The Saturation of Jesus' Priceless Worth

Michael Stitzel

Gospel of John • Sermon • Submitted a year ago • Presented a year ago

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Big Idea: Jesus invites us to saturate ourselves in His priceless worth.

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Big Idea: Jesus invites us to saturate ourselves in His priceless worth.

We saturate ourselves in His priceless worth through thoughtful worship - John 12:1-8.

We saturate ourselves in His priceless worth through our invitation for others to come - John 12:9-11.

We saturate ourselves in His priceless worth through our acknowledgment of His person - John 12:12-19.

We saturate ourselves in His priceless worth through what we are wiling to give - John 12:20-26.

We saturate ourselves in His priceless worth through our coming - John 12:27-36a.

We saturate ourselves in His priceless worth through public confession - John 12:36b-43.

We saturate ourselves in His priceless worth through our joyful obedience - John 12:44-50.

Introduction

Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 2679 Enriching Every Sphere

2679 Enriching Every Sphere

Socrates taught for 40 years, Plato for 50, Aristotle for 40, and Jesus for only 3. Yet the influence of Christ’s 3-year ministry infinitely transcends the impact left by the combined 130 years of teaching from these men who were among the greatest philosophers of all antiquity. Jesus painted no pictures; yet, some of the finest paintings of Raphael, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci received their inspiration from Him.

Jesus wrote no poetry; but Dante, Milton, and scores of the world’s greatest poets were inspired by Him. Jesus composed no music; still Haydn, Handel, Beethoven, Bach, and Mendelssohn reached their highest perfection of melody in the hymns, symphonies, and oratories they composed in His praise. Every sphere of human greatness has been enriched by this humble Carpenter of Nazareth.

—Henry G. Bosch

True?

How has the person of Jesus affected your life (Beyond the obvious of salvation)?

The person and work of Jesus, of God IS EVERYTHING. It is the central focus of all history. All life. Man may attempt to deny it, but it is engraved there for all to see and cannot be erased.

Ignored, yes. Erased, no.

As we move into John 12, ever closer to the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry, as we draw nearer still to the cross and his death, we are continually confronted with the person of Jesus in order that we might see and believe.

This morning, Jesus invites us to saturate ourselves in His priceless worth.

Over the next two weeks, we will consider chapter 12 and seven ways to saturate ourselves with Jesus’ priceless worth!

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Big Idea: Jesus invites us to saturate ourselves in His priceless worth.

We saturate ourselves in His priceless worth through thoughtful worship - John 12:1-8.

John 12:1–8 ESV

1 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.”

Six days before the Passover

After Lazarus, due to their murderous rage, Jesus withdrew to Ephriam (John 11:54). This was about a 12 miles to the north on the edge of the wilderness.

From there, according to Luke 17:11-19:28, he visited Samaria and Galilee briefly.

Then, six days prior to the Passover, he returns to the Bethany.

This would have been the Friday night after Sundown or the Saturday prior to the Sabbath.

He Returns to Bethany.

It is pointed out, that this is the same place as the now famous Lazarus.

This point is made to avoid any confusion about where Jesus was and what Bethany this was.

They host a dinner in his honor, and Lazarus is there, reclining at the table with him.

What was the Sanhedrin’s last order to the people?

Mind you, in direct contradiction to the command from the Sanhedrin to report his location if they knew it.

Matthew 26:6 and Mark 14:3 state that this dinner was in the house of Simon the Leper.

Obviously not a leper anymore or no one would be there.

Probably safe to assume that Jesus had healed him at some point since there was no known cure for leprosy in that day.

Hosting perhaps because his place was larger....

The fact that it is pointed out that Lazarus was one of the ones reclining at the table with him further suggests it was not at Lazarus’ house.

We do not know all who attended. Obviously Lazarus, Martha, Mary, Simon, and the 12, but beyond that, we are not sure.

Martha was helping to serve, doing what she does best.

Unlike the previous time in which there was conflict between Mary and Martha over the serving and in which Jesus gently rebukes her, no such rebuke is found here.

Her loving service, in this case, is directed at Jesus, in gratitude for his love and resurrection of Lazarus. This time, her focus is in the right place, it would seem.

Martha offers thoughtful worship

Martha’s servant heartedness and her waiting upon the guest for the feast WAS her act of worship and service.

This time, instead of being angry that her sister was not helping (and thus she was overworked and missing out) she does her act of service with grace and humility.

Mary offers sacrificial worship.

As I mentioned previously, Mary’s act here, and Martha’s as well, IS DRIVEN by what Jesus did for Lazarus AND by the depth of understanding of Jesus and God they gained from that experience.

Mary, for her part, brought a different from of worship.

A pound (12oz by today’s standard) of pure nard, a perfume.

Nard was a fragrant oil extracted from the root and spike of a plant native to the mountains of northern India.

It was costly due to the great distance it had to be imported.

It was pure making it even more valuable.

The container it was held in, would also have held some value.

It was worth over three hundred denarii. This would have been equal to a years worth of wages.

It was likely a sizable chunk of Mary’s net worth.

She was sacrificial in her gift.

Mary offered a thoughtful (and expensive gift)

Marys gift was no doubt expensive, as it testified to by Judas’ reaction to it.

What’s more, it was a thoughtful and precious display of her devotion and worship of Jesus.

John 12:3 notes that she poured it on his feet.

John 12:3 ESV

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.

Here I need to pause. I referenced the parallel passages of Matthew and Mark earlier when noting that they were in the house of Simon the leper.

If you examine those passages, you will note that they describe her as pouring the oil on Jesus’ head.

In Matthew 26:12, Jesus references her pouring the oil on his body.

What are we to make of this?

Because the low tables that they sat at, they sat in a reclining position, with their feet stretched out away from them. Therefore, putting these passages together, it would appear that Mary poured the oil on his head, down over his body and finally onto his feet.

THEN, she wiped his feet with her hair.

And, as you may recall, the washing of one’s feet was considered a degrading job reserved for the lowest servant in the house.

More shocking was that for a respectable Jewish woman to let down her hair in public was considered indecent, even immoral to some. For her to do so risked shame and judgment by those witnessing this.

She does not care. Her only thought was that of showing love, honor, and devotion to Jesus.

She offers

An expensive gift

Anoints his whole body with this expensive oil

Wipes his feet WITH HER HAIR

Risking scorn and ridicule for the improper let down of her hair.

Why would she do this?

Because she knows who he is and her love and devotion for him are greater than anything of these other things.

Jesus himself says....(in his rebuke of Judas)

WHOSE true motive for protesting was his own selfishness.

John 12:7 ESV

7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial.

Obviously, since she poured it out on his feet, he does not mean to let her save it for his actual death and burial.

Matthew and Mark’s accounts show us that she broke the flash it was kept in.

So, what does it mean?

Commentators do not always agree but DA Carson in his supplies perhaps the best understanding.

John 12–21: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The Hypocritical Self-interest of Judas

Supplying the missing words, the sense would be, “Let her alone; she did not sell the perfume [as you wish she had], so that she could keep it for the day of my burial” (cf. D. A. Carson, The Gospel According to John, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1991), 429–30; cf. Andreas J. Köstenberger, John, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament [Grand Rapids: Baker, 2004], 363–64).

She did not sell it, but she kept it. Perhaps not fully knowing until this moment what she would use it for. But she kept it for a special purpose and this was that purpose.

Here is where her thoughtful act comes into full play though...

Her action, done out of love and devotion pointed toward his coming death and burial.

Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus would later take his body, anoint it, and lay it in the tomb that Joseph donated.

Much of the expense of funerals in this century was spent on these perfumes to mask the odor of decay. Mary, while not fully understanding her actions at the time, certainly signified a deeper reality than she could possibly understand.

Despite her lack of full understanding, her actions were deliberate, will thoughtful and they were worshipful.

Jesus commends her. The poor you will always have. Me, my time is limited. Mary has done what she has done in love and devotion. She will not be rebuked for it.

Took:

Church, how do you saturate yourselves in Christ through thoughtful worship?

In what way(s) do you purposefully, thoughtfully engage in worship?

In what way(s) are you making worship a daily, moment by moment lifestyle?

Does your own self interest ever interfere with your own expression of thoughtful worship to God, like that of Judas?

Does your own self interest blind you to the thoughtful expression of worship others offer to God?

In short, IS YOUR LIFE characterized by thoughtful worship of God?

Big Idea: Jesus invites us to saturate ourselves in His priceless worth.

We saturate ourselves in His priceless worth through thoughtful worship - John 12:1-8.

We saturate ourselves in His priceless worth through our invitation for others to come - John 12:9-11.

John 12:9–11 ESV

9 When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.

The crowds came because they heard Jesus was there.

How did they learn? SOMEONE HAD TO TELL THEM, had to invite them.

Do you think Mary, Martha, and Lazarus spoke of what happened?

Do you think the witnesses who unwrapped him and touched him spoke of it?

On account of him, Lazarus, many were going away and believing in Jesus.

By his very existence Lazarus was a proclamation of the glory of God.

By his very life.

Listen, have not you and I also been granted new life, new existence?

Have we not also witnessed the incredible display of God’s glory? Seen His works? His might?

While it may not be physical, but spiritual....can we not all claim the same truth and reality of Lazarus?

Do others see it?

Do other see our new life?

Are they drawn to Jesus to believe in Him?

Do both your words and your display the depth of your desire and devotion to God?

Listen, I do not want to sugar coat it for you....

If you set your life to this path, some will come. Some will believe. God will use your life and testimony to draw some to himself.

But also note, you will gain some opposition and enemies. Anyone who threatens man’s autonomy and self-rule, anyone who threatens man’s kingdom will draw opposition and threat.

No one is neutral. No one lives on the fence. You are either for God or against him.

But for some, your stance for God WILL bring intense opposition. They wanted to put Lazarus to death now as well as Jesus. He was living proof of who Jesus was and they could not have that.

Took:

Church, is your passion for God evident in your word and deed?

Do those around you know that God is the most precious thing to you?

Do you invite others to know and delight in God?

Do others know of the new life in you?

Are they coming to see Jesus because of you?

Are you saturating yourself in the priceless worth of Jesus by sharing that worth with others and inviting them to come and feast upon the riches of his worth with you?

Big Idea: Jesus invites us to saturate ourselves in His priceless worth.

We saturate ourselves in His priceless worth through thoughtful worship - John 12:1-8.

We saturate ourselves in His priceless worth through our invitation for others to come - John 12:9-11.

We saturate ourselves in His priceless worth through our acknowledgment of His person - John 12:12-19.

John 12:12–19 ESV

12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” 14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, 15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!” 16 His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. 17 The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. 18 The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.”

The next day, the crowds who had gathered in Jerusalem for the Passover heard that he was coming to the city.

This text, commonly referred to as the Triumphal entry is an incredible fulfillment of scripture. MacArthur explains

John 12–21: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary At the Proper Moment

The exact day that the Lord chose to enter Jerusalem fulfilled one of the most remarkable prophecies of the Old Testament, Daniel’s prophecy of the seventy weeks (Dan. 9:24–26). Through Daniel, the Lord predicted that the time from Artaxerxes’ decree ordering the rebuilding of the temple (in 445 B.C.) until the coming of the Messiah would be “seven weeks and sixty-two weeks” (Dan. 9:25; cf. Neh. 2:6), that is, 69 weeks total. The literal translation is “seven sevens and sixty-two sevens,” seven being a common designation for a week. In the context of the passage, the idea is 69 weeks of years, or 69 times 7 years, which comes to a total of 483 Jewish years (which consisted of 360 days each, as was common in the ancient world). Several different systems of reckoning have endeavored to determine the chronology of the 483 years after Artaxerxes’ decree, putting the date at either A.D. 30, 32, or 33, depending on the actual decree date and the complex calculations through those years. Of these explanations, the most detailed are Sir Robert Anderson’s The Coming Prince and Harold Hoehner’s Chronological Aspects of the Life of Christ. Based on all of the historical data, it is best to understand the triumphal entry as taking place on 9 Nisan, A.D. 30. But even the other dates offered by these authors (A.D. 32 or 33) leave one thing remaining undeniably clear: whatever may be the precise chronology, Jesus Christ is the only possible fulfillment of Daniel’s prophetic timetable.

Jesus WAS the fulfillment of this incredible prophecy.

Part of me wonders if the people truly understood the significance of this moment. If they had truly put two and two together and matched this day up with the OT prophecy.

I am guessing that they did not at that precise moment.

They laid out palm branches as he proceeded

During the intertestamental period (Between Malachi and Matthew), they came to symbolize victory and celebration.

They declared HOSANNA

Literally which means, “Help, I pray” or “Save now, I Pray”

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord

Citing Psalm 118:26.

The use of the phrase makes clear that the peoples hope was that Jesus was in fact their long awaited Messiah.

They also referred to him as the King of Israel and the Son of David (Matthew’s account).

Both of which also support their belief that he was their desired Messiah.

Further, Jesus choice of a steed was purposeful and a fulfillment of prophecy as well.

Zech 9:9 is the passage being cited.

It specifically notes a donkey’s colt

Colt being a young donkey.

Matthew’s account of this passage notes that when he sends his disciples to find the donkey, it is a donkey and her colt that they retrieve.

When Jesus then chooses which one to sit on, he chooses the colt, the younger…probably never having been ridden before.

The choice not only fulfilled scripture but also made a point.

A warrior would have ridden a war horse.

A young donkey, Jesus is entering as a humble Prince of Peace.

Though they all miss it and still herald him as the conquering king.

Luke 19:41-44 will record that Jesus weeps over the city as he enters it because he is grieved by their lack of faith.

Even the disciples, at this point, did not understand fully what was happening. They would later, looking back, but for now, the full meaning was veiled to them as well.

The crowd that had borne witness to Lazarus’ resurrection continue to testify to the work they had seen and continued to invite people to come and believe.

So amazed and convinced were they of who Jesus was that they continued to bear witness, to testify.

Like the disciples who saw Jesus transfigured and who were forever changed because of it, these ones who truly believed because of what they witnessed at Lazarus’ resurrection were never the same. How could you be?

They probably never stopped talking about it, sharing it with others.

Even here, they are still sharing and inviting.

For sure, some of these ones that came, came looking for a show. They heard of or saw the signs and came to see the attraction that Jesus was.

Yet, some, I am sure, believed. Some even came because they had already believed and wanted to see Jesus (For the first time or again). SPECULATION but I think it is possible, at the very least.

Point is, they came.

Some understood WHO he really was.

Some did not.

Some believed.

Some did not.

Some thought he was nothing more than an earthly king come to save them.

Some knew he was Messiah and something more.

THOUGH for most, his true identity was a mystery to them.

EITHER WAY, they all rightly acknowledged him for who he was. THEIR KING.

TOOK:

Listen, do we continue to stand amazed in the presence and person of Jesus so that our testimony CONTINUES.

OR does your testimony fade over time?

Church, do you know God?

Do you recognize WHO He is?

Do you LIVE in LIGHT of that reality?

Do you publically and privately acknowledge His being and person?

Are you seeking DAILY to understood more of God than you did the day before?

In our lives, when people are struggling with grief, do we say, I know someone who is rich in comfort?

In people’s addictions, do we declare we know someone who can set them free?

Do we declare to people struggling, I know one who can help! I have met one who has the power over death itself!

He has changed me! He has helped me! He can help you too!

Do we saturate our lives through the constant acknowledgment of the person of Jesus? Through constant confession of him?

Big Idea: Jesus invites us to saturate ourselves in His priceless worth.

We saturate ourselves in His priceless worth through thoughtful worship - John 12:1-8.

We saturate ourselves in His priceless worth through our invitation for others to come - John 12:9-11.

We saturate ourselves in His priceless worth through our acknowledgment of His person - John 12:12-19.

Conclusion