Anointed Feet

Anointed Feet

“Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint[a] of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.[b]” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you,[c] but you will not always have me.” John 12:1-8

Intro: Mary is a popular name in the bible.

As a matter of fact, it was the single most popular name in the first century Palestinian culture.

One in every five girls born was given the name Mary.

That’s 20% of the women named Mary!

The fact that it was such a popular name

makes it a lot more difficult to keep up with the “Mary’s” we find in the New Testament.

The name appears 61 times in 53 different verses,

with each reference…, providing only the bare minimum of information…, about which Mary is who.

Even scholars have a hard time pinning down who the authors are talking about at times.

Mary, the mother of Jesus, is the easiest one to identify.

Then, there’s Mary, the mother of James and Joses.

And Mary, the wife of Clopas.

We can’t forget Mary, the mother of Mark.

And in the later New Testament, Mary of Rome.

And don’t forget Mary Magdalene—you know, the woman of the night, the demon-possessed Mary

—don’t you remember Jesus casting seven demons out of her?

Then, there is Mary of Bethany, whom we meet here in John 12.

She is the sister of Lazarus, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, who had two sisters named Martha and Mary.

It is her story we tell today.

It is from her that we learn a lesson of deep devotion and real commitment to faith if Jesus.

It is from her that we learn what the model disciple looks like.

If I were to ask you, “What have you done this week that a disciple would do?”

Could you name three things a disciple would do? That you have done this week?

Mary of Bethany…, is the one we get to know…, a little better than the other Mary’s in the Bible.

We are first introduced to Mary, in Luke’s Gospel, when Jesus shows up at their house for a meal.

Her sister Martha is busy showing hospitality

Martha has the gift of hospitality.

The gift of hospitality is one thing a growing church congregation has.

The gift of hospitality is so close related to the gift of salvation.

I am convinced that every Christian has the gift of hospitality.

It is just like any other gift.

Some use their gifts and spiritual gifts more and so the more you use your talents, gifts and spiritual gifts

The more you receive.

The strong they become.

Out of your genuine experience and relationship with the loving and forgiving and saving Saviour Jesus Christ

You now have love for others.

That experience you had results in you wanting others to meet and know Christ in a saving way.

So you begin the journey of taking the initiative to invite, welcome, include, and support new people.

You have this fire of desire inside you, called the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit lives and dwells in you.

The Holy Spirit helps you grow in faith.

The Holy Spirit revives our passion want to serve and work and nurture and love and help the congregation

as well as those outside the church.

Martha represents that part of you that serves, works, and volunteers.

Martha is in the kitchen, working, preparing the meal.

After all these are preachers,

can eat a lot of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and biscuits and green beans.

Everyone of you have some Martha in you.

Martha is what keeps the church going.

Martha comes early and leaves late.

Martha changes the par aments, the colors on the communion table and pulpit

Martha changes the flower arrangements throughout the different seasons.

Martha comes to the office and gets the upper rooms and takes them and hands them out.