The Poor Have You Always - John 12:8

The apostle John wrote how, “Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment. Then said one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying has she kept this”, and in chapter twelve and verse eight of his book John shared how Jesus said, “the poor always you have with you, but me you have not always” where we read:

For the poor always you have with you; but me you have not always.

The verse reads, “For the poor always you have with you;” John began with the words, “for the poor” which means “because, since and on this account people who are destitute of wealth, reduced to beggary, lowly and afflicted” “always you have with you” or “will at all times be among people”. John shared how Jesus addressed Judas' idea of distributing the value of Mary's ointment to people who were “impoverished” by stating that those in that condition will “always” be among mankind.

The verse continues, “but me you have not always.” John added the words, “but me” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover me, Jesus” “you have not always” or “you, disciples of Jesus, will not at all times possess or be around”. John shared how Jesus told “Judas” He would not at all times be with them.

When we consider John's words in this verse, we learn that “poor people” will “always” be among mankind on the earth. There are various reasons that people are “poor”, and Jesus is sensitive to all of them. This proclamation by “Judas”, however, excluded the idea that Jesus would be physically among His disciples perpetually. Jesus was going to die, be resurrected and go back to Heaven from which He came. The “poor” would remain with the human race, and this was the opportunity for people to “worship and adore” Jesus physically on the earth. “Mary” had the proper perspective, and those who are wise will “worship” Jesus while they are on the earth, and never forget those who are less advantaged than they.

Next time John shares how, “much of the people … came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".