Lent Day 27 [03.20.2026] Goodness

You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me. - John 12:8

Scripture: John 12:1-19

Our scripture today portrays two instances of worship side by side. The first setting provides for a private and intimate encounter when Mary took a pint of pure nard and poured it over Jesus’ feet. It was a worship filled with tears, thanksgiving, and adoration as she proceeded to wipe his feet with her hair. Scripture tells us that the fragrance of the perfume filled the room and just as God found the burnt offerings of their ancestors fragrant, we know that it was not about the smell but about the worship. At this, Judas Iscariot, who would betray Jesus, objected to this act with the seemingly righteous reason that the perfume should have been sold and given to the poor. The apostle John reveals that it was not because Judas had compassion for the poor but as a treasurer would often lay a hand on money that did not belong to him. Jesus’ reply reveals the bottom line of what it means to be a Christian: “You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me (8).”

Beyond the apostle John revealing Judas’ real intent, what did Jesus really mean by these words? Jesus does not make an excuse for abject poverty to say that since it will never be solved, don’t bother with the poor but worship me instead. Rather, Jesus reminds us that it is His temporary-ness that would become the solution to the greater spiritual poverty of the world. There will always be people who need hope, but Jesus’ time is limited because He would choose to be the sacrifice for all. It is not a call to turn away from those in need, rather receive the true source of life just like Mary did when she poured perfume over Jesus which one would only do in preparation for a burial.

One of the key places our faith runs astray is when altruism precedes obedience. In other words, when our desire to do good creates conflict with the only one who is good. If we were to look at this situation from the lens of Judas we could easily say if Jesus is God and if Jesus is good, he would have given the perfume to the poor, or instead of wasting time in the house of Mary, heal and resurrect more people. When our desire to do good falls out of place, rather than thanksgiving, we become critical of Jesus and come to believe that we can out-good the very source of where goodness comes from. When Jesus calls us to follow Him, He does not call us to follow our morals and our senses, He calls us to follow Him. We do not worship with the best that we have to lift Jesus up to a place He does not sit already, we worship with reverence and excellence to recognize Jesus for who He is; and when we recognize the faultless goodness and unconditional love of Jesus, He shows us His compassion and love for all people. Jesus’ words are not a disregard for the poor, Jesus’ words claim that He is the solution not only for the poor, but for all people. True goodness comes when we worship Jesus for what He has done for us. Altruism without Jesus only provides a delay in death, but knowing Jesus provides transformation and eternal life.

Reflection:

1.     When have I had a critical spirit for God or for the church or for a fellow believer?  

2.     How can I overcome this spirit with the love of God?

Prayer:

 Dear God, thank you for what you have done for me on the cross. I repent for my critical heart and recognize that you love the people I am passionate about more than I ever could. Help me to find true goodness and hope by worshipping you in adoration and thanksgiving. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

제목: 선하심 (Goodness)

본문: 요한복음 12:1-19

오늘 본문은 두 가지 예배의 모습을 나란히 보여줍니다. 첫 번째 장면은 매우 사적이고 친밀한 만남으로, 마리아가 값비싼 순전한 나드 향유 한 근을 가져다가 예수님의 발에 붓는 장면입니다. 그녀의 예배는 눈물과 감사, 그리고 깊은 사랑으로 가득 차 있었고, 자신의 머리털로 예수님의 발을 닦았습니다. 성경은 그 향유의 향기가 온 집에 가득했다고 기록합니다. 하나님께서 조상들의 번제를 향기롭게 받으셨던 것처럼, 이 또한 향기 자체가 아닌 예배의 마음을 받으신 것입니다.

이때, 훗날 예수님을 배반할 가룟 유다가 이 행동을 비난합니다. 그는 그 향유를 팔아 가난한 자들에게 주었어야 한다는 그럴듯한 이유를 내세웁니다. 그러나 사도 요한은 유다가 가난한 자들을 생각해서가 아니라 돈궤를 맡은 자로서 종종 돈을 훔쳤기 때문이라고 밝힙니다. 이에 대한 예수님의 대답은 그리스도인의 본질을 드러냅니다.“가난한 자들은 항상 너희와 함께 있거니와 나는 항상 있지 아니하리라”(8절)

그렇다면 예수님은 이 말씀을 통해 무엇을 의미하셨을까요? 예수님은 가난이 계속될 것이니 신경 쓰지 말고 나만 예배하라는 뜻이 아닙니다. 오히려 예수님의 이 땅에서의 제한된 시간이 세상의 더 깊은 영적 가난을 해결하는 열쇠임을 말씀하신 것입니다. 사람들은 언제나 소망이 필요하지만, 예수님은 모든 사람을 위한 희생 제물이 되시기 위해 정해진 시간 속에 계셨습니다.

이 말씀은 도움이 필요한 사람들을 외면하라는 것이 아니라, 참된 생명의 근원이신 예수님을 먼저 받아들이라는 초대입니다. 마리아가 향유를 부은 것은 장례를 준비하는 행위였듯이, 그녀는 예수님의 사명을 이해하고 예배로 반응했습니다.

우리의 믿음이 흔들리는 중요한 지점 중 하나는 선행이 순종보다 앞설 때입니다. 다시 말해, 선을 행하려는 우리의 열심이 유일하게 선하신 분과 충돌할 때입니다. 유다의 시선으로 보면 이렇게 말할 수도 있습니다. “예수님이 하나님이라면, 선하시다면 이 향유를 가난한 자들에게 주셨을 것이다.” 혹은 “시간을 낭비하지 말고 더 많은 사람을 고치셨을 것이다.”

그러나 우리의 선함이 제자리를 벗어나면 감사 대신 비판이 생기고, 우리는 선의 근원이신 하나님보다 더 선해질 수 있다고 착각하게 됩니다. 예수님은 우리에게 우리의 도덕이나 판단을 따르라고 부르시지 않고, 오직 그분을 따르라고 부르십니다.

우리가 드리는 예배는 예수님을 더 높은 자리에 올리기 위함이 아니라, 이미 그 자리에 계신 예수님을 인정하는 것입니다. 그리고 그분의 완전한 선하심과 무조건적인 사랑을 깨달을 때, 우리는 그분의 긍휼과 사랑을 세상을 향해 흘려보낼 수 있습니다.

예수님의 말씀은 가난한 자들을 무시하는 것이 아니라, 그분 자신이 모든 사람—가난한 자를 포함한—의 궁극적인 해결책임을 선언하시는 것입니다.참된 선함은 예수님을 예배할 때 시작됩니다.예수님 없는 선행은 죽음을 잠시 늦출 뿐이지만, 예수님을 아는 것은 변화와 영원한 생명을 가져옵니다.

묵상 질문

1. 내가 하나님이나 교회, 혹은 다른 믿는 사람을 향해 비판적인 마음을 가졌던 때는 언제인가?

2. 어떻게 하나님의 사랑으로 그 마음을 이겨낼 수 있을까?

3. 
   

기도

하나님, 십자가에서 나를 위해 하신 일을 감사합니다. 제 안에 있는 비판적인 마음을 회개합니다. 제가 사랑하는 사람들을 하나님께서 저보다 더 깊이 사랑하신다는 것을 인정합니다. 참된 선함과 소망을 예배와 감사 가운데 발견하게 하소서.예수님의 이름으로 기도드립니다. 아멘.