Flashback Episode — More Important than the Poor: John 12:1-11

As Jesus approaches crucifixion weekend, all four gospels seem to slow down and focus on the details of what was about to happen.

One of the first events these gospels focus in on while preparing us for the week leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion is a banquet that Jesus attended. Three gospels, Matthew, Mark, and John all record this event, with each one giving us a different set of details. It is worth pointing out that the gospel of Luke has a similar event that he places much earlier in Jesus’ ministry. Some scholars believe this to be another record of this same event. In my mind, while Luke may be describing the same supper event, he instead focuses on Jesus’ teaching at this supper, while the Matthew, Mark, and John focus in on how it foreshadows Jesus’ upcoming death and the gift of perfume that was given.

In John’s record of this supper, we are given more details about the specific people present. The only name that John doesn’t include is the host’s name, that both Matthew and Mark share readily as Simon, the leper, though I imagine that we should really call the host Simon, the former leper who Jesus healed earlier in His ministry.

With all this to set the stage for our event, let’s read what happened. Our passage is found in John’s gospel, chapter 12, and let’s use the New International Version of the Bible to read from. Starting in verse 1, John tells us that:

¹ Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. ² Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. [sidenote: This is where Matthew and Mark say that this was Simon the Leper inviting and hosting this event.] Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. ³ Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

⁴ But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, ⁵ “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” ⁶ 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.

⁷ “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. ⁸ You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

In this event, John calls out Judas Iscariot as the disciple who would betray Jesus, and draws our attention onto Judas’ objection to Mary’s gift simply because the gift was very valuable from a monetary standpoint. While the other gospel writers simply say that there were those present who were upset and objected to Mary’s gift, John tells us who was specifically upset and why, as well as what was likely motivating Judas’ objection that made His statement not sound as sincere.

While Judas’s objection could be seen as logical and valid, because one year’s worth of income could definitely make a dent in a poor person’s life, in the face of poverty as a large-scale issue, one year’s worth of an average person’s income is not likely to have an effect on such a large-scale issue.

However, regardless of what we would have done if we were present with the disciples choosing sides over whether Mary should have given her gift as a one-time act of anointing or as large sum of money, Jesus’ response sidesteps the entire issue with a truth we might easily miss if we are not careful.

In verse 8, Jesus says, “You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” Mark chapter 14 verse 7 records Jesus’ words a little differently but with the same conclusion by letting us know Jesus said, “The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me.”

While the disciples debated over priorities and how Mary “should” have used the perfume differently than she did, Jesus steps in and redefines the issue entirely. For these disciples, their time with Jesus was limited, while helping the poor would be something that that would always be available to them. It’s worth pointing out here that Jesus does not say that poverty is unsolvable. Instead, Jesus emphasizes in this statement that we should focus on our relationship with Him first, because a relationship with God is more important than anything else, and that includes helping those who are poor.

In other words, if given the exclusive choice of picking between a relationship with God or helping the poor, I believe Jesus would challenge us to pick the relationship with God. However, I also don’t believe that Jesus would have us pick between these two good things. Instead, I believe Jesus wants to teach us about having right priorities.

In the world today, there is a big push towards helping those who are poor and those who are the least in society, and helping them in socially responsible, empowering ways. This push and focus is excellent and it is one of the best ways we can be like Jesus in our world, giving God a positive name. But, if we take Jesus’ words seriously, a deeper truth becomes clear: having a relationship with Jesus is more important than helping those who are in need.

There are many great reasons for helping the poor in our world today, but only one comes with the promise of eternal life with God in the next world. Someone who hates God or who believes this life is all there is is still capable of helping the poor. They may even have selfless motives. However, without the relationship, faith, trust, and belief in Jesus, they only have half of what the Bible says is necessary for entrance into Heaven.

As I have studied the Bible, I see the dual truth that faith and belief in Jesus is what is necessary for salvation, but that this faith and belief must be active and visible to others in our lives. Our faith must mean something and our beliefs must affect our actions.

However, if someone says that faith requires a certain action or a certain set of actions to be true faith then they make that action, or actions, more important than the faith behind it, and their argument becomes indistinguishable from one emphasizing salvation coming through works.

Instead, saying that faith must be visible and it must affect our lives and our decisions in a public way actually enhances the faith behind the action. While each person might display their faith differently, when we maturely look at the motivations behind the actions, we discover a faith that is equally as strong, if not stronger.

However, Jesus did not call us to judge other people regarding their faith. Instead, Jesus calls each of us to focus on growing closer to God and to make Him our highest priority, even higher than the noble act of helping the poor. Having a saving relationship with Jesus is that important!

As we come to the end of another podcast episode, here are the challenges I will leave you with:

As I always challenge you to do, continue to seek God first in your life. Don’t sacrifice your relationship with God because you are too busy helping the poor, or doing other good things. While we are called to help those in need, my challenge for you is to move forward because you are seeking God and because you have a relationship with Him. In other words, seek a relationship with God first, focus on making your relationship with Him personal, and after that, step out and help those He brings into your life.

In order to grow a great relationship with God, be sure to be regularly spending time praying and studying your Bible. Through prayer and reading your Bible, discover just how much God loves you and how valuable you are in His eyes.

And as I end every set of challenges by saying in one way or another, never stop short of, back away from, chicken out of, or deviate away from where God wants to lead you to in your life with Him!