"12 Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 3 Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the money bag he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”
9 When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus."
John 12:1-11
Two further points are to be made. The first is this: In Christian life, the great need is - love to Jesus. This is the meaning and purpose of redemption, to be brought to this place. For this we were made, and redeemed. Man's chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. It is only thus that we realise our true destiny. We are made for God and for fellowship with Him. Nothing could be clearer than the way in which Christ shows up the relative merits of love to Him and service for Him. This is first, He says, and all else that is good - kindness to the poor and any other good work - flows from it. Nor will the poor ever suffer for love having been given first to Him. The second point is this: Jesus said, ' Me ye have not always (with you)'. In one sense, of course, and indeed the most important sense, this is no longer true for us, for the heart of our faith is that we have the risen Saviour always with us. But there is a real sense in which we can take these words, and it is this. We shall not always have the opportunity to make sacrifices of love for Him. In the glory, this is something that is denied the Church Triumphant. Sharing in the sufferings of Christ, and abandoning oneself in glad self-sacrifice, are things that belong to the life below, the Church Militant. And to go to glory, without ever having abandoned oneself to Him like this - it is a solemn thought: 'My son, give Me thine heart', He says. And when we give it, in glad surrender, He will give it back to the world, to the poor, and it will bless many a home, and many a broken life, bringing hope and encouragement, and a sweet-smelling savour.