The Poor

While Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon a man who had a serious skin disease, a woman approached Him with an alabaster jar of very expensive fragrant oil. She poured it on His head as He was reclining at the table. When the disciples saw it they were indignant, "Why this waste?" They asked. "This might have been sold for a great deal and given to the poor." Matthew 26:6-9

This has troubled me. Why were the disciples indignant? In other gospels we see it was Judas who was indignant. Matthew cites it was 'the disciples.' I could understand Judas being indignant. He had a thing about money. In verse 14 we see him go and betray Jesus for a third of what the ointment was worth.

What sort of spirit is offended in lavish love? I suggest a religious spirit. It is the type that has attitude on how things should be done. Yet this same man had been used to perform miracles. Jesus had entrusted him with His money, His love and His glory.

Jesus' response to the comment that the ointment could have been sold and given to the poor strikes me. He said, "the poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have Me." On the surface this appears harsh and uncaring. A religious spirit does care for the poor but what was it missing?

I invite this scripture into my spirit and let it knock around there as I want to understand it. I want the spirit of what Jesus was saying to be mine. There is something more. In a day when we are constantly bombarded with visions of the poor and compulsion to alleviate their suffering, I want to know what my Lord would have me do. How am I as a Christian to live in a global community when the poor are in such distress? I am to give, certainly, but how do I give? There are always more suffering than we can help, so how do we help? 

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