Sermon for 7/22/2001
Mark 14:3-11
Introduction:
A. The kind of love Jesus experienced from this woman would take anyone by surprise.
B. Walk into a teenager’s room and everything is neat and clean. You just know that your child must have done something wrong and was trying to win your favor. Or maybe your child wanted something in return. So you begin to question your child along those lines, only to hear this reply, "Mom, it’s no big deal. I just did it because I love you."
C. Husband comes home with a dozen roses. Just an ordinary day. You knew that he must have done something wrong, or that he was preparing you for some bad news. But he says, "No, honey. I brought these flowers because I love you. There’s no other reason. I just love you."
D. Husband comes home and the wife has set the table for a romantic dinner. She has set the children to a baby sitter. You begin to worry that maybe you forgot an important date. She says, "No dear. I did this because I love you. There’s no other reason. I just love you."
E. These are unexpected acts of pure love. And we see that kind of love in this story in a very beautiful way.
WBTU:
** Scripture background.
A. Mark’s gospel tells the story simply without a lot of details.
B. This incident is recorded in Matthew 26 and John 12.
C. From these two we learn:
1. The time was within a week of Calvary.
2. Bethany was the place, where Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.
3. Mary, Martha and Lazarus where there for this celebration. In their hometown.
4. Martha in typical fashion served for the meal.
5. Mary in typical fashion was listening and adoring Jesus.
6. The woman who broke the box of ointment and poured the perfume on the head and feet of Jesus was Mary.
7. Mary wiped Jesus feet with her hair. When she undid her hair (a social no, no for a Jewish woman) she humbled herself and laid her glory at Jesus’ feet.
8. This family of Martha, Mary and Lazarus were not wealthy. This ointment was Mary’s to use how she wanted. However, human reasoning said this was really too much.
9. The first critic of the action was Judas Iscariot, with the other disciples joining in with him.
D. Take a break from 1 Corinthians 13 this morning, but this action is love displayed. It does apply.
E. A free expression of love from the heart.
Thesis: This morning we are going to discover some great truths about Christian service from our Lord’s words about this incident.
For instances:
I. Motive.
A. She has done a good work for Me. Vs. 6
B. This is a good definition of a Christian work. Anything that is done for the love of Christ is a good work.
C. All things are holy and spiritual when they are done for His sake.
D. This is somewhat of a revolutionary idea. The motive makes it right. The motive also can make it wrong. We can do the right thing for the wrong motive. WE can do the "wrong" thing for the right motives.
E. Our pragmatic or utilitarian minds tell us that if it looks right and turns out good, then it is a good work. No!
F. Some good works can be done for the glory of self.
G. Some good works can be done to cover up a rotten and sinful heart. A rich man who gives to take eyes off of a bad family life, or unscrupulous business dealings.
H. Jesus was impressed while everyone else was criticizing. He says that wherever the gospel is preached this woman’s act will be spoken of. Vs. 9. Why?
1. The Gospel is preached in the first place so that the Lord may be satisfied. It is to please the Lord.
2. The first thing is this that everything should be to the satisfaction of the Son of God.
3. The amazing thing is that when Jesus Christ is satisfied, then he fills us with satisfaction.
4. But we will have to remember this, that He will never be satisfied without our "wasting" ourselves upon Him. Have we ever given too much to the Lord?
5. The first thing to keep in mind must be the Lord Himself, not His work.
6. Here is our problem: We give and give and see little results. We want to give up.
7. However, why do we give? To express love to Jesus.
8. If we do this to express love to Jesus, should our emphasis be on the results? No, that is in God’s hands. Our adoration and satisfaction should be in loving Jesus.
9. It seems as though we are giving too much and getting nothing- and that is the secret of pleasing God. Our society is so focused on productivity, when we should be focusing on loving Jesus.
II. The measure and manner of Christian service.
A. She has done what she could. Vs. 8.
B. Do not imitate other people, do what you can. I cannot do this, and I cannot do that. Well, what can you do and do it?
C. Mary did not enjoy serving like Martha. Mary was satisfied just sitting and listening. She did not have a great gift for serving.
D. Mary was quiet and reserved. Martha was vocal and extroverted. At the death of Lazarus, Martha does most of the speaking.
E. Mary wanted to express her love of Jesus and not having many talents, she went and anointed his body with a gift that probably was meant for a special occasion like her wedding. Only expensive gift she had.
F. Because of this, Judas expressed that this gift could have been sold and given to the poor. A much better use than wasting it.
I. Judas and the disciples question the usefulness of this good work. "Why this waste?" Judas says in Matthew.
1. Waste means, among other things, giving more than is necessary.
2. Waste means that you give something too much for something too little.
3. Jesus says that this will be remembered wherever the gospel is preached. Why? The goal of the gospel is that people should come to Jesus and waste themselves on Him.
4. Two perspectives here:
a. Judas.
1) To Judas everything poured out upon Jesus was waste.
2) Judas stands for the world. In the world’s estimation the service of the Lord, and our giving ourselves to Him for such service, is utter waste.
3) Many say: Such and such a person could make good in the world if only he were not a Christian! When people with great talent use it only for the Lord, they say, "What waste of a useful life!"
4) A family member who opposed my going to Bible college because of the waste. In high school many said that I would go on to great things. Now they see me and…
5) When our eyes are opened to the real worth of our Lord Jesus, nothing is too good for Him.
6) We can endure the attitude of the world, but the attitude of other Christians…
b. The other disciples.
1) Many Christians say that everything ought to be used to the full in ways they can understand.
2) The greatest preacher I have ever heard… Reggie Brazziel.
3) Paul was in prison. What a waste? Or was it?
4) However, Mary did not have much. However, she did what she could.
J. When I stand before the throne of Almighty God, and when he opens the Book of Life and comes to my name, and sees all the sins that are blotted out by the blood of Jesus, more than anything else I long for Jesus to say, "Father, this is Davon Huss. He is mine, and he did what he could. Many others did more. Some did less. But he took what we gave him and he did what he could."
K. In two weeks, we are going to start an 8:30 Morning worship service.
1. Why this waste?
2. This summer, we have had some Sunday’s over 95. THIS SUMMER!
3. The occupancy of this room is approximately 160. 80% of 160, which would be comfortable, is 128. If growth continues we will reach 128 in one to two years.
4. Also, our parking lot contains 37 spaces. If we average 3 people in each vehicle and the parking lot is full, we can have 111 people. 111 are definitely not too far off.
5. We are starting the 8:30 AM service in anticipation of these events. Three reasons:
a. Another time for Christians to worship who cannot make it at 11 or simply love to worship earlier.
b. An extra opportunity for the unchurched to come and hear the gospel.
c. Make better use of our property before we have to make changes on the property.
6. Also this morning service will hopefully increase fellowship (donuts and coffee), and increase the Sunday school.
7. Jim Morris, 25% increase in attendance at Mt. View. "We should have done this earlier." New auditorium.
8. Why? We want to do all that we can with what the Lord has given to us. "She did what she could."
III. The Meaning of Christian service. Vs. 8
A. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial.
B. Did Mary know this? Probably not.
C. When we see Him face to face, I know that I will pour out everything for Him. But today- what are we doing today?
D. Remember that when the women came on the 1st day of the week, they were unable to anoint the body of Jesus.
E. We know nothing about the great things that may suddenly, or gradually, burst from the small deeds that we do.
F. We may never see the results of our service, but they are all recorded in the Book of Life, and that is enough.
G. We need to do what we can, while we can. Later in the week, no one could anoint Jesus? Are we anointing Him now?
H. When he is precious to our souls, nothing will be too good, nothing too costly for Him; everything we have, our most priceless treasure, we shall pour out upon Him, today.
I. What happens when we do that? John 12:3- And the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.
J. People will scent Christ in you.
K. (2 Cor 2:15 NIV) For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
Conclusion:
A. Are you like Mary or Judas this morning?
B. Invitation
