Saturday 25th March
Read John 12:4-8
“But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 ‘Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.’ 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
7 ‘Leave her alone,’ Jesus replied. ‘It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.’” (NIVUK)
Jesus’ rebuke of Judas (and the other disciples in the synoptic accounts) is direct and forthright. What Mary is doing is done out of devotion and love and is perfectly timed. It points to Jesus’ death and is worthy of devotion.
The Reformers were very careful as they approached this passage – for they saw it regularly used by the Catholic (and Orthodox) church as an excuse to engage in costly and extravagant worship with smells and bells and rituals and robes. These outward acts of worship and devotion, in their minds, hid a concern for wealth and greed exemplified by Judas himself.
Consider Calvin’s comments: “We must observe what I have already pointed out, that a distinction is here drawn expressly between the extraordinary action of Mary, and the daily service which is due to Christ. Those persons, therefore, are apes, and not imitators, who are desirous to serve Christ by costly and splendid display; as if Christ approved of what was done once, and did not rather forbid that it should be done afterwards.”
Calvin highlights the exception Jesus makes when explaining why Mary should be left alone. What she has done is timely and extraordinary but unique to the time of Jesus’ death when he was physically present. Ordinary worship, worship that considers the poor, is to be the normal pattern. Hence in Reformation times luxuries were removed from churches and almsgiving was promoted.
Do you think the Reformers have rightly grasped Jesus’ intention? Or do you hear Jesus’ words and conclude that Mary and Judas are both correct? Marking Jesus’ death as worthy of the highest devotion is entirely appropriate. Jesus then reminds them that they will always have the poor amongst them, but he does so by pointing out just how central he is to everything. His observation that ‘you will not always have me’ (v8) behoves us to turn our eyes upon Him whenever and wherever we can…
