Forms of Opposition

In the last post, Jo highlighted the huge potential of all the church doing a little, rather than everyone feeling the need to do it all.

Jo was exactly right. And it reminded me of Mark 14, the story of the woman pouring the perfume on Jesus and those present griping in response. Contrary to the supposed condemnation in Jesus' words about the poor always being with us (the condemnation being, you will always have the poor because you won't care), Jesus is highlighting the kind of love that is unconsidered, abandoned, and thereby wasteful. And he says the woman has done a beautiful thing. What I find most interesting about this story is that it takes place in the home of Simon the Leper (and in Bethany, which in Hebrew means, "house of the poor and afflicted"). Those following Jesus were more than willing to associate with the down and outers--in a town whose name reflected its plight (perhaps), and in the home of a person known for being, at one point, at least, a leper.

What is most interesting about this story is that it is the point of Judas' betrayal. John offers commentary in his replay of the story by saying that Judas left because he was a thief, not because he cared for the poor (John 12:4-6). Mark, however, has only noted the griping of "some who were present." Whatever Judas' motives were in betrayal, he found (on the surface, at least) solidarity with those who had become hyper-zealous, and thereby considered, attached, and extremely practical/efficient in their love.

Two forms of opposition--one secretly selfish, the other explicitly selfless.