Mary Magdalene, Judas, and the Whistle Blower

Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Full of remorse for having caused the Master Teacher any shame, Judas hangs herself on the tree. Wait did I just say herself?

Jesus the Master Teacher of Israel is the co-respondent of the Woman Trapped in Adultery.  The only way this Woman can go and sin no more is to blow the whistle on Jesus and let the authorities know he is the Man laid down on her, under the cover of darkness.

Not only is the Woman the one he laid down on, she is a Teacher in her own right.  As does the donkey in the Balaam story, she is faithful and serves God out of the goodness of her own heart. She gives her faith and loves generously. In return the Fathers of the faith flog her as a prostitute, a thief and a dog, someone who gleaned scraps from the Master’s table.

Scripture says that Judas had a purse and would dip into it and take money that [s]he and others felt should have been given to the poor.

John 12: 5-7 reads. Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” 6 Judas did not say this because [s]he cared about the poor, but because [s]he was a thief. As keeper of the money bag, [s]he used to take from what was put into it. 7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “She was intended to keep this perfume to prepare for the day of My burial.…

Judas, as women and people have always done, who manage the household finances take funds that are not theirs alone and buy things for the household and for personal things like perfume for themselves or for the people in their lives they wish to honour with a gift.

Could not Judas, the person from Judea, have been criticizing herself and the system of charity? Selling all one’s personal right to property and giving all the money to the poor is not good stewardship. Moreover, seeking justice requires that one care more about justice than the poor.

Caring about, the poor by selling off one’s personal property to give charity to the poor, cheats the poor and turns the rich person into a thief. It robs the poor of the opportunity to develop their own resources and talents and to hire their service to others. It makes poor people.

The name Judas means God is praised! Spilling her guts and confessing who the Man was with whom she a Mary, a bitterly treated woman and a Red-haired Woman at the tomb of Lazarus in Judea–God is praised.  Scripture says, Satan entered Judas. So many people like to think the worst. Yet, they should remember, Matthew 16:23 says Simon Peter is Satan!

Bible Authorities and editors insert commas into the text to separate out the Marys and the Simons, giving one the impression that all the Marys and Simons are different people.  Do not be deceived. Put the Marys together. See my Master of Arts thesis project http://www.lindavogtturner.ca/papers.html . Then put the Simons together as the ROCK: Simon the Zealot, Simon the Pharisee, Simon the Leper, Simon the Iscariot, Simon son of John, and Simon the Cyrene.

Easter Sunday…Peter enters the tomb and so does Mary and Martha, the beloved of the Teacher. Let the story unfold and the Truth dawn.  Dry Mary’s tears. Christ has risen! Show her your faith! Let Simon Peter embrace her as his bride at Bethany with Martha’s and the Rabboni’s  blessing and Joy.