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The main characters church service Great Wednesday suddenly become two very different, even opposite friends man's friend: a harlot who achieved holiness, and an apostle who committed treason.

The main characters of the church service of Great Wednesday unexpectedly become two people so dissimilar, even opposite to each other: a harlot who achieved holiness, whose sacrificial act, according to the word of the Savior, became known in the whole world(Matthew 26:13), and the apostle who committed the most monstrous betrayal in the history of mankind, whose name became a household name along with the names of the fratricide Cain and the bloody tyrant Herod.

The fates of these people, one wonderful and joyful, the other tragic and terrifying, intersected on Wednesday Holy Week, shortly before Christ's death on the cross. On this day in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, a former harlot poured precious ointment on the Savior’s head, and Judas came to the high priests and agreed to betray his Teacher for 30 pieces of silver. These events occurred immediately one after the other, and the act of the repentant woman probably even pushed the traitor to act faster and more decisively.

On Holy Wednesday, the Church calls on every Christian, having looked into the life history of these people, to look into their own soul - with whom we are: with a traitor or with a former sinner who committed the feat of sacrificial love for the Savior.

The Gospel does not directly indicate that the woman who poured ointment on the Savior in the house of Simon the leper (Matthew 26:6-13) was a harlot: information about this was preserved only by church tradition, which was reflected in the service of that day. The truth of this tradition can partly be confirmed by the story of another gospel sinner, who had previously acted in a similar way in the house of Simon the Pharisee (Luke 7:37-50) and, perhaps, became an example for the harlot who met the Savior on Passion Wednesday.

In any case, the purchase of the precious world was a real abandonment of all one's past life: this incense cost a lot of money; according to the instructions of the Evangelist Mark, the woman spent more than 300 denarii on him (approximately the annual salary of a hired worker) - such an amount could only be obtained by selling all her wealth, being left with nothing, giving everything possible to her Lord. The disciples of Christ began to be indignant: why such a waste? For this ointment could be sold for a great price and given to the poor(Matt. 26:8-9). Jesus responded to their murmurs: Why are you embarrassing a woman? she did a good deed for Me: for you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me; pouring this ointment on My body, she prepared Me for burial; Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the whole world, what she has done will also be told in her memory.(Matt. 26:10-13).

Even the apostles, the closest disciples of Christ, did not understand the feat of sacrificial love of a repentant sinner. The woman did not think about how to spend the money received from the sale of her estate more rationally, for the benefit of society: she simply saw in Christ, who stood before her, her Lord and Savior, endless sacrificial love for the whole world, in which they would blot out and her countless sins, and, as best she could, answered Him with hers your own love and a victim. She just wanted to give everything to Jesus, and she did what her heart told her to do. The grace of the Holy Spirit undoubtedly acted in this act. The bodies of the departed were anointed with myrrh, and thus the former harlot, without realizing it, turned out to be a prophetess who foreshadowed the coming suffering and death of Christ on the cross.

Judas was also indignant, seeing how expensive myrrh was poured onto the head of the Savior. This time, his behavior does not in any way stand out to the Evangelist Matthew compared to other disciples, but earlier, in a similar situation, he was the first to begin to be indignant at what was, from his point of view, unreasonable spending (John 12:4-5). Evangelist John explains that this did not happen because so that he would take care of the poor, but because he was a thief. He had a cash drawer with him and wore what was put there(John 12:6). Money became an idol, the focus of Judas’s life, and his selfish heart could not stand it: it simply physically hurt him to see such a generous, selfless waste of what he considered the main thing in his existence. Out of burning, all-consuming envy and resentment, the traitor immediately rushed to do his job. Selfishness, as both the Gospel and the church service of that day testify, was the main driving force betrayal of Judas, but the deep motives of this monstrous act, if you look closely at them, were even more complex and terrible. The story itself cannot but cause surprise.

He was chosen by the Savior to be one of the twelve apostles, his closest disciples. And this election was not accidental or undeserved. Like all the apostles, Judas left everything he had: hometown, house, property, family - and followed Christ. He truly was one of the most the best people in Israel, ready to accept the gospel preaching. Judas then had undoubted faith and determination to serve the Lord with his whole life. Judas was not deprived of anything compared to the other apostles. Together with other disciples, he was sent to preach the word of God throughout the cities and villages of Judea, while he also performed miracles: he healed the sick and cast out demons. Judas heard the same words of the Savior as the other disciples; even before the Last Supper, Christ, along with the other apostles, washed the feet of Judas, who had already agreed to betray him.

By his behavior, Judas also did not stand out among the apostles, and none of them could even imagine that he was capable of such betrayal. Even at the Last Supper a few hours before the arrest of the Savior, when Christ said: one of you will betray me(Matthew 26:21) - none of the apostles even suspected Judas of being a traitor; on the contrary, everyone asked the Savior: Isn't it me, Lord? Such a huge chasm of the fall of Judas: between the apostle, the closest friend and disciple of the Lord, and the cynical money-loving traitor, cannot but terrify, as well as the suddenness with which this betrayal was discovered. Of course, the decomposition of Judas’s personality did not happen overnight. Obviously, the passion for money always tormented him, but for the time being he dealt with it, which is why he became one of the apostles. Then the love of money finally took possession of the soul of Judas. A person is free in his choice. God, who dwells in eternity, is omniscient and knows how everyone will use their freedom, but He does not predetermine these decisions of free human will. Even closeness to the Savior did not keep Judas from deliberately enslaving himself destructive passion, although Christ to the very last moment gave him the opportunity to repent.

Why did Judas, greedy for money, still remain among the Savior’s disciples? It's probably not just about the beggar's cash box, which Judas wore and from which the latter could steal money. Future traitor He also hoped that Christ would become an ordinary, human king, and that he himself would receive his share of power in the new powerful kingdom. While anointing the leper with myrrh in the house of Simon the leper, the Savior revealed to his disciples about His impending death: pouring this ointment on My body, she[woman] prepared me for burial(Matt. 26:12). Judas's hopes were not justified. All the anger that had accumulated in the heart of an unrepentant sinner towards the perfect Righteous One, who by His very presence exposed the abomination of his soul and tormented his seared conscience, immediately boiled up in the soul of the traitor. The former apostle deliberately wanted the death of his Teacher.

However, although Judas would have betrayed the Savior anyway, who did not live up to his power-hungry and selfish hopes, he also pettyly wanted to receive at least some other benefit for his betrayal. Judas came to the chief priests and said: What will you give me, and I will betray Him to you?(Matt. 26:15) He did not name specific amount, and he could not know whether he would be paid at all, but having learned the amount, he did not bargain; he would have betrayed it for free, but a pitiful desire forced him to ask for at least something more for himself. This circumstance shows not only the monstrosity, but also the petty vulgarity of Judas’ act.

God is sometimes sold by people for next to nothing. Judas was paid not so much compared to the severity of the betrayal (the woman who anointed the Lord with myrrh spent five times more), but according to human standards, not so little: with this money they later bought a plot of expensive Palestinian land for the burial of strangers. 30 pieces of silver were awarded for the capture of a runaway slave: the high priests in in this case wanted to humiliate Christ. In doing so, however, they fulfilled Zechariah's prophecy: and they will weigh out thirty pieces of silver as payment to Me.(Zech. 13, 12).

Then Judas regretted his action: no person could live with such sin in his soul, but he did not find the strength to repent. The inglorious death of a suicide was the inevitable end of the path of the traitor, “slave and flatterer,” as he is called in the church service of that day.
The events of Great Wednesday reveal very important truth human freedom. Having given everything that she had, seemingly having lost everything for an independent existence, the former harlot found salvation and true freedom, freedom of love, freedom from sin; Judas, trying to acquire wealth by betraying the Savior, i.e. to secure for himself some kind of material independence, freedom from God and freedom at the cost of deicide, he sold, as it is sung at the Matins of Great Wednesday, his “divine dignity,” in essence, himself into slavery to the devil. But Satan does not set his slaves free, and a noose is the only payment he can give to his followers.

“One rejoices, pouring out the valuable ointment, while the other tries to sell the Priceless... One is freed, but Judas becomes a slave to the enemy,”- this is the main content, according to the divine service of this day, Holy Wednesday, showing how important every decision of a person, his every action is: an apostle, one of the chosen people of his people, can become a vile traitor, and a harlot with one of her accomplishments can achieve holiness and freedom in Christ.

Although we cannot be absolutely sure why Judas betrayed Jesus, we do know some things. First, although Judas was chosen as one of the twelve disciples (John 6:64), all biblical evidence indicates that he never believed in the deity of Jesus. He wasn't even sure that Jesus was the Messiah (in his mind). Unlike the other disciples who called Jesus “Lord,” Judas never used that name, instead calling Him “Rabbi,” recognizing Him as nothing more than a teacher. While the other disciples expressed their faith and faithfulness from time to time (John 6:68; 11:16), Judas never did and was mostly silent. This lack of faith in Jesus is the basis of all the other reflections listed below. The same is true for ourselves. If we do not recognize Jesus as God in the flesh and therefore the only One who can provide forgiveness of our sins—and the eternal salvation that comes with it—we will be susceptible to numerous problems that stem from misconceptions about God.

Second, Judas not only lacked faith in Christ, but he also had little or no personal relationship with Him. When the Synoptic Gospels listed the twelve disciples, they always listed them in the same order with minor changes(Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:16-19, Luke 6:14-16). The general order, some have suggested, indicates the relative closeness of their personal relationship with Jesus. Despite their differences, Peter and the brothers James and John were always first on the list, consistent with their relationship with Jesus. Judas was always last on the list, which may indicate a lack of personal relationship with Christ. Additionally, the only documented dialogue between Jesus and Judas contains Jesus' rebuke of Judas for his greed-motivated remark to Mary (John 12:1–8), Judas's denial of his betrayal (Matthew 26:25), and the betrayal itself ( Luke 22:48).

Third, Judas was so consumed by greed that he betrayed the trust of not only Jesus, but also his fellow disciples, as we see in John 12:5–6. Judas may have been willing to follow Jesus simply because he saw His popularity and thought he could benefit from the donations collected for the group. The fact that Judas was in charge of the group's treasury indicates his interest in money (John 13:29).

Additionally, Judah, like most people at the time, believed that the Messiah was going to overthrow the Roman yoke and rule over the people of Israel. Therefore, Judas may have followed Jesus, also hoping to benefit from being associated with Him as the new reigning political leader. No doubt he expected to be among the ruling elite after the revolution. But by the time of Judas' betrayal, Jesus had made it clear that he planned to die rather than start a rebellion against Rome. Thus, Judas may have assumed—like the Pharisees—that since Christ would not overthrow the Romans, He could not be the Messiah they expected.

There are several Old Testament verses that refer to adultery, some more specifically than others. Here are two of them: “Even the one who was my friend, whom I trusted, who ate my bread, is ready to trample me” (Psalm 40:10; see fulfillment in Matthew 26:14, 48–49). “I told them: “If it pleases you, give me what I earned, but if you don’t want it, don’t give it.” They paid me thirty shekels of silver, and the Lord said to me: “Throw it to the foundry worker!” I took thirty shekels - an impressive reward! “And he cast them to the foundry man in the Temple of the Lord” (Zechariah 11:12–13; compare with Matthew 27:3–5). These Old Testament prophecies indicate that God was aware of Judas' betrayal and that it was planned in advance in accordance with His perfect will as the means by which Jesus would be killed.

But if Judas' betrayal was known to God, did Judas really have a choice and is he responsible for his role in the betrayal? For many, it is difficult to reconcile the concept of "freedom of choice" (as generally understood) with God's foreknowledge of future events, due in large part to our limited perception of time in a linear order. If we view God as existing outside of time, since He created everything before “time” began, then we can understand that He sees every moment of time as the present. We experience time in a linear manner - we gradually move from one point on a straight line to another, remembering the past we have already passed through, but not being able to see the future we are approaching. However, God, the eternal Creator of the construct of time, is outside of time or the timeline. It can help us to think of time (in relation to God) as a circle with God at the center and therefore equally distant to all points.

In any case, Judas had every opportunity for personal choice - at least until "Satan entered into him" (John 13:27) - and God's foreknowledge (John 13:10, 18, 21) in no way at least did not take away from Judas the opportunity to make a personal choice. Most likely, what Judas ultimately chose was something God saw as if it were an observation in the present tense. Jesus made it clear that Judas was responsible for his choices. “I know this for sure: one of you will betray Me, one of those who eat with Me” (Mark 14:18). Notice that Jesus characterizes Judas' participation as betrayal. And regarding the responsibility for this betrayal, Jesus said: “Woe to the man who betrays the Son of man. It would be better if that person had never been born!” (Mark 14:21). Satan was also an accomplice in this, as we see in John 13:26–27, and he too will be held accountable for his actions. God in His wisdom was able, as always, to guide even the rebel Satan for the good of mankind. Satan helped send Jesus to the cross, where sin and death were defeated and God's salvation is now available to all who accept Jesus Christ as their Savior.

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About the betrayal of Judas Iscariot–Archimandrite Sylvester (Stoichev), professor of the KDA.

It's Holy Week. Every day some gospel event is remembered. On Maundy Thursday the Gospel is read, which tells of the farewell conversation, the Last Supper, and the betrayal of Judas...

Judas. Apostle and traitor. A figure that evokes deep indignation, even disgust, and at the same time tragic.

Scripture says nothing about the calling of Judas. The apostle, so to speak, without a background... It is said that “he had a cash drawer with him and carried what was put in there” (John 12:6).
Basically, the name of Judas is mentioned in the narrative of the last days of the earthly life of Jesus Christ. Judas: thief, hypocrite, traitor. And yet he was with the Lord for all 3.5 years and was among the 12... What did he expect from Christ? What did you want from Him? Why did you follow Him?

We will not understand this if we consider Judas separately from the 12 apostles. I dare to suggest that his aspirations were the same as those of the other apostles. I mean the expectation of glory and triumph. According to the Gospel, these expectations of the twelve, disputes about primacy, about their position, about the desire to sit on the right and left sides did not leave the apostles until the last days of Christ’s life. Jesus is already “coming to his free death,” but among the apostles, no, no, and disputes will break out about honor, about place, about primacy.

And in this sense, Judas, although Scripture does not speak of his participation in these disputes, worries about the same things: about glory, about place, about reward... John the Theologian says that Judas was a thief (John 12:6). Apparently, as the keeper of the ark with money, Judas sometimes rewarded himself. St. Innocent of Kherson, with corresponding eloquence, wrote that this ark became for Judas a kind of ark of the covenant. Not with God, but with the devil, since the reliquary with coins symbolized everything that Judas really wanted.

Three and a half years is a long time. Considering the constant wandering and the associated hardships, these years were difficult to endure, and the expected triumph never came... If you try to understand the psychology of Judas’s act, then, first of all, you should answer the question, did he believe in the messiahship of Christ? And the answer will be positive. Otherwise, following Jesus and becoming one of the elect becomes meaningless. If Judas had not believed in the Messiahship of Christ, he would not have followed Him.

Some characters have this character trait: “get everything at once.” Otherwise, doubt, disappointment, and anger arise. Judas was one of those... Therefore, although he followed Christ and spent three and a half years with Him, he finally began to doubt. Doubt, the lack of what was expected - this is the main leitmotif of Judas’ actions.

Theologians and biblical scholars of various faiths have expressed all sorts of points of view on Judas' motivation. Conventionally, two main answers can be distinguished:

1. Judas, having first believed in Christ, then becomes disappointed and stops believing. And he is driven by hatred of Jesus, the desire to receive satisfaction for wasted years, strength, unfulfilled expectations and dreams. That is, in essence, Judas simply wants to take revenge on the One with whom he associates the collapse of his hopes. And getting 30 pieces of silver in this terrible scheme of betrayal is far from the main thing (it’s not that large sum). 30 pieces of silver is only a small compensation for 3.5 years... But it is more important to take revenge on the hated.

2. Judas does not give up hope for the reign of Christ. He continues to believe that Jesus can defeat all enemies. After all, He performed miracles, which Judas witnessed. Therefore, the apostle seeks opportunities to provoke Christ to reveal Himself in power and glory. That is, Judas creates a provocative situation in which, as he expected, Christ would be forced to show all His power, and thus the triumph of Christ and his disciples would occur. Consequently, Judas sought to get what he wanted with the help of a kind of forced march. This point of view on Judas’s motivation was held by the famous pre-revolutionary publicist Archpriest. Pavel Alfeev. Also mentions this opinion in his book " Last days earthly life of our Lord Jesus Christ" St. Innocent of Kherson.

Judas is both a traitor and a hypocrite. He decided to betray Christ, but at the same time he is present as if nothing had happened at the Last Supper. And when Christ tells the disciples that one of them will betray Him, together with the other excited apostles, Judas asks: “Is it not I, Lord?”

The question arises: why did the enemies of Christ need Judas? Couldn't they have found and arrested Him themselves? Let us remember the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem. Christ is greeted by crowds. The Day of the Last Supper and the following days are the period of preparation and the holiday of the Old Testament Passover itself, that is, the time when Jerusalem is crowded with visitors, many of whom have seen and heard Christ in other places in Palestine. In other words, the high priests and their supporters were afraid of public unrest if they decided to arrest Christ in front of the people. Therefore, they needed a convenient time and comfortable spot. Judas showed them both.

However, why did Judas go himself with the enemies of Christ? Didn't they know what Jesus looked like and couldn't arrest Him? Judas could easily have made do with, so to speak, a tip: He will be dressed in such and such a time...

After all, criminals, as a rule, prefer not to be exposed. Judas could have taken his 30 pieces of silver and gone home. But no... I think the answer to these perplexities must be sought in the peculiar psychology of those who feel strong hatred for someone and a desire to harm. Here key point It is not even the harm itself that is caused, but a kind of triumph! Like, look and understand who did this to you! Know who is the source of Your trouble! It is for the sake of this momentary rejoicing over the humiliated that Judas wants to personally betray (in the sense of hand over) Jesus to his enemies.

Judas repented. And he hanged himself. Why is that? He repented, but did not repent... That is, he realized that he had destroyed an innocent person, but at the same time the apostle does not correct his way of thinking (repentance). We can say that Judas acts like an atheist. He can admit his wrongfulness, his crime, but is not able to repent, since he does not believe in a merciful God, in a forgiving God, in a restoring God. For him, repentance is followed by despair, from which there is no way out. It can be assumed that Judas did not expect repentance. He was sure that nothing would happen to him.

To illustrate this idea, you can use the image of Smerdyakov from The Brothers Karamazov. Dostoevsky perfectly showed the effect of this unexpected effect on the murderer. Smerdyakov did not believe in God. As well as in conscience. He thought that he would kill old Karamazov, but there would be no torment (how can something that does not exist torment?). It turned out that something was gnawing at him and tormenting him. Smerdyakov still did not believe in God. So there is only one way out of torment - hang yourself. Both Judas and Smerdyakov did just that.

Archimandrite Sylvester (Stoichev)

Family First President Mark Merrill writes in Charisma about what phrases and words we shouldn't use to avoid ruining our marriages.

Below are 5 examples of poisonous words that you need to avoid if you want to build a good relationship.

1. Sarcastic phrases.

For example, the phrases “What, will the trash can’s legs grow on its own?” or “I didn’t hire you as a servant” at first glance seem not such a serious problem, but in fact they are a sign of a hidden unmet need or unjustified expectation of one of the spouses over some time.

2. Unfavorable words.

Every spouse wants to hear encouraging words addressed to them, and not those that will kill any desire in you to do something, or to do it as best as possible. Phrases: “Is this nonsense?” or “Do you think you can do this?”, actually mean “I don’t believe in you, I don’t believe that you are capable or capable of doing this” or “I’m not on your team and I won’t help you " Of course, this doesn't mean you need to remain silent or not be honest when the ideas your spouse comes up with aren't actually the best ones. But instead of saying that this is the biggest bullshit you've ever heard, you can say, "That's not great idea, but I think you can come up with something even better." You must support each other, support any aspirations and desires, and then you will have a happy and favorable relationship in marriage. You should be your spouse's biggest supporter, not your critic.

3. Disrespectful words.

Respect is not something you can earn. Respect must be shown unconditionally. Phrases that are disrespectful: “Why can’t you find decent job?”, “Yes, I don’t care what you say, I’ll still do it my way,” or “Oh, you’ve gained so much weight or weight.” These are offensive and unpleasant phrases that can undermine the sense of importance of one of the spouses.

4. Comparisons.

When we say: “He would make a sacrifice for his wife and do what she asks,” or “Well, why are you not like everyone else?”, in reality it means that your husband or wife is not good enough for you or are not suitable for you.

5. Selfish words.

“I don’t care at all how you feel, you have to do it, period,” or “I urgently need this new dress,” or “I need a person who will fulfill my every whim.” A spouse who puts their own interests above others most often uses the words “I”; everything revolves around them, their desires, and needs, regardless of the desires and needs of the other.

If you have ever used these phrases or words, then you need to ask for forgiveness and be patient while your spouse goes through the process of healing from these “toxic” words. If you can forgive each other, then your relationship will begin to heal. Don't be quick to speak, think about your phrases before you say them out loud. Promise yourself that you will no longer use these toxic phrases, even when you are upset.

A historian from the University of Hesse, Rene Scott, published a monograph on the topic “The Death of the Pope and the World Community since 1878. The Medialization of Ritual,” Sedmitsa reports.

Last days, death and burial ceremony of the Pope, starting with last third XIX century, began to be covered in the media. However, the press, radio and later television reported not only about the papal death, but also about the accompanying events. Medialization also influenced the structure of the ritual and its public presentation.

The study examines changes in the form of the ritual and its public presentation in the period from 1878 to 1978. The work shows that interest in the papal death and the events surrounding it remains at an all-time high. The Pope's high position is the reason why his death is always perceived as important a turning point in the history of the Catholic Church.

The pope whose pontificate witnessed the emergence and rapid development of means of communication, Pius IX (1846-1878), belonged to the conservative wing. In his famous “List of Errors” (Syllabus Errorum, 1864), the pontiff condemned freedom of speech as “a modern error.” Under him, the newspaper L’Osservatore Romano began to be published. The newspapers wrote about the death of Pius IX in Rome on February 7, at 17:45, 12 hours later. For comparison: the newspapers wrote about the death of his predecessor Gregory XVI only 6 days later.

After Vatican II, the Church looked at the media differently. Like some other major events of the first decade of the second millennium, such as the 9/11 terrorist attack or the tsunami, the death of Pope John Paul II in 2005 captured public attention for a long time. In April 2005, almost 7 thousand journalists from 106 countries on all continents were accredited by the Vatican Chancellery. In addition, almost 5 thousand correspondents from 122 countries worked for 487 television channels, 296 photo agencies and 93 radio stations.

Until the Pope. Hollywood will make a film about the life of Cardinal Bergoglio

The famous American director, producer and screenwriter Christian Peschken decided to film Feature Film about the life of Jorge Mario Bergoglio: priest, cardinal, and now Pope of Rome, reports the Christian Megaportal invictory.org with reference to Blagovest-info and Apic.

The film will chronicle Bergoglio's ministry in his native Argentina and culminate with his election to the papacy.

Peschken, a German native who recently converted to Catholicism, said a group of European investors had already promised him $25 million to make the film. Filming is expected to begin in 2014 and will take place in Argentina and Rome.

“This film will appeal to all people,” the director added.

The title of the film has already been confirmed: “Friend of the Poor: The Story of Pope Francis.”

As consultants, Peshken invited the famous Vatican scholar Andrea Torinelli, a biographer of the new Pope who has known Bergoglio since 2002, and Serge Rubin, co-author of the book “The Jesuit.”

The idea to make the film came to Peschken when he saw the newly elected Pope walking onto the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica. “The film will end with this scene,” says the director. “And this will be a grand finale!”

Oksamita: Easter is a time to fill your heart with gratitude to the Lord

The partner of the public TV channel TBN-Russia, singer Oksamita, told the readers of Lady TBN about Easter traditions in her family.

– How do you feel about Easter?

– I think first I need to say what Jesus Christ means to me. This is my Lord, the meaning of my life, all my activities. I hold concerts during which I glorify Him, pray to Him, and talk about Him to the audience. On the day of Christ's resurrection, all my feelings - love, awe, reverence - reach their apogee. I am trying to understand Christ's incomprehensible plan for the salvation of mankind, the crucifixion and bright resurrection. Easter is an opportunity Once again express your feelings to the Lord, and also reach out to many people, tell them that the time has come to open your heart, fill it with gratitude to the saving sacrifice of Christ.

– Do you remember how you spent Easter as a child?

- Certainly. Comes to mind country house grandparents, family evening, during which we talk about the resurrection of Christ. I may not have fully understood then what we were celebrating, but the custom of gathering as a family on this blessed holiday remained. Years have passed, but I still associate Easter with the unity and love of my family. Today we also gather with our loved ones and thank the Lord. My daughter is already 6 years old, and she joins in prayer to the Almighty, in gratitude for His gifts, protection and blessings.

– How do you prepare for this holiday of God?

–The Jewish people have a tradition that I really like. Before Easter, it is customary to remove all rich bread from the house so that during Passover there is only unleavened bread. Yeast bread symbolizes pride, and unleavened bread symbolizes humility. According to this Jewish tradition, it is useful to put your spiritual house in order before Passover. Humble yourself before God, realize that everything we have has been given to us through the sacrifice of Jesus, the shed blood of the Almighty.

Nine Charismatic Habits You Need to Break

Former Charisma magazine editor J. Lee Grady in his article suggests 9 charismatic habits that we need to get rid of.

According to Grady, the New Testament tells us to allow the Holy Spirit to manifest itself through us. The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Corinthians gave us guidelines on how to use the gift of prophecy. Paul saw people healed, he received supernatural visions from God, he did not stop church leaders from speaking in tongues, he was the epitome of charismatic spirituality.

But not everything that we practice in our time will be a manifestation of the Holy Spirit. Over the course of four decades, charismatics have introduced certain traditions that not only make all charismatic churches a laughing stock, but also prevent people from heeding the Word of God. I think our spiritual immaturity has allowed us to behave this way.

1. Don't push people.

Sometimes when the Holy Spirit touches us, we may feel our body weakening and we simply cannot stand. But it happens that we become weak not because of the Holy Spirit, but because the preacher hits us or pushes us. By doing this, he shows that he relies on his strength, as if he is trying to demonstrate it, passing it off as a “blow” of the Holy Spirit.

2. Falling out of politeness.

Some people fall to the floor while praying because they believe there is spiritual power in doing so. But Scripture does not say that in order to receive God's anointing or healing you have to fall. You receive all this by faith.

3. Never-ending song.

Just because we repeat the chorus or verse of a song 159 times, God will not listen more closely to our prayers. This doesn’t change anything, He hears us the first time.

4. Amateur flags.

In the 1980s, churches began displaying flags and banners that were sure to attract attention during worship. But where did the idea come from that we should wave them in the face of our brothers and sisters during worship?

5. Do not delay your offerings in church.

Yes, your tithe is considered part of your worship of God. But you should not go too far and devote too much time to offering tithes during the service, otherwise suspicions will creep in that something is wrong here.

6. Finish your sermon on time.

I don't mind a long sermon, or the fact that sometimes you can preach a little longer than the allotted time. And you shouldn’t say in front of the audience that you are already finishing when you know that you have another 30 minutes, during which you will continue to preach.

7. Indecent dancing in church

I don't see a problem with dancing in church to glorify God. But, I am against it when we allow many not professional, but amateur dance groups, dancing in front of a church audience in tight costumes.

8. Too loud

When early church I prayed, the building shook. Today, our buildings are shaken by the volume of our sound systems. Sometimes you have to wear earplugs during worship. “Charismatic” does not mean loud; our spirituality is not measured in decibels.”

9. Launch Glossolalia

Speaking in other tongues is one of the most wonderful gifts that God has given to Christians. But, some believe that repeating certain phrases or words can help them manifest this gift. Stop manipulating the Holy Spirit.

American minister named 12 signs of a stupid person

The founder of the Fivestarman movement, Neil Kennedy, in his article says that King Solomon warns us about the dangers of communicating with people who can negatively influence our inner world.

As Kennedy states, “If you want to become more spiritually mature, you need to be surrounded by wise people, such as mentors, who will help and guide you along the path of success.” “And if you are constantly around people who act stupidly, then they will be a destructive influence in your life, paving your way to death,” he noted.

He also named 12 signs of how to distinguish a stupid person from a wise one.

1. Fools despise wisdom and instruction (Proverbs 1:7).

2. Fools mock and slander a person (Prov. 10:18).

3. Fools have no moral restraints (Proverbs 13:19).

4. Fools make light of sin and its judgment (Prov. 14:9).

5. You can't trust fools important information(Proverbs 14:33).

6. Fools despise a father's instruction (Prov. 15:5).

7. Fools disrespect their mother (Prov. 15:20).

8. Fools do not learn from punishment when they go through suffering (Prov. 17:10).

9. Fools express arrogant contempt for God (Prov. 19:3).

10. Fools stir up strife wherever they go (Prov. 20:3).

11. Fools waste all their income (Proverbs 21:20).

12. Fools create their own theology to justify their actions (Proverbs 28:26).

That's all. See you again!
May God richly bless you as you strive to know Him!

Long after midnight, Judas leads a large group of soldiers, senior priests, Pharisees, and others into the Garden of Gethsemane. The priests conspired to pay Judas 30 pieces of silver to betray Jesus.

Was 30 pieces of silver a lot or a little at that time?

30 pieces of silver are:

The cost of a slave at that time. But this is optional. Prices and wages were more or less stable, because money is a precious metal. Fluctuations are caused by force majeure - crop failure, natural disaster. But slaves are not a stable “commodity”. It depends on gender, age, healthy teeth, etc.

Nobody wanted to buy Jews, because such slaves, even under pain of death, did not work on the Sabbath, and who needs a slave with a day off? Maybe they should also get paid leave and pension contributions and trade unions?

When Rome destroyed Jerusalem, they sold all the Jews (except those who escaped - these were mostly Christians) into slavery. But then the price dropped to zero and they were simply given away for free. Thus the Jews were scattered throughout the whole earth.

The minimum subsistence level for a family at that time was 2 denarii per week. That is, they will not die of hunger.

One person could live normally for six months.

It's like a high salary for a month and a half.

Today it is difficult to say how much it is. Maybe like 50,000 rubles.

The canonical version considers the amount sufficient for betrayal, since it could be used to purchase a plot of land within the city.

A shekel (a piece of silver) is equal to 4 denarii. A denarius is the daily wages of a worker in a vineyard (Matt. 20:2) or the cost of a quinix of wheat (a man's daily ration) (Rev. 6:6).

You need to work in the vineyard for about 4 months to get thirty pieces of silver. Again, the ointment with which Mary of Bethany anointed Jesus (Mark 14:5) cost 300 denarii, which is equal to 75 pieces of silver or a little less than a year work in the vineyard.

Before this, when Judas was released from the Passover supper, he apparently went straight to the senior priests. They immediately gathered their servants and also a detachment of soldiers. Perhaps Judas led them first to the place where Jesus celebrated the Passover with His apostles. Discovering that they are gone, large group, carrying weapons, lanterns and lamps, followed Judah from Jerusalem and through the Kidron Valley.

Leading the procession to the Mount of Olives, Judas is confident that he knows where to find Jesus. During the past week, Jesus and the apostles, while traveling between Bethany and Jerusalem, often stopped in the Garden of Gethsemane to rest and talk. But how will the soldiers recognize Jesus now that He may have hidden in the darkness under the olive trees? They may have never seen Him before. Therefore Judas provides a sign, saying: "Whomever I kiss, he is the same; take Him and lead him carefully."

A kiss was a common greeting in those days (1 Thess. 5:26) and a sign of friendship. Therefore, it is incompatible with betrayal and evil. This is a sign of friendship and trust, just like sharing a meal. But Judas used the kiss for his own treacherous purposes!

Judas leads a large crowd into the garden, sees Jesus with His apostles, and goes straight to Him. "Rejoice, Rabbi!" - he says and kisses Him tenderly.

"Friend, why have you come?" - Jesus asks sharply. Answering his own question, He then says: “Judas, do you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” But enough has been said about His traitor! Jesus steps forward into the light of burning lanterns and lamps and asks: “Whom are you looking for?”

“It is I,” Jesus answers and stands boldly before them all. Amazed at His courage and not knowing what to expect, the men step back and fall to the ground.

“I said that it is I,” Jesus continues calmly. “So, if you are looking for Me, leave them, let them go.” Even at this critical moment, Jesus continues to care for His disciples!

Not long before, in the upper room, Jesus had told His Heavenly Father in prayer that He had kept His faithful apostles and not one of them was lost, “except the son of perdition.” He, therefore, asks His followers to fulfill His word.

Jesus deliberately wanted to allow Himself to be arrested and suffer. He made no attempt to avoid what was about to happen.

The high priests, taking the pieces of silver, said: it is not permissible to put them in the church treasury, because this is the price of blood. Having held a meeting, they bought a potter's land with them for the burial of strangers; Therefore, that land is called the “land of blood” to this day. (Matt.27:6-8)

"Land of Blood" controversy

Of all the evangelical weather forecasters, only Matthew voices the amount of thirty pieces of silver, and he also reports on the purchase of “land of blood” (Akeldam) by the high priests: “Having held a meeting, they bought with them a potter’s land for the burial of strangers...” (Matthew 27:7 ). Perhaps Matthew gleaned a clue to the betrayal from the Book of the Prophet Zechariah: “And I will say to them: if it pleases you, then give Me My wages; if not, don’t give it; and they will weigh out thirty pieces of silver as payment to Me. And the Lord said to me: throw them into the church storehouse - the high price at which they valued Me! And I took thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the Lord for the potter” (Zech. 11:12-13).

According to the Acts of the Apostles, Judas “acquired the land with unjust wages...” (Acts 1:18).

The Lutheran Heritage Foundation explains the contradiction this way: the high priests bought the land, but because they did it with Judas's money (and possibly on his behalf), the purchase is attributed to Judas himself.

Serious difficulties still arise when trying to explain the difference in spelling:

1. The word “field” (Ancient Greek agros) comes after the verb agorazo - “to buy on the open market” (from agora - “marketplace”) (Matt. 27:7);
2. The word "plot" (ancient Greek chorion - land ownership or small farm) comes after the verb ktaomai - “to take possession of” (Acts 1:18).

By the way, many on the Internet are asking the question: “On what day of the week did Judas betray Jesus?”

I answer: From Wednesday to Thursday the betrayal by Judas took place, and on Friday Jesus was crucified.

The motivation for betrayal is also perceived ambiguously

The canonical motives for the betrayal of Judas are considered to be: love of money and the participation of Satan. But theologians do not have a common opinion:

1. Matthew considers the motive for betrayal to be the love of money: “Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the high priests and said: What will you give me, and I will betray Him to you? They offered him thirty pieces of silver” (Matthew 26:14-15);
2. Mark also insists on the sole and dominant role of the love of money: “And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Him to them. When they heard it, they rejoiced and promised to give him pieces of silver” (Mark 14:10-11);
3. Luke combines, considering the motive for betrayal both the love of money and the participation of Satan: “But Satan entered into Judas” (Luke 22:3), “... and he went and spoke with the high priests and rulers, how to betray Him to them. They rejoiced and agreed to give him money” (Luke 22:4-5);
4. John is silent about money and insists on the participation of Satan: “And after this piece Satan entered into him” (John 13:27).

1. The evangelists themselves “do not attach primary importance to Judas’s love of money if they directly and clearly point to Satan as the main culprit”;
2. From the stories of the evangelists, “it is not clear that the traitor put silver pieces in the foreground”;
3. Judas was content with only thirty pieces of silver;
4. Judas easily parted with the money;
5. Would a “pathetic worshiper of a golden idol” have ventured to make a deal, believing in the divinity of Jesus?

In the same article M.D. Muretov calls three contradictions that “Satan controlled Judas without the latter’s free self-determination”:

1. Not knowing what he was doing, Judas could not repent heavily;
2. Before the Sanhedrin, Judas blames himself, not Satan;
3. Jesus predicts that he will be betrayed by man, not Satan.

1. Organizing a rebellion against Roman oppression;
2. Disappointment in the teachings of Jesus;
3. Self-sacrifice;
4. God's will;
5. Judas is a secret agent of Rome or the Sanhedrin;
6. Judas fulfills Jesus' request

Criticism of the non-canonical perception of Judas Iscariot

According to supporters of the non-canonical version of betrayal, Judas' motivation does not seem ridiculous at all, since every person has free will. Judas could well have been a money-loving man, as can be seen from the Gospel: “Mary, taking a pound of pure precious ointment of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the world. Then one of his disciples, Judas Simon Iscariot, who wanted to betray him, said: “Why not sell this ointment for three hundred denarii and give it to the poor?” He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was thief. He had a money box with him and carried what was put in it"; “And as Judas had a box, some thought that Jesus was saying to him: buy what we need for the holiday, or to give something to the poor.”

In any case, exchanging God-man for money is not Christian, not human, and not legal. And from this position, Judas is a negative person who evokes only negative emotions.

Based on materials from the Bible, Wikipedia and the book “The Most a famous person who ever lived."