John 12:8 “For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.”
This is the end of the story, and often I have heard those who have said why help the poor even Jesus said they will always be with us. Let’s go back to the beginning of the story.
In Chapter 11 Jesus has raised Lazarus from the dead, and he has remained with Lazarus and his sisters before heading to Jerusalem. His sisters are Martha and Mary. While in Jerusalem the High Priests are plotting to have Jesus killed. They found a weak link in Judas Iscariot. It will be him that they approach and lie to him. They know Judas is a zealot and they do not believe in his cause, but they know he will fall for their lies. They had studied the men who followed Jesus, and knew who was the weakest. Maybe they also knew he was good at keeping secrets and would not tell. They knew Judas also liked money, and suspected that though he was in charge of the money for their group of followers that he was also taking a little off the top. He would say nothing.
Mary, sister of Lazarus, was so grateful to Jesus for raising her brother from the dead that she bought an expensive perfumed oil worth 300 denarii (which in Jesus’s time would have been worth about 300 days of work for one laborer which would have been about $.75 a day) Judas, who kept the money box and John implies had been stealing the money for himself, began to fuss about how much that expensive perfumed oil could help the poor. Jesus knew this, and said, “Let her keep it so she can use it for my burial.” It is only then that he says that you will always have the poor with you but will not have me.
This verse was never meant to say that we shouldn’t help the poor, because often that is how it is used. Jesus is telling those around him that he will soon die. He also knows that Judas has begun to plot against Him. He is also saying that Judas would not have used that money for the poor but maybe to help his cause which was a rebellion against the Roman Empire.
What does this verse mean for us today?
I believe Jesus meant us to always help the poor whether in monetary, spirit, kindness or patience. What he is saying then is I will not be on earth much longer, and she is grateful for the resurrection of her brother Lazarus. But I also think He would want us to be careful and know who we give the money to help those people in need. There are people who say if you sent me money, they would use it to bring aid to the poor, and God will bless you. They imply that you will gain wealth, but God’s greatest blessings are never monetary, but of the spirit. In truth most of those who say such keep the money for themselves.
Today’s Question:
What have you done to help those who are poor in spirit, health and wealth?
Ever In Christ’s Love,
Mary Elizabeth Todd
March 25, 2024 & August 28, 2024
Ruhamah United Methodist Church Bible Verses 