John 12:1

John 12:1 says; Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.   Six days before the Passover Jesus returned Bethany.   This was the home of Lazarus, Mary and Martha.  After His time of withdrawal, Jesus was now back where He had performed the miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead. We may have times when we need to withdraw for a period to renew our strength, but we then must get back into the world witnessing for Jesus.  We were never called to withdraw from the world, but to go into every part of it.  Verse two adds, There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.  Jesus was at the home of Lazarus, Mary and Martha, and they had made Him supper.  Martha was serving and Lazarus was at the table.  Martha was a was a woman who took charge of things.  We need people like that today, those who make sure the details are taken care of.  Verse three continues, 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 odour of the ointment. Mary was at the feet of Jesus, where she took a pound of very costly ointment and anointed His feet.  She the dried His feet with her hair.  She was paying honor to Jesus before all else.  We definitely need people like Mary in the church today as well, those who don't think about the cost nor their position, but simply do everything to honor God.  We are told the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.  The church needs to be filled with the odor of our honor to God.  Verse four states, Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, Verse five adds, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?  Judas Iscariot, who would betray Jesus, asked why the ointment hadn't been sold and the money given to the poor.  We today may question why certain things are done by the church, but if they are done to honor God, we shouldn't. Verse six continues, 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. We are told the real reason for Judas's concern.  It wasn't because of concern for the poor, but because he was a thief and controlled the purse.  There are those today that say Judas was just misunderstood, that He really just wanted to force Jesus to become an earthly ruler, but that doesn't fit with what the Bible tells us about him.  When people who control the money question doing things to honor God, we need to question their motive. Verse seven states, Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.  Verse eight adds, For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.  Jesus said to leave Mary alone, that they would always have the poor, but He would not always be with them.  That wasn't a statement that He didn't care for the poor, but He knew His death was near.