John 12:1-11 – Jesus anointed at Bethany
(Joseph Bianco)
John 12:1-11 Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 3 Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii[b] and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it[c]for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”
9 When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus[d] was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.
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“For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.” I believe many people would read this today and tell Jesus he was wrong. Even though the intentions of Judas were evil, his sentiment was correct. The money could have gone to the poor couldn’t it? How do we understand Jesus approving what Mary did by using such expensive ointment on Jesus?
The main point is this: Love for Jesus is primary. There are a lot of good things we can do in this world that have value and purpose and meaning. Care for the poor is certainly one of them, but there are others. Having a just society, valuing truth, promoting good education, serving our neighbors, caring for the sick. All of these are good and valuable, but they are not the gospel.
There was a movement in the 60’ and 70’s coming out of Latin America called “Liberation theology” where theologians did exactly what Jesus is warning against here: They made the gospel primarily about lifting the poor out of poverty. Now if we are really loving our neighbor, then a result of believing the gospel is helping to lift the poor out of poverty; but by itself, it is not the gospel.
At the center of the gospel is Jesus. Love for Jesus motivated Mary to “waste” a costly ointment. Was it a waste? Jesus didn’t think so. Jesus found her action lovely and loving. Sometimes it can feel like wasted time, spending time with Jesus in prayer. I could be using my time differently, more productively couldn’t I? Sometimes giving to the church or for missions could feel like wasted money couldn’t it? Certainly we could invest this money to make more money.
Throwing an extravagant party in order to love your neighbors could feel wasteful. We could have a more economic party in fact. But what’s the reality? God has cattle on a thousand hills. We have nothing that he has not first given to us, and everything we possess is a gift from him. If we value him, we’ll treat him like he is valuable. He is worth the cost of our time, our talents, and our possessions.
What’s the catch? So often we give out of a sense of duty, and not love. We are Pharisees in our giving, legalists as it were.. Love for Jesus motivated Mary to give. Love should motivate us.
In reflecting on this season of preparing for the capital campaign, I encourage you to think about your giving being motivated by love for Jesus. Pray for greater generosity in your life motivated by love. Pray and ask God for forgiveness where your “obedience” has been mere duty.
Weekly Prayer Focus: Ministry to the University and Medical Community
Daily Prayer Request: “CCO Ministry at Point Park University.” Pray that God would establish a vital Christian ministry on the campus.