Jesus and the Poor

Is Jesus telling HIs disciples to not care about the "poor" (John 12:8)?
No, Jesus is telling them to "always" (John 12:8) care about the poor, but also calling out Judas' hypocrisy - Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it (John 12:4-6) - and rebuking them (the "you" is plural) for ignorantly and unjustly criticizing Mary.

Did Mary know that she was anointing Jesus to prepare for His burial?
She most likely had done it as an act of worship to express her gratitude and reverence for what Jesus had done for her brother, and perhaps her contrition for not having believed in Jesus' power to raise the dead until He demonstrated it (see I am the Resurrection and the Life). She probably was taken aback by Jesus' explanation of her action: “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial" (John 12:7). God could have uses for our acts of worship that are beyond our imagination.

How did "a great many of the Jews" find out that Jesus "was" (John 12:9) in Bethany?
Word had traveled to Jerusalem, which is just 1.7 miles (2.7 kilometers) west of Bethany.

Why might the supper have been held at Simon's house instead of Lazarus'?
It may have been the largest house in Bethany and better able to accommodate the "great many" who "came" (John 12:9).

Who was their main attraction, besides Jesus?
"Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead" (John 12:9). Just imagine their questions to Lazarus.

Did it turn into a circus featuring Lazarus?
No, it turned into a fruitful occasion for Lazarus to serve as a living testimony of Jesus' power and deity, "because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus" (John 12:11).

What did other Jews do?
They went away and reported what happened to the "chief priests" (John 12:10), some of whom may have come to Bethany to see for themselves.

How did the chief priests' plot to murder Jesus then change?
It expanded to include another innocent person: "the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also" (John 12:10).