Timely Response!

Timely Response!

‭John 12:7-8 MSG‬

[7-8] Jesus said, “Let her alone. She’s anticipating and honoring the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you. You don’t always have me.”

The account in the verses above speak to the week of the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and his death and resurrection. The Jews had witnessed him riding on a donkey into the city and everyone was jubilant, celebrating Him. He came into the house of Lazarus, the same one who had been dead for 4 days and was raised from the dead. Again, Martha served, whilst Mary chose that which was needful at the time. Like the first account of Martha and Mary, the season calls for many activities to celebrate and commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus, but there will always be that one thing that will be needful at the time. The first time, Martha wanted Jesus to instruct Mary to come and help her serve, but Mary was sitting at the feet of Jesus listening to Him. At that time, that was more important than anything else. 

There would be plenty of time to eat and drink, but there is a season to seek for and hear the Word of God. It is very important that I know God's mind for me at this time, so I can pursue His will with his enablememt and the best of my ability. Many will call for feasting and celebration, and that is very good, but it is also important to consider the words of Jesus here, so we can align our lives with His expectations. That is what Mary did here again as Jesus came visiting. This was the week of his death, and as if Mary was preparing him for burial, she brought very expensive perfume and poured it on Jesus' feet. She then wiped his feet with her hair, which is the symbol of a woman's glory. Think of the submission it would take for a woman to do this. She took her best, and poured it all out at the feet of Jesus. The perfume was irrecoverable, but the sacrifice was undeniable and the reward for her is a mention of her sacrifice for all of eternity. 

In the midst of this amazing service sat one of the disciples, Judas Iscariot, who had walked with Jesus up to this point, but the only benefit he had was access to the disciples' funds, which he helped himself to. While Mary was thinking of the eternal, Judas was distracted by the earthly and the temporal. He sacrificed the eternal for money, whilst pretending to care about the poor. The perfume was worth about 300 shekels of silver, which was about a year's wages. That sacrifice was appropriate for the time, but there is a need to understand the other part of Jesus' words. The poor will always be with us. The poor could refer to anyone, but for our purposes today, let us consider these to be those who do not yet have the currency of eternity, which is salvation. Jesus returns soon, and whilst we are here, the poor around us need the right provision. Money and riches will come to an end some day, but the riches of God's grace, expressed in the death and resurrection of Jesus, can never lose its power. It is still effective and available for all who will take up the offer. God's time of favour is here.