sprouting among the grass and the poison ivy coming up in the woods! This is the time to pull those up by the roots — before they get out of control!
This Holy Week, let’s start off searching for anything in ourselves that might be sprouting up that is not completely oriented to the person of Jesus! Is there anything brewing in our hearts, spirits, or minds that is “on the down low”, “just a guilty pleasure that’s not hurting anyone”, “just part of who I am even though it’s not aligned with Jesus”, a fake face we feel we need to put on in order to “look” like we’re following Jesus, or maybe just a reactionary response we have to things that we know we shouldn’t have? If so, let’s make sure we confess it to God and ask Him to pull it up by the roots! These little seedlings, these little sprouts… even though hardly noticeable in the eyes of others can lead to destruction and pain beyond what we can imagine. Why would we try to live with the strangling “weeds” in our life when He can remove them and make way for amazing grace, life, and beauty to flourish!