John the apostle 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, ...”, and in chapter twelve and verse five of his book John shared how, “Judas Iscariot” asked the following question, where we read:
Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
The verse reads, “Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, ...” John began with the words, “why was not this ointment” which means “for what reason and cause was the ointment of spikenard Mary used to anoint the feet of Jesus not” “sold for three hundred pence” or “disposed of as merchandise for the price of three hundred denarius”. John shared how “Judas” questioned “why” the valuable “ointment” was not “sold” for “three hundred denarius” and distributed in the following way.
The verse goes on to say, “... and given to the poor?” John continued with the words, “and given” which means “and bestowed upon, granted to, furnished and supplied” “to the poor” or “to people who were reduced to begging, destitute of wealth, afflicted and helpless”? John shared how “Judas” wondered why the “precious ointment” was not “sold” with the proceeds going to people who were “destitute” and “in need”.
When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we see how “Judas” thought he had a better idea as to how to spend the resources “Mary” had saved. “Mary” was spending her valuable asset upon Jesus, and “Judas” thought it was “wasteful”. God loves people to “worship” His Son Jesus by pouring out their “valuables” upon Him, and when one stops to think about it, they are really only giving back to Jesus what He has given to them. Jesus came to be “spent” for all of mankind, and because He loves abundantly, He gave abundantly as He yielded up His life on the cross so people could be saved. Although people may criticize the person who pours out and spends their life worshiping Jesus, those who are wise will understand how “valuable” Jesus is and pour out their “ointments” upon Him regardless of how others view their worship.
Next time John shares how Judas said this, “not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief”, 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".
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