John 12 (1)
- Read John 12:1-8
My word, can you imagine attending this dinner party? Can you imagine reclining at a table and enjoying a meal with Jesus? Or, could you imagine sitting and talking with Mary and Martha and having them walk through the events that had happened just shortly before. Listening to their emotional roller coaster, as they told how their brother was sick and they were scared he was going to die. But, how reassured they were because they had an inside track with Jesus. After all, He was a personal friend of their’s. They had seen Him perform miracles many times. They had seen Him heal people. And, He had eaten at their home many times. He was a friend. Surely He would come and heal their brother.
Oh, to hear of their hurt, and confusion, when after they had sent and told Jesus the Lazarus was sick, and please come, to have Him wait, and wait, and wait.
Can you imagine hearing them tell the story of how Jesus came, and how He had performed something they believed He couldn’t do. “But, Jesus, he stinketh”. Oh, and then the incredible job of having their brother back.
Can you imagine, talking with Lazarus? Ah, Lazarus, tell what you experienced. Makes you wonder if the Lord allowed him to retain his memory of tine on the other side or not.
In the midst of all of this, Mary, overwhelmed by the power of God, and overwhelmed by her love for her Savior, went and got some perfume, and anointed Jesus’ feet with it, and wiped His feet with her hair.
The Bible tells us in verse 3, that the fragrance of the perfume filled the house.
I wonder what kind of a fragrance it was, that it fills the house. I wonder if it was stronger in some parts of the house than in others.
I remember one time, my youngest brother, who wore Dracar cologne, bought a bottle and put it in my truck. That stuff was expensive. I mean, I grew up with a bunch of Avon’s Wild Country in different decanter bottles. Anyway, he left that black bottle of cologne in my truck, in the sun, in the summer. When we got off work, I went out to my truck. That bottle had gotten so hot that the lid had blown off the bottle and a bunch of that stuff had soaked into the seat of my truck. I had to drive home with my window down and my head out the window, eyes watering, the smell was so strong.
To this day, if I go to my Mom’s, first thing after I walk in the door, I have to unplug her Airwick things she has plugged into her outlets. Can’t handle strong smells.
Mary put perfume on Jesus’ feet and wiped His feet with her hair.
She was overwhelmed by her love, and adoration, of Jesus.
She was so overwhelmed that not only did she perfume His feet, and not only did she wipe His feet with her hair, but she had spent more than a year’s worth of a normal person’s wages to do so.
- vs 5
Why wasn’t this sold for 300 denarii? A denarii was equivalent to a normal person’s salary for 1 day. Sio the perfume she put on Jesus’ feet, if Judas’ estimate was correct, would have been worth what a normal person would make in 300 days. If you count off holidays, and Sabbaths, that would have been about what a normal person would earn in a year.
Can you imagine that? Being so in love with Jesus that you would perfume His feet, that you would wipe His feet with your hair, and that you would spend the equivalent to a normal person’s annual salary to do so?
The vast majority of people in church today don’t even tithe. They don’t even give the 10% required by the Lord, much less that kind of sacrifice. A lot of people who claim to be Christians can’t be bothered to even attend church, much less minister, or serve, and certainly not menial service like that. How degrading.
Oh, I wish I loved Jesus like that. I wish He was that kind of a priority in my life.
But notice, there was at least 1 in the group who didn’t think this was a good idea.
- Read John 12:4-6
Such a simple question, and such a revealing insight into the character of Judas. I sure am glad the Lord saw fit to include this account in the Bible. I find it scary, but I sure am glad God, when He inspired John to record his Gospel, made sure he included this event, and he didn’t have to. I mean, John didn’t include this event in his gospel account of Jesus’ life just for filler, trying to fill more pages.
John himself tells us in
> John 21:25 And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which, if every one of them were written down, I suppose not even the world itself could contain the books[a] that would be written.
Oh no! God specifically had John record this event for a specific reason, and I am so glad He did, You see, because John told us about this event, we know:
I. THINGS WE KNOW
1. You can know Jesus and not be saved - You can know Jesus and not be saved.
Did Judas know Jesus? Sure he did. He didn’t just know about Jesus, he knew Jesus. Some times we are impressed by people who know large portions of their Bibles, and hope you do. We know that the Bible is a sword for our offense and defense.
Paul tells us in Ephesus in the passage about spiritual armor, to take up your sword which is the Word of God.
In Psalm 119 we are told that the word of God is a lamp unto our feet and a ;light unto our paths. Scripture helps us make wise decisions, because it helps us know the mind and the will of God. We are commanded to meditate on it and to talk about it to our children when rising up and when we are living down, when we are going out and when we are coming in.
Knowing the Bible is a great thing, but Judas knew more than the Bible, he knew Jesus. He walked with Him. He talked with Him. He saw Him perform miracles. He was there when Jesus fed the 5,000. Judas helped distribute the loaves and fish. He helped collect the leftovers into baskets.
He was in the boat when the storm hit and was scared to death, just like the rest of the disciples, and he saw Jesus calm the storm.
He was there in the boat that night when they saw Jesus walking on the water. He was there when Jesus cast the demons out of the man, and the demons went into pigs on a hill and 1,000 pigs ran off a cliff into the water and were drowned.
My word, he was there with Jesus and the other disciples when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, and just got through hearing Mary, Martha, and Lazarus tell about that event from their perspective, and he still was not saved.
Some people have the mistaken idea that everyone who knows about Jesus will be saved. Well, here is a man who knew Jesus personally, and still wasn’t saved.
James was concerned about people who thought that way, so in his book, the book of James, in the 2nd chapter and verse 19 he wrote,
> James 2:19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
The demons know there is a god. They even know God and yet they aren’t saved.
You are “spiritual”. You believe there is a god. Big deal. Even the Devil knows that and is lost.
You can know Jesus and not be saved.
2. You can attend church and not be saved
What is attending church? It is going to worship God. It is going to learn about the Lord, and being encouraged by other believers.
Drew’s been a little discouraged in Colorado, in Denver. I remember the first time he attended a church put there, he called Gladys and I and told us, “These people think just like we do.”
Church is gathering with like-minded people to be encouraged and to learn about the Lord.
Well, Judas went to church. He went to the synagogue with Jesus, every time, for more than 3 years, that Jesus went. He sat on the hillside when Jesus gave the sermon on the mount and the crowds were amazed. He was there on the banks of the Red Sea, when the crowds that came to hear Jesus were so large Jesus had to get into a boat to teach.
Oh, Judas attended church, but was not saved.
There are people who have the mistaken idea that attending church will get you to heaven. That because you attend church you’re saved. That is not true. I believe that if you are truly saved, that you will want to attend church and to not do so is rebellion and disobedience, but church attendance will not save you.
My word, the pharisees were there every time the doors were opened and yet Jesus called them Sepulchers, white-washed tombs filled with dead mens’ bones.
You can attend church and not be saved.
3. You can care about the poor, or pretend to care about the poor and not be saved.
- Read vvs 4-6
Why wasn’t this sold and the money used for the poor? What kind of wasteful extravagance is this?
These days we see many celebrities making commercials about the starving children overseas, or the mistreated animals in this country, or the poor in our country or whatever, and think, oh how loving and compassionate they are.
Let me tell you, you care about the poor, or even pretend to care about the poor and needy like Judas did, and not be saved.
Wait a minute Gene, why would someone, who isn’t a Christian, care about the poor, or pretend to care about the poor?
Well, there are many reasons.
1) You could pretend to care about the poor because you’re a thief, or because you get rich by caring for the poor. Judas did that. He kept the money bag and the Bible here specifically tells us that he stole some of the money intended for the group or for the poor.
In recent years, a political family set up a foundation, with numerous sub branches and placed themselves between impoverished countries needing aid, and as aid money headed to those countries, then would siphon substantial amounts of money off the top. They did this in Mozambique, in Papua New Guinea, in Haiti, and with Katrina in New Orleans, and in many other places.
I have no problem with people making large salaries. As a matter-of-fact, I celebrate a person’s ability and skill to be able to do so. But, do not do so when that money is being drawn from contributions given to help hungry or needy people. If you can invent something and make millions of dollars from it, congratulations. That’s great! Evidently we needed what you invented.
But, when you make millions as a preacher, or when you make nearly $1 million a year heading up Unicef, or the United Way, or Goodwill, I have to question your motives. Are you in the business of helping people, or are you in the business of making good living while giving the appearance of helping people.
Someone calls you wanting you to donate to the police benevolence fund. You care about LEOs and their families so you want to help. The organization that called you is going to keep 90% of what you donate, and only 10% will go to help the law enforcement folks you’re actually trying to help.
You can pretend to care about the poor because it enriches you, but that doesn’t mean you’re saved.
2) You can pretend to care about the poor to give your life meaning.
In reality, numerous studies show that Christians contribute much more to non-profits and to help people that non-Christians do. However, there are some non-Christians who help, and donate, and serve, often, as an attempt to give their lives meaning and purpose, but that doesn’t mean they are Christians.
Think of the rebellions that took place in the 60s. Who led the majority of the rebellions and called for the most of the changes? It was primarily spoiled white kids from the suburbs. They were raised, with parents giving them everything in the world they wanted, except discipline. Those young people, empty, looking for something to give their lives meaning, had sit ins and all sorts of things.
Look at the marches on the streets of our nation today. Black Lives Matter. Some of those folks are Marxists, attempting to destroy our country. But, many of them see an issue, an issue they do not understand, and in an attempt to give their lives meaning and purpose shout “Me Too. I Care.”
You can pretend to care about the poor because it gives your life meaning.
3) You can pretend to care about the poor because you feel guilty. The Lord has blessed you. You see other people who are less fortunate, and you feel guilty because of the opportunities you’ve been given, so out of your guilt you help others. It isn’t because you care about the people. It’s because you feel guilty and it makes you feel better.
Legitimate concern gives a hand up, instead of a handout. Legitimate concern is a soup kitchen, where you also share the gospel. Legitimate concern is maybe giving some food to that homeless person, but also taking the time to share a track or to tell them about Jesus.
Caring for the poor doesn’t mean you’re saved.
4. You can have a good reputation and not be saved -
The disciples let Judas carry the moneybag. If they did that, it must mean they trusted him. He had a good reputation with the people he was with day in and day out. Those folks ate with him, and slept with him. They were with him in the heat and the rain. They were with him when he was homesick and when he was excited about what he was doing and seeing.
Judas had a good reputation, as a matter-of-fact, his reputation among the disciples was so good that on the night before His crucifixion, when Jesus said that one of the disciples would betray him, they didn’t all turn and look at Judas. instead they asked, “Lord, is it me?”
Just because you have a good reputation it doesn’t mean you’re saved.
5. You can preach and perform miracles, and it doesn’t mean you’re saved.
There are some who say if you have performed a certain amount of verifiable miracles then you are not only a Christian, but a saint. Is that what the Bible says?
- Luke 10:16-17
Who were these 72? They were disciples that followed Jesus at the beginning before many abandoned Him, and He selected the 12. Among these 72 were the 12 still with Him.
Jesus had sent them out to preach and to teach. They came back all excited! Jesus we have a great ministry. Why, even the demons submit to us in your name.
Just because you have successfully dealt with a demon, or just because you can preach and people will listen, and just because you’ve done some sort of miracle, does not mean you’re a Christian. it does not mean you’re saved.
- Read Matthew 7:13-23
Oh what a sad day that will be. People who have grown up in church. People who spent their whole lives in church. They brought food for the covered dish meals. They taught Sunday school and Vacation Bible School. They taught and they sang and they many other things. And when it gets right down to the end, Jesus will say, “I never knew you.” But Jesus I did this and this and this, and Jesus will answer, “I never knew you.”
And sadly, there is going to be a whole bunch of them.
A religious leader recently said you don’t have to be a Christian to be saved. God is going to save us all. That is a lie straight from the pits of hell and it smells like smoke.
Jesus says in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Oh, in the end the Lord will save them all. Please, please show me where it says that in the Bible. It sure would make me feel a lot better and then I won’t be crying over friends I have and family members I have who are good people but who don’t know the Lord. Please show me where it says that in the Bible, then we won’t have to spend months out here working on Christmas in the Country, and Gladys and Bonnie won’t have to go home limping and stooped over in pain, every night for months, and Keven giving up most of his days off for months, just so we can share the Gospel with people who don’t know the Lord. Please tell me there’s another way. Tell me there’s another way, then Russ and Cindy won’t have to be out here every weekend mowing and cleaning and can spend more time with their families. Tell me there’s another way, so I don’t have to put light balls in the top of the bay tree, with my knees shaking anymore. Tell me there’s another way so folks don’t have to deal with snow machines, and strings of lights and don’t have to figure out how to keep deer standing up anymore.
Please, tell me there’s another way to be saved other than Jesus. Tell me there’s an easier way. For the life of me, I can’t find it in the Bible, and that’s the book that’s the word of God and it is the only book I will trust my life to.
What I see right here in Matthew 7 is that there is a wide highway leading to hell, filled with deceived, sincere, unbelieving people. Wide is the road. That sucker is 16 lanes wide, filled with people who are sincere, but who are sincerely wrong.
Do you remember on the top of Mount Carmel, when Elijah confronted the 400 prophets of Baal, and 450 prophets of Asherah? Those 850 prophets built an altar. They prayed for hours. They cried out to their gods. They cut themselves. They were sincere, but they were sincerely wrong and it cost them their lives.
But Jesus, Lord, didn’t we do many good things in your name? I never knew you.
Wide is the road that leads to destruction. Narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life and few find it.
But I’m good. And the Bible says your goodness is like filthy rags in the sight of Jesus. There is none righteous, no not 1.
But loving God wouldn’t . . .
Let me tell you what a loving God did. He covered the earth with a flood and killed all of the animals, and all of the trees, and all of the people, except for 8 people He placed on an ark, and the animals He told Noah to put there. That’s what a loving God did.
And a loving God sent His Son, Who had been with Him through all of creation to earth, to be covered with your sins, and to die in your place. That’s what a loving God did.
Then a loving God had Christians, thousands of them down through the centuries, die, sharing the Gospel and printing out His Word so that you would have the opportunity this morning to hear His standards and hear about His love for you and so that you could hear how you can be saved.
That’s what a loving God did.
But, there is coming a day, in the day of the Lord, when there will be separation between sheep and goat, between His followers, and those who refused, and on that day some will hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in a fe things, I will put you over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.” And others will hear, “I never knew you.” But, don’t you dare lay your lostness at the feet of Jesus, or blame it on God. Because if you are hearing this this morning, He has graciously given you another opportunity to become a follower of His.
Admit - Admit that you’ve sinned and that you can’t save yourself.
Believe - Believe Jesus is the Son of Good and the Savior of the world.
Confess - Confess your sins and confess Him before men.
Mary anointed Jesus’ feet with Nard, and the aroma filled the house.
The Bible says that the Gospel is that way. It is a sweet aroma to those being saved, and it carries the aroma of death for those who are not. The choice is your’s.
