Anointing of Jesus
Notes
Transcript
Building to Easter
Building to Easter
Friends
interestingly enough the first 9-10 chapters of our study
are the majority of Jesus’s ministry here on earth.
Our next weeks of study will all take place in about one weeks time.
This passover in our passages today is the third and final passover in Jesus’s earthly ministry
I told you that the Raising of Lazarus was the climatic miracle in John
Our final messages will be discussing the final actions and discourses from Jesus
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.”
Humility of Mary
Humility of Mary
Mary the emotional sister of Lazarus.
The one many of us can identify with.
When Sad she withdraws
When intrigued she goes to sit and listen — to spend time
When heart overflows — she reaches out and serves no matter the cost.
Our perfume in our Scripture today is called out to be NARD.
an expensive perfume imported from India
Mary brought out her BEST -
Mary’s family were likely merchants and wealthy
but we see here Mary did not hold back for Jesus.
Interesting the Gospels of Matthew and Mark
report that it was poured over Jesus’s head
and the expensive flask was broken.
but that is not the explanation here in John.
This is a good teaching moment here.
The BIBLE NEVER CONTRADICTS IT’s SELF
so we need to learn to read and study with that in mind.
Some will say this is one of the contradictions --- Yet keeping the study rule in mind.
it is easy to see that Mary may have first anointed his feet
THE WORK OF A SERVANT and then wiped it with her hair
This action would have spoken volumes to Mary’s character
to be in her home and chose to be the Servant instead of being served.
being so moved at this act of humility in herself
she proceeded to pour the remaining over his head anointing Christ in the oil
and then breaking the jar.
Seeking to find fault in the Scripture is not our mission.
To Pause, Pray, Ponder is our mission.
The perfume was worth a years wages for the common person.
a denarii a day
300 denarii is short of a years wages
365 days in a year, and 52 non working sabbaths, and then the festivals and celebration
one must ponder if the 3oo is more meaningful than it appears.
Just imagine yourself pouring out to another something worth 30-50 thousand dollars for the Lord.
Seriously — put it in perspective
we are planning on building a church
--- what is your heart on emptying a bank account or your savings for a years wages
to help build the church for CHRIST’s purpose.
That is a reality check for all of us.
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We all should want our homes and church to please the Lord.
to draw others to us --- because of our draw and the blessing of God
Such a beautiful illustration in verse 3
“The house was full of the fragrance of the perfume”
15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing,
21 And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done.
a commentator wrote:
“Through their faith, they spread this sweet scent to others
by sharing the gospel
with those who need to be liberated
from the decaying stench of spiritual separation from God.”
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Friends,
Is your life moving in that direction?
is your life a pleasing drawing aroma to others ?
Do the things of the world matter more than Glorifying Christ?
Progress not perfection
but do you see yourself moving in that way.
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Here we are nearing the end of Christ’s ministry on earth
Enter Judas
we don’t know much about Judas
the Bible doesn’t tell us how he met Jesus
Scholar have attempted to link the last name given in the Bible
Judas Iscariot
with a town south of Jerusalem
We actually don’t know the where or the when
It would be possible that Judas joined them later
Personally i can see value in that theory
as i believe the Disciples deeply loved Jesus
so it is quite possible he joined a little later
and again we are reminded that Judas joining would have been for a Purpose
Jesus was not surprised or shocked at Judas betrayal
in fact as we progress through this story we will see that Jesus did indeed KNOW the Heart of Judas.
Antagonism of Judas
Antagonism of Judas
Judas response here is a direct response to the sacrificial action of Mary
Judas was OFFENDED at the devotion of Mary to Jesus
The Teacher’s Bible Commentary (The End of Signs (John 12:1–50))
Mary’s devotion was an offense to Judas.
It tested his own coolness and deceit.
Jesus’ verdict left no doubt, “Let her alone” (v. 7);
it was symbolic to him. See how conscious he was of the end.
Judas is going to betray Jesus ---
it shows his heart
and showed his motivations as impure
Judas was a thief, he “helped himself to the coin in the moneybag”
Matthew was the tax collector, why would he not be in charge of the money
BECAUSE again we see that God always has a Plan.
Jesus rebukes Judas --- LEAVE HER ALONE
There is always a question on Judas, isn’t there.
Jesus knows the heart of ALL PEOPLE
Jesus would have know exactly what was happening and what was going to happen
Could Jesus have changed Judas heart,
God hardened and softened Pharaoh's heart in the Exodus
But i believe that the answer is in
the Perfect Timing and Perfect Purpose of God
--- ALWAYS
Jesus knew that Judas had freewill and that it would lead to his betrayal
Jesus know that the Will of the Father mattered more than a single person’s actions
especially the ill willed.
Once again today something to think on.
Judas did not simply call out the use of the perfume,
he sought to justify it with a good thing
Which is the whole point that we can not miss!!!!
Given to the Poor was not his true motivation -
--- but rather to impress the others and Jesus with His religion-ness
We have all likely committed that error in our life.
BUT remember that GOD always knows our heart.
It may not be our mission to call out every offense we see.
That is not to say we don’t ever call them out,
But some times we need to pause pray ponder and trust God
I truly believe you are able to know the will of God if you spend enough time with God to hear it.
YES< NO < OR WAIT
we miss the value in WAIT,
as we are often like the spoiled little girl in Willy Wonka
BUT I WANT IT NOW.
Jesus knew that it is ALL about Glorifying the Father and Glorifying the Son.
The timing was God’s design and plan
Correction and Love of Christ
Correction and Love of Christ
We should be reminded of John 2:4
4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.”
My hour has not come
but it is coming
Jesus knew that the Waiting is Scriptural
31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
our Scripture today is a foreshadowing of the end.
Mary anoints Jesus
and Jesus corrects Judas
Judas shows His motivations are impure
and Jesus knows that He will be buried and anointed
Jesus always points to the OT Scriptures to fulfill the Plan and Purpose.
Not my will but YOURS BE DONE
This is the first time in John
that the heart of Judas is displayed
and the love of Christ
Even though Judas is a sinner, a deceiver, a thief
Christ will follow the plan of the Father
No retribution
No deceitful manipulation
Just obedience to the Father
Brothers and Sister
Here is the lesson for us.
It is our mission to obey!
to trust God and not the HEART of People.
Yes it is hard, YES it is scary
Yes we will feel like the world is against us
BUT
John 16:33 (ESV)
33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Friends
Today we have heard of the HUMILITY OF Mary
the Servant and the material Sacrifice
Today we have seen the Heart of the Impure in Judas
We have heard the REBUKE of the LORD to a person with FALSE MOTIVATIONS
We have witness the start of the END of CHRIST’S Earthly mission
I want to close today’s lesson the way that Jesus did
8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”
and show you that it was this way prior to Jesus and it is still TRUE today
11 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.’
Friends
Giving of our time and resources to the work of the Lord is OUR PURPOSE
Nothing you have is YOURS, but rather a GIFT from Our LORD
As we move closer and closer to the Person that Christ wants us to be
we will start to think of Glorifying the Lord,
rather than seeking the Approval of Man
lets pray
