Ultimate Discipleship

You don’t do things half way. You are always all-in. You want everyone to notice your effort. You go big! - you never go home. Your porch is the one with 20 pumpkins instead of just a few. Or the house with a Christmas tree in every room - because - well why not? Your earrings match everything else you’re wearing. Or your kayak is the one with a few too many accessories. It’s not always a bad thing. You are just super excited and want others to know it.

Our sermon today is about a woman who thought Jesus was worth the extra effort. She was super excited about Jesus and didn’t hold back. She was an ultimate disciple and Mark placed her story right between two examples of terrible followers to make her stand out and shine even more.

Series

We are continuing our series from Mark’s Gospel: The Crown & The Cross. Mark shows Jesus as a man with a clear message and mission, and the reader is called to actively response to the message. Jesus’ responses always helped his listeners better understand God’s heart and his statements are typically clear commands for us to follow.

In the first half of Mark the emphasis was on seeing Jesus revealed as Messiah - the King who deserved the crown. The second half’s focus is on Jesus in Jerusalem fulfilling His life’s mission to suffer and die on the cross - and to rise from the dead.

We are moving on to chapter 14 as Jesus get’s closer to the cross. Our parallel passages are in Matthew 26 and John 12. Luke has a similar situation in chapter 6, but the timing and so many details are unique that we believe it was a completely different event. If you missed last week, you can watch or listen on our website or YouTube page.

PRAY

READ Mark 14:1-11

Leaders Plot to Kill Jesus

As I mentioned, Mark places the anointing event between these other two related events to really highlight the woman’s sacrificial actions. The leaders were plotting to kill Jesus, and Judas, one of Jesus chosen twelve, seeks them out and offers to betray Jesus to them. Mark wants us to see the contrast between the hypocritical religious leaders and two of Jesus’ followers with very different reactions.

Mark tells us that it is now just two days before Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This explanation (not found in Matthew written primarily to Jews) is for Mark’s mostly gentile readers who may not know what Passover is. As I pointed out a few weeks back, every year, hundreds of thousands or maybe over a million Jews from all across Israel would come to Jerusalem in the first month of their year to sacrifice a perfect lamb as a symbol of their salvation from Egypt. The feast including eating unleavened bread for seven days reminding the people of God’s call to live holy and sinless. And the blood of the holy lamb covered their sins and made them acceptable to God.

Instead of focusing on this holy celebration, the chief priests and scribes were looking for a way to arrest and kill Jesus. After, His teaching in the temple, they saw him as an even more dangerous threat to their authority and position. But they realized that many of the people were following Jesus and supported him. They were politicians who worried about public opinion. So they wanted a way to arrest him secretly and wanted to avoid the time of the feast when big crowds were in the city.

Mary Anoints Jesus

While Jesus was in Bethany, a suburb of Jerusalem, just past the Mount of Olives where he sat and taught Peter, Andrew, James and John in last week’s sermon about the destruction of the Temple and his future return. Mark tells us Jesus and his disciples are having a meal in the house of a man named Simon, known as a leper, and probably earlier healed by Jesus. John 12 tells us that Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead, and his sisters Mary and Martha were there too. This is a meal with his disciples and some close friends.

v. 6 says while he reclined at table, that means while he was eating, a woman came and anointed his head with a very expensive ointment.

Giving gifts to the poor before Passover was a common custom in that day. The woman gave a gift of great value because of her great love for Jesus.

John’s Gospel tells us this woman was Mary who was often seen sitting at the feet of Jesus listening and learning from Him. She was a disciple, a follower of Jesus. In fact, John 12 says Mary also wiped Jesus feet with the expensive ointment and the whole house was filled with the fragrance. Her act of worship should have been a sweet aroma to everyone there, but instead some were spiteful and critical - saying to themselves “why was this wasted? It could have been sold for over 300 denarii and given to the poor.” One denarii was one day’s wage, so this was almost a year’s earnings or $30-40,000 today. That’s a lot of money to pour on someone’s head and feet!

The commentaries explained that this sealed alabaster flask of expensive perfume typically from India may have been a family heirloom. Something saved but never opened. Maybe it was part of a dowry never used. But Mary, thought Jesus was worthy of the extravagant gift. Who else deserved such an act of love? The one who raised her brother from the dead, the one who saved her soul.

Listen to the carefully chosen words Mark used in verse 3. She broke the flask and poured it out - a complete sacrificial offering - she saved nothing for herself. Just like the widow in the Temple - Mary gave it all to Jesus.

Listen now, to how Jesus spoke to his disciples in the upper room as they celebrated the Passover, his last supper with them. Listen for the repeated words. Mark 14:22-24.

Did you get them? Broke and Poured out. Jesus took the bread and broke it and gave it to them saying Take, this is my body. This is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many. Jesus was our perfect passover sacrifice - broken and poured out completely for us. These are words of ultimate sacrifice.

The scent of that expensive perfume must have filled the house. But instead of being blessed, some of the disciples were mad, they thought this was a waste. John 12 gives us more insight. It was Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one about to betray him) who said why was this not sold and given to the poor. Not because he cared about the poor, but because he was thief and having charge of the moneybag he helped himself whenever he wanted. Mark and Matthew left Mary and Judas unnamed in their gospels, but John wanted the readers to know exactly who they were. Those names would be remembered.

Jesus jumps to Mary’s rescue, and stands up for her.

v. 6 Leave her alone. Why are you troubling her? Don’t give her grief, don’t belittle her. What she did was beautiful. She has anointed me in advance for my burial. The Jewish custom was to pour perfume on the body to hide the smell of death. Jesus had told his disciples a number of times that he was going to die very soon - maybe Mary understood this better than the rest of the disciples.

Some people also point to this as Jesus’ anointment as Messiah and King of Israel. Mary poured perfume on his head just as the prophets poured oil on the heads of kings before they reigned. In just a few days, Roman soldiers will twist thorns into the shape of a crown and brutally jam it on his head mocking him as the King of the Jews.

Besides defending Mary, Jesus gives an important lesson on ministry to the poor, reflecting what was taught in The Law Deuteronomy 15.

Deuteronomy 15:11 ESV

For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’

God commanded His people to care for the poor and be generous with those in need. Loving people with no ulterior motive is selfless and unconditional love just the way God loves us.

But Jesus said, you will always have the poor with you, and you can serve them any time. But you will not always have me. Jesus was not saying to ignore compassion ministry, but realize there will always be poor people. You can’t fix that. Your priority now is on me. And the priority of the church will be the saving Gospel. As a church we need to have a focus on proclaiming the Gospel but not ignore the needs of the people around us.

James 2:15–17 ESV

If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

James was talking about brothers or sisters - other believers in the church. We can’t feed and clothe the whole world, but we need to start here at home with our own church and neighbors.

The point Jesus was making in verse 9, is that Mary was an example of an ultimate disciple. One who worshipped and valued Jesus high above anything else. One who humbly sat at the feet of Jesus wanting to hear and learn. One who doesn’t care what everyone else says or does but responds to please God wholeheartedly. One who sacrificially gave to the glory of God. And wherever the Gospel is proclaimed, even two thousand years later, what she has done will be remembered.

Judas Plans to Betray Jesus

Then in verses 10-11, we have the complete opposite of an ultimate disciple, Judas. He was one of the chosen twelve - hand picked by Jesus. He spent the past three years following Jesus, watching him heal people, do amazing miracles, teach, preach and love people. And instead of continuing to follow Jesus, he makes plans with the chief priests to betray the Lord. Matthew 26:15 tells us that the agreed upon some was 30 pieces of silver - the price of a slave’s life.

Maybe this was the straw that broke the camel’s back for Judas. Instead of seizing the crown of Israel, when people called him Messiah - instead of rising to power and ruling over the people - Jesus told his disciples that he was about to be executed. There went all of Judas’ hopes and dreams for power, position, and wealth.

John 12 tells us that he was a thief and had been helping himself to their ministry funds. We don’t know if John and the others knew this before hand. It’s not likely. I think they were all shocked that Judas, one of the twelve would betray Jesus for money.

Now the religious leaders have an inside man. One of his closest followers will sell him out and do it secretly, quietly. They won’t have to wait until after the feast. V. 11 says they were glad - the idea of the death and destruction of Jesus brought them joy.

Just like Mary, Judas’ name would also be remembered for all time too. But his name became synonymous with the word “traitor.” Don’t be a Judas! He is the example of the worst kind of disciple - one who is following only for personal greed and gain. He had no love for Jesus - no interest in bringing God glory. Only feeding his selfish desires.

Take Aways

Invitation - Mary was an ultimate disciple. She loved Jesus fully and completely - sacrificially and unconditionally. Jesus calls you to do the same thing.

John 3:16 (ESV)

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

There’s Good news and bad news here. Good news - Whoever believes has eternal life. Bad news - whoever does not believe will perish - that means eternal death separation from God forever in hell. Come talk to me or contact me if you are ready to take that step.

The Bible says when someone trusts Jesus as Savior and becomes a follower or disciple, he or she is a new creation.

Believers

Giving your all is part of the Christian life - following Jesus means making sacrifices. Are you willing to give up anything or everything for the sake of the Gospel?

Will you serve Him even if it’s not popular with your friends and family?

Do you love people and care for their physical needs? Giving monthly to our Deacon Benevolent Fund is one way to do that.

As a church we need balance - our ministry and message must center on the Gospel not every social concern or injustice. But we are called to help the needy around us - especially orphans and widows - those who don’t have the means themselves or have family to help them.

Ultimate disciples are willing to give everything for the love and glory of Jesus Christ. Are you ready to be extra?

Benediction

May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.