The act of the woman who anointed the Savior's head with precious fragrant oil meets with disapproval rather than support from His disciples. Jesus, however, points out to them that she has done something good and right by preparing His body for burial: He knew that...
The act of the woman who anointed the Savior's head with precious fragrant oil meets with disapproval rather than support from His disciples. Jesus, however, points out to them that she has done something good and right by preparing His body for burial: He knew that His earthly journey was nearing its end, something the apostles could never quite bring themselves to believe. Meanwhile, a plot against Him is already being formed, and Judas is already ready to commit his betrayal. The disciples know none of this, but their ignorance is not the only issue. There is also a particular kind of religious utilitarianism, which may manifest itself as legalism, moralism, or simply a kind of 'religiosity of good works.' Jesus Himself sums up the situation and the logic of the disciples' conduct in one simple remark: you will always have the poor with you, He tells them, but you will not always have Me.
These words offer a simple, brief, and remarkably comprehensive assessment of religious utilitarianism as a spiritual phenomenon. What was Christ to the apostles then, at the moment the Evangelist describes? A teacher? Undoubtedly. The Messiah? Of course: none of them doubted His messiahship. Yet the disciples were far more concerned with what they should do and how to do it than with the relationships that bound them to their Teacher.
What matters most in Christianity? The right answer is Christ Himself, and today we all know that answer, at least in theory. The apostles could not yet know it in theory: in their day there were no catechisms, no right answers to the right questions about Christian life.
Meanwhile, religious consciousness in itself inclines a person toward a utilitarian, practical outlook. Religion, if everything connected with living revelation is removed from it, is in fact a fairly pragmatic affair: its aim is to establish interaction with higher powers that is useful to human beings—no more and no less. The benefits envisaged are quite practical: good harvests, many children, military and commercial success. Or, on a higher level, good morals and good laws on which a good society can be built, so that life in it will be good. Or finally, on a still higher level, a convenient and practical set of tools for securing a good life not only in this world but also in the next, whether through religious duties or 'good works.'
Thus Christianity, too, in the course of its history, has often first turned into a religion and then into a religion of practical deeds. Selling the oil and giving the money to the poor comes from that very religious utilitarianism. Jesus, however, calls His disciples to turn their attention away from 'good works' and look at Him—the One without whom any deeds will be good only in quotation marks—and to put their relationship with Him first, where it belongs.
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14:4 Some had indignation - Being incited thereto by Judas: and said - Probably to the women.