We Must Learn To Receive From God

We Must Learn to Receive From God

Scripture Reference: John 12:1-7 / Mark 14:3-9 (KJV)

John 12:1-7 1 Then Jesus six days before the Passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. 2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. 3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. 4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him, 5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. 7 Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.

Mark 14:3-9 3 And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head. 4 And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? 5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her. 6 And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? She hath wrought a good work on me. 7 For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. 8 She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. 9 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.

I would like to share a joke that I found on sermon central.com. It really doesn’t have anything to do with this particular sermon but it will open our spirit’s a little to receive this message.

A wealthy businessman hosted a spectacular party in which he had filled his swimming pool with sharks, barracuda, and other assorted dangerous fish. He announced to his guests that he would like to challenge any of them to try swimming across the pool, and he would offer a first prize of either a new home in the mountains, a trip around the world for two, or a piece of his business. No sooner had he made the announcement than there was a splash and a man swam rapidly across the infested waters and bounded up out on the other side. The millionaire said to the dripping man, "That was a stunning performance. What prize do you want?" He answered tersely, "Right now I really don’t care about the prize. I just want to get the name of the turkey who pushed me in.

"James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited, p. 385....

Roy Fowler

Sometimes we can be too quick to turn the things of God down. Especially when we are doing okay. We think that because we are not in dire need then we really don’t want to accept any gifts from anyone. It makes us feel low or something. Also the quickest way it seems for a good wholesome pastor to fall out of the good grace of his people is to readily accept gifts given to him by his members for no apparent reason.

The first thing that I would like to say about this passage of scripture is “Poor Mary Magladine” The reason I say this is because I feel pity for her because the world is thoroughly convinced that she is a prostitute nowhere in the Holy Bible does it state that she was ever a prostitute.

The reason that this scripture is so interesting is because Jesus like many of us could have easily turned down the opportunity to receive this blessing. Why should he?

Judas was bold enough to do then just like some of us are doing today, he spoke against the man of God receiving from the people of God. (John 12:4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him, 5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?)

For some unknown reason many faithful church members are convinced that the men and women of God placed by God to help us do not need to be blessed and honored just for the sake of encouragement.