I think as far as the excluded goes, we have to keep in mind that almost everyone is excluded at some point in their lives. Whether it be poor, sick, old, widowed, most of us are in need at some point. At another point we may be doing just fine. That takes out the “us” and “them” notion. We realize that by helping the others we are helping ourselves. I don’t know if that relates to the passage, but it is how I view the marginalized. I don’t see them as being there permanently, at least in a perfect world. But it is cyclical.

I don’t disagree with you in the idea that the passage is focused on Jesus here….and the adoration and praise of him.

But I do agree with Peter and others who say that this verse is often used as a prooftext for people to excuse themselves from helping the poor, or to believe that poverty can not be fought.

I think the text says a couple of important things. It talks about the importance of Jesus’ ministry to those who are excluded, disenfranchised, etc, etc. In this scene alone he is with Simon the leper and a woman…that just wouldn’t happen in the 1st Century, and sometimes not even now. I think Jesus is telling us something about the inclusion of the excluded.

I do think Jesus is praising her for her gift, and he focuses on the here and now…as He is with them, and His time is drawing to an end. But I don’t think that because He calls them to Him at that moment, doesn’t mean He doesn’t want His disciples to not to continue to care for the disenfranchised and marginalized, or stand up against systemic poverty.

As for the social gospel. I think Jesus and people’s needs are hand in hand. They are not to be an either/or proposition. I think for example that when Jesus delivers the Sermon on the Mount, he feeds the crowds first. Too many Christians have gone into places and ignored the hunger of people, as they try to “win souls” for Christ. I think the two….preaching Jesus Christ, and helping the poor and the needs of people go hand in hand. I’m sure you would agree.

Many times the social gospel did ignore Jesus Christ…I agree. And too many times, modern Evangelicalism ignores the needs of people.

You say God comes before the excluded. I know what you are saying. But God (Jesus) was the excluded. I think many of the Pharisees excluded God/Jesus, in favor of their idea of God.

But you are right. Our allegiance is to Christ, and because of that, we serve others.

Good thoughts Christopher. Helps me think through this stuff.

Rhett

While I appreciate Peter’s words, and while I think that his message is an important one, unfortunately I think he misses the point of this scene in Jesus’ ministry. I just do not think that is what the gospel writers intended to say (this story is in every gospel, if I’m not mistaken), or the point that is being made…I think that’s ultimately reading into the text our own presuppositions about what Jesus *should* be saying, not what He actually is.

While those who lean a little bit more “emerging” accuse classic evangelicals of trying to put Jesus into a box that He does not fit into, I think that in the process the “emerging” have also placed Jesus in a box that He does not fit into. Jesus is a complicated guy–not surprisingly, just like God in the Old Testament. And He will not and cannot fit into the boxes we try to put Him into; chances are He would criticize ALL the camps of evangelicalism today.

While it is difficult to believe that Jesus is saying what He is saying here, I think a plain reading of Mark (and Luke and Matthew and John) suggests that Jesus means exactly how it reads: poverty is never going to be defeated. But the disciples are only going to have Jesus with them for a while longer. And while they could go out and try to attack poverty, Jesus is right there with them, He is God, and Jesus deserves praise, glory, and honor. Jesus deserves expensive stuff. Jesus deserves to be worshipped.

See, this passage is not about getting up and going to fight poverty. It’s not a passage teaching us about our need to accept the excluded in society. It’s not a call to arms. There are thousands of other passages in the Bible that talk about that. But this is not one of them. And to turn this into one of those is unfortunate.

Rather, this passage is about worship. At its core, it is about placing Christ above everything else.

This woman is the hero of this story because she is doing just that—she is worshipping Jesus. She is doing what Jesus deserves–she is lavishing Him with expense; she is placing Him in the place that He deserves. The poor can wait. JESUS is right before them, and Jesus deserves their attention. He comes first.

It’s scandalous to think this, isn’t it– especially in light of the “emergent” Jesus who tells us to spend everything we have on the poor. But I think that this reveals one of the shortcomings of the social gospel: the social gospel places social needs above everything else—and sometimes that “everything else” includes Jesus.

What this passage tells us is that sometimes there are some things that are more important than taking care of social needs. Before social needs–before caring for the poor, before taking care of the widow, before all of that–comes God. God is first. He deserves everything first.

Often…95% of the time…He will ask us to take care of others. But sometimes…sometimes…He might tell us that He wants our energy devoted elsewhere. Sometimes He wants to be lavished, to be praised and glorified by having us spend out of the blessing He gave us solely on Him.

Think back to the temple in Solomon’s day. That was not a bare-bones temple. It was hugely ornate, it was glorious, it was unlike anything ever seen before. Some of the more “progressive” in the church today would look at that temple with a critical eye and say, “Why do we need all of that? Why can’t we just worship outside, and instead spend the money on the poor?”

But to say that it was an opulent waste would be to insult God…because remember, God gave the specifications of the temple. God decided He wanted something wondrous, beautiful, awesome built for Him. Why? Because He deserves it. In other words, in the building of the temple, God said, “You will always have the poor with you. I deserve elaborate worship.”

It may not be what we like to hear. It challenges us. But God comes before the excluded, He comes before the poor. It may seem unlikely, but we can make serving the poor a false idol, just like everything else.

God first. Everything else second.

And sometimes…sometimes…God will ask for expensive, lavish worship from us. And if that is the case, we need to stop whatever we’re doing–even serving the poor–and give Him what He deserves.

Thoughts?

I think it’s another reminder that we can’t overlook what’s right in our face in order to “fix” some big need. Don’t bypass the stranger in the ditch so you can get to worship on time and preach a good sermon. Deal with the need where you find it…

Not trying to deny Rollins’ or Meyer’s points – I’m a firm believer that margins is a huge theme in Mark – but it grates on me when people pull out sound bytes and try to justify their sin with them…