John 12:1-8
• Mary, is the sister of Lazarus and Martha, they are dining at Simeon the Lepers House
• During a dinner in their home with Jesus and the disciples as guests, Mary anoints Jesus' feet with "a pound of costly perfume," and then wipes them with her hair.
• It is Mary during another visit from Jesus. Luke 10:38-42 tells us that during that time, Martha was busy with hospitality tasks, complained to Jesus because Mary, instead of helping her sister with the work, was sitting at Jesus' feet, listening to what he was saying.
• Jesus defends Mary's choice. In the Luke story, he says to Martha that Mary "has chosen the better part" In the text today, Judas says that the perfume should have been sold and the money given to the poor,
• Jesus says to him, "Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me."
1. Mary Served by Treasuring the moment ( you have values, you set priorities, you find richness in Christ )
• She treasured the moments with Jesus (She valued Church)
• Her priorities were to worship and give Jesus honor after all was that not why they gathered in verse “Here a dinner was given in Jesus honor”
• Mary found richness in Christ more than the cost of the oil Mary took pound of costly oil made of pure nard anointed Jesus’s feet and wiped them. The servant believes Jesus is more important than the riches of the world money is valuable but Christ is more valued
2. Mary Served by pouring out her Faith.
• Mary believed Jesus was more than a man: Kings, Priests , and the Dead were anointed with oil. She believed He was a King but not Just a King 16On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
• She believed He was a Priest but not just a Priest, but the High Priest 31Therefore, holy brothers, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. The High Priest forgives sin
• Mary believed He was the Resurrection: Mary recalled the words Jesus told Martha, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Jesus said in Revelation 1:18 I am the First and the Last. 18I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hell.
3. Mary Served by Acting Out her worship the others did not
• Lazarus was just raised from the dead yet he did not treasure this moment the text simply says, “Lazarus was one of those at the table” and that’s all no action
• Simeon the Leper in his house is the God of all creation He is watching not worshipping. He to has no apparent actions
• Martha had just witnessed the resurrection of her brother, yet she is working and worrying no action of worship texts says “Martha Served”.
• Judas Iscariot is in the presence of the only One Who could save him from his sin and deliver him from Hell; but his actions are complaining and finding fault.
• The Eleven Disciples in the text there’s is no actions on their part before them is the King of Kings, The great High Priest, The Resurrection, they are just there, their just in the huddle and do not run a play.
4. Then there is Mary! She did what any of the others could have done. She worship the Lord, she treasured the moment, she poured out her faith, and she acted out her faith. She ran a play.
• Think of all He has done for you! Think of His salvation, His love, His provision, His grace, His mercy, His presence, etc. Think of Who He is, what He has done and what He has promised you, then be like Mary, not like the others, and give Him the worship He deserves. Run a play every now and then!
