Broken & Spilled Out

BROKEN & SPILLED OUT

Jn. 12:3

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR: TIGER SNACK

1. A tiger was walking through the jungle one day and saw two men relaxing under a tree. One was reading a newspaper, and the other was working feverishly on a manual typewriter.

2. The tiger leapt on the man with the newspaper, and ate him up. The tiger did not bother the other man at all. That's because any predator knows that readers digest but writers cramp.

B. TEXT

“Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.” John 12:3.

C. THESIS

1. First we’re going to notice Mary’s unique way of showing love to Jesus, next the concentration of her gift, and last the reason for the widespread effect of it.

2. Title of this message is, “Broken & Spilled Out.”

I. DEMONSTRATION OF LOVE TO CHRIST

1. In the town of Bethany, there was a family made up of 2 sisters and a brother; Mary, Martha and Lazarus. These two sisters became famous for entertaining Jesus in their home.

2. The brother Lazarus is known to us became Jesus raised him from the dead.

3. If you study the two sisters and the brother, you find that though they all greatly loved Jesus, each one had a different way of showing that love.

4. It’s the same with us today, true believers don’t always feel moved to serve the Lord Jesus in the same fashion, or to express their love to Him in precisely the same manner.

A. MARTHA’S DEMONSTRATION

1. Martha served. She was the housekeeper and made wonderful suppers for the Lord and His disciples. Jesus really appreciated her gift of hospitality.

2. Sometimes people speak disparagingly of Martha, but they mistake the Lord, who never disapproved of her serving but for pressuring her sister.

3. Martha, in this instance did not fall into that fault. She did her part quietly.

4. We have many ladies who serve in the church – some teaching classes, some cooking, some as greeters, some volunteer in child care, some care for the sick and the poor.

B. LAZARUS’ DEMONSTRATION

1. Lazarus also demonstrated his love to Christ by his hospitality and by his witnessing.

2. People came from all around to see Lazarus who had been raised from the dead. He himself was the best evidence to convince people that the power of Christ was real. He was, indeed, alive!

3. There are some Christians who can’t do or say much, but their godly lives, their patient suffering, their quiet holiness are good witnesses to Jesus.

4. Many Men honor the Lord by serving as ushers, greeters, teachers, volunteering of all kinds. All these demonstrate love for Jesus.

C. MARY’S LOVE TO CHRIST

1. But what shall Mary do? Her desire wasn’t to be at the table, Lazarus is there. Her place wasn’t in the kitchen, that was Martha’s domain—her abilities lay in a different direction. What should Mary do?

2. Her burning heart compelled her to express her love somehow – but how? She was drawn to the custom of honored guests by anointing them with ointment. She perceived that this had not yet been done, at least, in the royal style which her love suggested.

3. Perhaps she was very lovely and fond of adorning her person. The thought struck her of using the pound of fragrant salve she had stored up for beautifying herself to lavish on Jesus. It was very expensive, but nothing was too costly to honor Him.

4. Mary’s gift proved her love to be of no common kind. Other women made suppers for Him. Other hosts sat at the table with Him. But no other had anointed His feet like she did!

5. Hers was the act of a soul all on fire, the deed of a woman filled with deep devotion and reverent love.

6. She had sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His Words! She had perceived His Godhead and understood more of who He was and what He was about to do than any other of the disciples.

7. The Church needs to be a band of men and women full of enthusiasm who will go beyond others in devotion to the Lord Jesus.

8. We need missionaries who will dare to die to carry the Gospel to regions beyond. We need Christians who will defy public opinion and, with flaming zeal, burn a way into men’s hearts.

II. THE CONCENTRATION OF MARY’S GIFT

“Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly…”

A. THE FORMATION OF CHRIST IN US

1. Before you can give out, you must take in. She brought out all her ointment, the whole pound, without reserve.