Just Give It To Jesus Series

John chapters 11-12 record the last week of Jesus' life, and we are now seeing more of the personal interactions between Jesus and those closest to Him. Because it was a week before the Passover celebration, pilgrims from all over the region were arriving a week early to prepare themselves for the festival by purifying themselves from anything that would disqualify them from participating in the Passover. It could be sins of omission or commission, for example, not giving the required tithes and offerings or offering the wrong kind of sacrifice, not keeping the Sabbath, touching a dead body - they had so many laws it was very easy to break one whether intentionally or unintentionally.

Those arriving in Jerusalem were somehow aware of the council’s arrest warrant for Jesus so they were wondering if Jesus would even risk coming to Jerusalem. Those pilgrims who were “seeking” Him, in all likelihood, were not seeking Him with hostile intent, but out of simple curiosity. Their speculation as to whether or not He would come to the festival is more natural and understandable since they knew who He was and were acquainted with His previous works.” The people at the temple were asking, “What do you think? Surely, He won’t come to the festival.” This question assumes a negative answer, yet it was clear that if He did show up it would be a bold move indeed.

John 12:1-8

1 Therefore, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they made Him a dinner there, and Martha was serving; and Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him. 3 Mary then took a pound of very expensive perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, the one who intended to betray Him, *said, 5 “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the proceeds given to poor people?” 6 Now he said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he kept the money box, he used to steal from what was put into it. 7 Therefore Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial. 8 For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.”

There are different people portrayed in this account in John 12 but I would like to focus on one person in particular: Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus. Pretty much every time we read about Mary’s encounters with Jesus, she is sitting or worshiping at His feet. I wondered what the significance was of being at someone’s feet at that time and place in history. We see expressions of this type of outward respect in many countries, in the way people bow to each other and even in the use of language when addressing those who are older than them.

Charles Spurgeon pointed out:

The Easterns pay more attention to posture than we do…In their courts certain positions must be taken up by courtiers. Oriental monarchs are approached in positions which indicate the greatness of the king and the submissiveness of the petitioner. So, in their worship, the Easterns abound in postures significant of the humility which should be felt in the Presence of God. Most of us think very little, indeed, of outward postures. Perhaps we do not even think enough of them. Inasmuch as in devotion we think little of the position of the body, let us pay all the more attention to the posture of the soul.

This is why we bow our heads in prayer and get on our knees in prayer in worship because we aren’t just in the presence of a king, but in the presence of the King of all kings, in the presence of God Himself, the creator and sustainer of the universe. When we have this posture of the soul, we are saying to God, “You are the sovereign King, You are above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only now but also in the age to come. You are our God and Savior, the One whom we trust above all else.”

Mary's outward posture revealed the posture of her heart toward the Lord, one of reverence, dependence, humility, obedience, and devotion. Her posture tells us something about her relationship with the Savior. When coming to His feet Mary:

? Listened to Jesus

? Learned from Jesus

? Loved Jesus

Let’s look at the first thing Mary did. She: