Doing Your Best

ANOINTED AT BETHANY

Joh 12:1-11

1 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. 2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. 3 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 odour of the ointment. 4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him, 5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. 7 Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. 8 For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always. 9 Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death; 11 Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.

How many times was Jesus anointed? Once? Twice? Three times? Earlier in His ministry (Luke 7:36-39) Later in His ministry (Matthew 26:6-12, Mark 14:3-8, and John 12:1-11) How do with explain the differences found in Matthew, Mark, and John? Whose house was it? Was it His feet or head? Or both? Let’s look at what we do know.

I. MARY’S GIFT

“A pound of ointment of spikenard”

A. TO THE RIGHT PERSON.

1. She gave it willing to Christ.

2. She gave it wholly to Christ.

B. FOR THE RIGHT PURPOSE.

1. She did what she could.

2. She done it for the right cause.

a. An act of love.

b. An act of loyalty.

II. JUDAS’S GREED

“He had the bag, and bare what was put therein.”

A. HIS COMPLAINT.

“Why was not this ointment sold for three

hundred pence, and given to the poor?”

1. Absolutely, She could have sold it. (It

was hers.)

2. And, She could have spent it. (On herself)

3. But, She chose to save it.

B. HIS CONCERN.

1. Not that he cared.

a. He didn’t care about the poor.

b. He didn’t care about their problems.

2. Because he was a crook.

a. He was entrusted with the money.

b. He embezzled the money.

1. Money that could have went to the

poor…

2. This man put it in his own pocket.

III. SAVIOR’S GRATITUDE

A. HE COMES TO HER AID.

“Leave her alone.”

B. HE COMMUNICATED HIS APPROVAL.

Jesus called it “a good work” (Matt. 26:10; Mark 14:6)

1. Judas saw it as a great waste.

2. Jesus saw it as a good work.

She done the best she could…that’s all God requires.