Briefing: Have you ever had one of those moments where all seemed right with the world, everything was going perfect, then someone had to go and screw it all up?

Dispatch (Assignment): Read John 12:4-11.

On the Street: My first invitation to join veteran officers on a special assignment finally came. I was being included with officers I looked up to and respected. This was a big deal for me. All the officers involved were told to report to the station for assignment. Homicide had just gotten a warrant for a murder suspect. The arrest was going to be high risk so they invited patrol officers to assist with perimeter and entry.

As I was driving into the station, I was full of pride and excitement. I was trying to thinking of everything, everything except the pole on the corner of the awning at the back of the station. I pulled in too fast, cut the corner, and clipped the metal pole. Needless to say, I did not make it to the party.

What kind of things do you allow to steal your joy? Does Satan have a good idea of what it takes to steal the moment? Remember, he (Satan) comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. We see this in the previous chapter. Mary has one of the most precious moments in human history. I’m sure this made Satan furious. He had to interrupt this moment so he uses Judas Iscariot. Judas had an easy trigger. Satan knew Judas was a greedy man interested in gold.

In verse five Judas says, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” Verse six gives us background information on Judas that had not been revealed to us up to this point. It says, “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.” Even though John inserts this data, I don’t believe Jesus’ disciples had any knowledge of Judas’ weakness at this time.

The point is Satan was able to find a way to try and destroy the moment. He was not successful. Has Satan been able to tempt you into getting angry or saying something that was inappropriate for the time or place? I know I have been guilty of this.

To be able to recognize Satan’s attempt to use you, you must take a look at yourself. What are the things that embarrass you? What makes you angry? What does it take to get under your skin? If we are able to identify these triggers, we can be prepared in advance, to avoid a negative reaction. This takes time to train yourself and the discipline to follow through.

Investigational Resources: The other Gospel accounts of this incident are in Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9, and Luke 7:37-39.

Officer Safety Principle: Know yourself well enough to be able to live in a way that is pleasing to our Father.

from The Gospel of John Through the Eyes of a Cop
©by Charles Gilliland. Used by permission.
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