Nuts Passion Series

Jesus told them, “Leave this sister alone and why are you bothering her. She has done a beautiful thing to me.. 7The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."

Why did Mary give up a year’s salary to show her appreciation for Jesus. Because she was NUTS. She was crazy. Jesus had made her crazy. She remembered how her brother Lazarus had died, and Jesus raised him from the dead. She remembered how she had been lost, but now she had a story to tell of what Jesus had done for her. A year’s salary was nothing compared to what she felt she owed Jesus for her life and salvation. She had a passion, a nuts kind of passion.

Have you ever stopped to think how dramatically God could use the saints at Glenville and New Life if we were as enthusiastic about God as Mary was? She had no hesitation or reservation about what others might say or think. Didn’t I tell you that God did not call us to be normal.

The normal thing to do would have been to open the expensive jar, and let a drop or too hit Jesus on the head, and a drop or two hit him on the foot. The people would have said, “Oh my what a wonderful act of devotion. Why didn’t I think of doing that.”

Saints, the church has way too many “drop or two” saints in it. What would you think of a boyfriend who brought you a bottle of your favorite perfume for Valentine’s Day, but as soon as you opened the package he took the bottle out. Put a drop of two on your neck and hands, and then took the rest back to hold it for another day.

Well he probably wouldn’t be your boyfriend for long. You want somebody that’s going to be crazing in love with you. Not only do you want the whole bottle of perfume, you’re hoping he’s got a necklace or bracelet to go along with it.

Mary expressed her love with a total commitment. She could have poured it all out, but saved the jar so that it could have been filled again. Some people could have accepted that as a tremendous act of devotion. They would have said, “My how generous and loving.” But Mary did not see it that way. Mary broke this jar so that it would never be used by anyone on anyone else again. She was saying, “Lord I’m nuts for you and I’m never turning back again.” That which had a claim on my heart as my treasure, has been given to you and shared with all. Jesus, you alone are lord of my life.

Some people have visions of climbing mountains. Some people have visions of winning Olympic medals. Some people have visions for sailing around the world alone. They spend tremendous amounts of time, energy, money, and sacrifice, to make it happen. But Mary had a vision, of entering into as close of a relationship with Jesus Christ as she could get. That’s where her passion was. She did not want to be normal any longer.