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Showing posts from April, 2019

CONTEMPLATING JUDAS

There are many things in scripture I don’t understand, and so, I skim over them, or I set them aside until I have a reason to dig. Today is a day for digging. I love  Moody Radio  – WCRF – 103.3 or 90.5 on the FM dial. In the past few weeks, Pastor Colin Smith of Unlocking the Bible has been reading from his new book, Heaven, So Near – So Far . It’s the story of Judas Iscariot, the betrayer of Jesus. These readings intrigued me because in January I thought quite a bit about Judas. Why? I was preparing the communion service for our Women in Ministry (WIM) Retreat, based on Luke 7:36-50. Near the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, at the home of Simon, the Pharisee, a woman, plagued by many sins, poured a fragrant and very expensive oil,  Spikenard , on the feet of Jesus. In my studies, I found  John’s gospel  confirms four times that Judas was the son of Simon. [1] Some have suggested the Pharisee in Luke was Simon Iscariot. Still, Scripture mentions another Simon, a heal