John 12:6-10
 
John 12:6 (KJB)
This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
 
One characteristic about the Scriptures which we can always count on and it is that they reveal the motives of evil men. Judas couldn’t care less about the poor because he only cared for himself. If he got hold of 300 pence and then went out to distribute it to the poor, the only poor which would have received the money was his poor pockets which would have to hold all those coins. My late friend from Perth Amboy, Bob Uveges, once stated in a Bible study many years ago and I will always remember what he said, that Jesus wasn’t concerned about money because look who He let carry the bag. It is true in this case. Giving money to send forth the Gospel is a ministry we can do, some can give more and some less and we should definitely do that. The lesson here though is that Jesus was concerned with our souls and did not concern Himself with earthly things. After we become saved, then we support missions and ministry with the money the Lord has given us. We must never take after Judas and withhold any funds from the Gospel when we are able to give. (1 John 3:17 KJV) But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? Many times we accuse Judas of taking money from the ministry of Jesus but how many times, when we have opportunity to give and the means to give, do we take the money out of the bag and keep it for ourselves? He that ears to hear, let him hear!
 
John 12:7 (KJB)
Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.
 
Judas had aimed his rebuke at Mary but now Jesus rebukes Judas for his remarks to Mary. Actually none of the disciples could have said anything to Mary since it was Jesus who received the honor of her attention. It would have been up to Him to correct her in any manner she needed but here Jesus accepted her form of worship because it was a prophetic worship at this time. What Mary did was like a precursor to the time in a few days when they would go to the tomb and prepare the body with all of the spices and ointments done in the traditions. Mary was basically prophesying the death and burial of Jesus.
 
John 12:8 (KJB)
For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.
 
Jesus continues His rebuke of Judas reminding him that there will always be poor people and that he can do good for them anytime. (Mark 14:7 KJV) For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. In both John 12:8 and Mark 14:7, Jesus reminds Judas and also the other disciples that His time is limited on this earth. He is not speaking about abandoning them, except Judas who died an unbeliever, but the other disciples and all Christians, Jesus is with us for all the time on earth up till the end of the world and then we will be with Him for all eternity. What is in view in the two verses is that within the next week Jesus will be crucified and then forty days after the resurrection, He will go back to Heaven. His earthly ministry is coming to an end and He wants to make this fact sure in their minds.
 
John 12:9 (KJB)
Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.
 
Much people - Great crowd
 
The word had gotten out that Jesus was in Bethany and many of those who were with the Jews came to Bethany, not only to see Jesus but also to see Lazarus whom Jesus raised from the dead. They wanted to make sure it was Lazarus. No doubt there must have been many people who went to Bethany since the text speaks of a great crowd. I am sure that Jesus and Lazarus probably had to hide to get some rest. It can almost be assured that many had questioned Lazarus as to what transpired after he died. They wanted to know exactly what the death experience was like. They probably asked him if he went to Heaven and if he was able to see God? Nothing was recorded concerning anything Lazarus saw in Heaven. It is a possibility that his memory was wiped clean about those 4 days. (2 Cor 12:4 KJV) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. Paul was also caught up into Heaven but was not allowed to speak about it because it is a place reserved for the believer and we could never fathom Heaven with earthly minds. This is why Revelation 21 & 22 is couched in much symbolism so it can be understood by the illumination of the Holy Spirit. While we are here on earth, we will never have a full picture of Heaven till we get to glory.
 
John 12:10 (KJB)
But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;
 
Now in their plot to kill Jesus, the chief priests had discussed the feasibility of also killing Lazarus. If they killed Lazarus, then the next generation would only see the raising of Lazarus as a story and not a real event. The sooner they get rid of Lazarus, the sooner the evidence of his resurrection would disappear. They wanted to wipe out every vestige of the miracles of Christ and Lazarus was the evidence which was walking around. It would have done no good to kill him because hundreds had seen him already and many saw him walk out of the tomb, so the evidence was already planted in the minds of the people but hatred always blinds one to reality.

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