Disclaimer: Source material for this sermon has been gleaned from many different sources. I have attempted to acknowledge these sources whenever possible.
CHRIST’S FINAL WEEK: PREPARING TO DIE
JOHN 12:1-12
Introduction: In Matthew 20:17 – 19 … Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again.” As he approached the final week of His earthly ministry, Christ stopped at Bethany, two miles from Jerusalem, to fellowship with his friends, Lazarus, Simon, Mary and Martha. While at supper in Simon’s home, Mary anoints the feet of Christ with spikenard a fragrant perfume in preparation for what lay ahead for Christ. Mary apparently had some knowledge, that the death of Christ was near at hand, and she feared, or knew, she might not be able to anoint him when dead; and therefore, as Mark has it, "she hath done what she could; she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying" This anointing was a true act of worship that was sacrificial, selfless, and significant.
I. It was a sacrificial act of worship –
A. John 12:1 – 3 Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. 2There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair.
B. Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha. comes into the room at which the guests, including Jesus, are reclining enjoying a meal. She has with her an alabaster jar containing about 12 ounces of expensive perfume. The alabaster jar would be a kind of cruet, having a cylindrical form at the top which was sealed with wax to prevent the fragrance of its contents from escaping. Mark tells us that the perfume is pure nard, a perfume which came from India and as he rightly explains was extremely expensive. In fact the value he places on it is 300 denarii, a year’s wages. The average wage being 1 denarius per day. Normally an expensive ointment like nard would have been rationed and used over a longer period. Mark tells us that Mary breaks open the jar and pours the content over the head of Christ.
C. Mary does not hold back in her giving here. There is no reluctance to give all to Christ Jesus. She does not hold back in her worship of Christ.
D. How often do we hold back? How often do we say we will worship God, we will serve Him but we have to keep some time for ourselves? How often do we put a limit on our worship?
E. Mary gave what is expensive and costly to her. She gave generously without thought for self or for the opinion of others around her.
F. Too often we become self-centered in our worship. It becomes what are we getting out of it? What benefit is it to me?
G. Back in the days when doctors made house calls A cold wind was howling and a chilling rain was beating down when the telephone rang in the home of a doctor. The caller said that his wife needed urgent medical attention. The doctor was understanding. "I’ll be glad to come, but my car is being repaired," he said. "Could you come and get me?" There was indignation at the other end of the phone as an angry voice sputtered, "What, in this weather?"
H. Mary did not come to offer Christ cheap worship. The love that Mary had for Jesus was reflected in the way that she offered the best that she had.
I. Some would serve Christ on paper plates while keeping the Wedgewood China for themselves.
J. It is easy for us to offer God cheap worship—sacrifices that cost us nothing. But true worship isn’t cheap. Mary “broke the flask” (Mark 14:3). Nothing would be kept back in reserve.
K. Someone has said: “God uses broken things. Jesus said, “This is my body which is broken for you”. He died of a broken heart; we ought to reciprocate with a broken will. “The sacrifices of God are…a broken and contrite heart…” (Psalm 51:17)
L. God wants your absolute unreserved best.
M. Romans 12:1 1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
II. It was a selfless act of worship
A. Love and devotion to Christ are more than mere words. It must be demonstrated in actions. But often such action is met with opposition.
B. What Mary said was an act of worship others saw as waste.
C. Mark 14:4 – 5 But there were some who were indignant (violently displeased) among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply.
D. To avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing, be nothing. – Elbert Hubbard.
E. There is nothing that you can do or say but that people are going to talk or find fault. Sad to say criticism often comes from those within the ranks rather than those from without.
F. Look at who the greatest critic was – John 12:4 - 6 But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.
G. Matthew 7:3 – 4 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye?
H. But Mary did not care what others thought her focus and devotion was upon Christ. She was still going to worship and serve Jesus.
I. Matthew and Marks account seem to indicate that as a result of her act of worship her critics were relentless in there criticism.
J. James 1:26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.
III. It was a significant act of worship
A. The significance of this act of worship was not in the price of her gift, but in Christ’s assessment of it.
B. Mark 14:6 – 9 But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”
C. The actions which the world blames, through the spirit of envy, covetousness, or malice, God takes delight to distinguish and record.
D. I am sure that Mary did not fully realize what she did in anointing the Lord. I believe that she did what she did simply out of love to the Lord. Many times we have no idea what effect our service may have in eternity.
E. It is not the estimation of the world that counts. While others may have their own opinion of your service and worship, it is the Lord’s opinion that counts.
F. What she had in her heart, and in the power of her hands to do; she did according to her ability.
G. We have nothing to do with how much ability we’ve got, or how little, but with what we do with what we have. The man with great talent is apt to be puffed up, and the man with little (talent) to belittle the little. Poor fools! God gives it, much or little. Our part is to be faithful, doing the level best with every bit and scrap. - S.D. Gordon, The Bent-knee Time.
H. In his book 70 X 7, The Freedom of Forgiveness, David Ugsberger tells of General William Booth, the founder of the salvation Army, who had lost his eyesight. His son Bramwell was given the difficult task of telling his father there would be no recovery. "Do you mean that I am blind?" the General asked. "I hear we must contemplate that," his son replied. The father continued,"I shall never see your face again?" "No, probably not in this world." "Bramwell," said General Booth, "I have done what I could for God and for His people with my eyes. Now I shall do what I can for God without my eyes." - David Ugsberger, 70 X 7, The Freedom of Forgiveness.
I. Matthew 25:23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
J. Notice John 12:3b - And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.
K. God rarely allows a soul to see how great a blessing he is. - Oswald Chambers (1874-1917)
L. Hear ye the Master’s call, "Give Me thy best!" For, be it great or small, that is His test. Do then the best you can, not for reward, not for the praise of men, but for the Lord. Every work for Jesus will be blest, But He asks from everyone his best.
Our talents may be few, these may be small, But unto Him is due our best, our all. Wait not for men to laud, heed not their slight; Winning the smile of God brings its delight! Aiding the good and true ne’er goes unblest, all that we think or do, be it the best.
