Extravagant Grace Demands Extravagant Love

English Standard Version Chapter 12

Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 3 Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”

Setting (v. 1)

English Standard Version Chapter 12

Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.

6 days before the Passover (and Jesus’s death); perhaps just a few days or a week or so after raising Lazarus from the dead.

Why did Jesus go back to Bethany? (“therefore”)

He was headed back toward Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover, in obedience to the Law of Moses (Deuteronomy 16)

He was going toward Jerusalem to BE the final Passover — the Lamb of God whose blood covered the sins of his people once and for all. Jesus is the fulfillment of the Passover.

John 11:56–57 ESV

56 They were looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, “What do you think? That he will not come to the feast at all?” 57 Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should let them know, so that they might arrest him.

Jesus and his disciples head out of seclusion (Ephraim - see 11:54) and toward Jerusalem (toward danger)

They arrive in Bethany where a dinner banquet is held in honor of Jesus

The other Gospels, Matthew and Mark, state that this banquet is at the home of Simon the leper. It has been suggested that Simon the leper may have been the father or some other relation of Lazarus and his sisters, or perhaps he was just someone that knew Jesus and wanted to honor him. But the three siblings are at this dinner.

Mary, Martha, and Lazarus are there, along with Jesus and his disciples and perhaps many others as well.

Mary Displays Extravagant Love for Christ (v. 2-3)

English Standard Version (Chapter 12)

2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 3 Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

The whole family was involved in this display of love for Christ.

They gave him a dinner (“they” probably referring to Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, though there may have been others also who wished to honor him)

Lazarus was at the table fellowshipping with Jesus

Martha (as usual) was serving (see Luke 10:38-42)

Mary’s act of devotion gets the most attention (v. 3-8)

Mary displayed extravagant love.

She anointed the feet (and head - see Matthew and Mark) of Jesus with a large quantity (a Roman pound, approx. 11 oz.) of costly perfume (“pure nard”)

She let down her hair and wiped Jesus’s feet (perhaps a typically shameful thing for a woman to do—but she loved him so much she didn’t care what others would think)

Though she didn’t do it for attention, the smell of the perfume got everyone’s attention

Judas Disapproves of Mary’s Extravagance (v. 4-6)

English Standard Version (Chapter 12)

4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.

His evil heart revealed: he was about to betray Jesus

His disapproval: false care for the poor

His motivation for disapproval revealed: he was a thief – he loved money rather than Jesus

You can’t love God and money (Matthew 6:24)

Jesus Rebukes Judas and Commends Mary’s Extravagance (v. 7-8)

English Standard Version (Chapter 12)

7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”

“Leave her alone”

What she is doing is good

What she is doing is related to Jesus’s burial

If Judas really cares about the poor, he can help them whenever he wants

Jesus is only with them a short time, so they have limited opportunity to show him this kind of love that he so richly deserves

What Mary had done was a good and beautiful thing – it was fitting because of who Jesus is and what he had done and was going to do.

Jesus promises that this act of love will be told around the world: Mark 14:6-9

English Standard Version Chapter 14

6 But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. 8 She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. 9 And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”

And here we are almost 2000 years later on the other side of the world talking about her because of what she did here.

Why did Mary and her family display such extravagant love?

Why was it fitting and right for them to display this kind of extravagant love for Christ?

Because of who Jesus is and what he had done and was going to do for them

What had Jesus done for Mary and her family?

Jesus had offered them his close friendship.

Jesus had taught them.

Jesus had done his greatest sign miracle for them — raising Lazarus from the dead.

How had Jesus revealed himself to them?

And in this miracle - an amazing act of grace for their family - he had demonstrated his glory as the Son of God.

They knew his love.

They saw his compassion.

They witnessed his incredible power to raise the dead.

They saw his glory - that he is God in the flesh

What was Jesus going to do for them?

He was going to die, be buried, and rise from the dead for them — and Mary knew it.

All of these things put together, and perhaps other factors we don’t know about, all combined in Mary’s heart and caused an overflow of affection for Jesus for all that he is and does, and she just had to show him how much she valued him by giving this costly gift and risking her reputation to show him her love.

Extravagant love is the proper response to who Jesus is and what he has done for us.

Do you love Jesus this much?

Think about who Jesus is

The Word of God

The Agent of Creation

The Lamb of God

The Messiah

The King of Israel

The Son of Man

The Son of God

The Teacher

The Fountain of Living Water

The Bread of Life

The Light of the World

The I AM

The Door of the Sheep

The Good Shepherd

The Resurrection and the Life

The Way, the Truth, and the Life

The True Vine

(Just from the Gospel of John)

Think about what Jesus has done for you and what he has promised to do in the future

He created us and gave us physical life

He sustains our life every moment

He came to this earth as a baby, lived a perfectly sinless life, died in our place on the cross, was buried, and rose again on the third day as the Scriptures foretold, and this is the greatest gift to us if we believe — that he took away our sins, offers us free forgiveness and a right relationship with God.

Forgiveness: see similar story in Luke 7:44-50 when a sinful woman anointed Jesus in the house of Simon the Pharisee; Jesus says that her great love for him is evidence of the forgiveness that she has experienced.

Luke 7:44-50, BSB:

And turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give Me water for My feet, but she wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not greet Me with a kiss, but she has not stopped kissing My feet since I arrived. 46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but she has anointed My feet with perfume. 47 Therefore I tell you, because her many sins have been forgiven, she has loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.” 48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 But those at the table began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 50 And Jesus told the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

He has promised to be with us always and to come back for us and take us to himself and let us be with him forever.

(Just a few of the things he’s done for us and promised us)

How should you respond to his amazing love and grace in your life?

Give your heart and life as an offering to him (Romans 12:1)

Sit at his feet and listen to his voice (like Mary in Luke 10:39)

Luke 10:39 ESV

39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching.

Demonstrate his love by the way you treat others and how you share Christ with them

Give of your time, your talents, and your treasures to show your love as a response to his grace.

What do you have that you can give to show your love for him?

Lord, Send Me Anywhere, by David Livingstone

O Lord since Thou hast died To give Thyself for me

No sacrifice could be too great For me to make for Thee

Lord, send me anywhere Only go with me

Lay any burden on me Only sustain me

Sever any tie Save the tie that binds me to thy heart

Lord Jesus, my King, I consecrate my life, Lord, to Thee