The Contrast Between Life and Death

Read

John 11:55–12:8 ESV

55 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. 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. 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.”

Opening Prayer

Setting the Stage

Well, the Sanhedrin has sentenced Christ to death.

Now, they only need to arrest him.

Christ was hanging out with His disciples in the wilderness near Ephraim.

Not far from Jerusalem.

We are told, in v.55, that it is almost time for…

The Passover

What is the Passover?

The Passover was an annual celebration of the nation of Israel to remember and rejoice in the grace of God who promised and graciously granted the Jewish people victory over death through the shed blood of a lamb, which was to be placed on the two doorposts and the lintel of each home.

The Passover was an annual celebration of God’s gracious act of sparing lives through a substitutionary death.

You either killed a lamb and applied the blood or you died that night in Egypt.

Now, I want us to zero in on the contrast in which the preparation for Passover was being carried out.

John 11:55–57 (ESV)

55 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. 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.

So, we see here in this context…

The Jewish People & the Religious Leaders

#1 - The Jewish People

We know that the majority of the Nation rejected Christ.

And in so doing, proved that they did not truly know God…

Nor did they worship the true and living God.

Yet, they were there a week ahead of time to go through the purification rites in order to participate in the Passover.

And, doesn’t this point out with great emphasis the lengths that mankind will go to be religious…

—> All the while missing the point of religion.

True & proper religion can only be the proper worship of the one true and living God.

In contrast, mankind has a great love for legalism.

—> It feeds our sense of self-rightness.

We use it to convince our self that we do not need:

salvation

from what we like to think

sins atoned for

done by my ritualistic lifestyle

imputed righteousness

I have my own

The majority of the Nation are here, not to celebrate God’s grace in granting life…

But, rather that they were good enough for God to save.

This is at the heart of a people who do not worship God in spirit and in truth.

Then we read…

John 11:57 ESV

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.

#2 - The Religious Leaders

At a celebration of God’s grace to spare undeserved people of death…

They are plotting to kill the very purpose of their religion.

They are plotting to use this Passover celebration to commit murder.

—> To take the life of the only One that is guiltless.

Without just cause, and with a verdict already decided…

They have instructed the Nation to let them know the moment they saw Jesus…

So they could arrest Him, and have Him put to death.

Meanwhile in Bethany

John 12:1–3 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.

A Dinner Celebration

This dinner banquet would have been hosted by multiple families.

It would have been a gathering of the best that multiple families had in order to put this dinner and celebration together.

Certainly family and friends were overjoyed at Lazarus’ being brought back to life from death.

But, the celebration was over Jesus.

This was a time filled with joy…

The celebration of life.

The celebration of of the Life-Giver, Jesus.

The grace and mercy of God to conquer death by His Son.

We can readily see…

The Stark Contrast

Mary & the Celebrants

While the majority of Israel and the RL’s were going through the motions & the form of worship…

And, at the same time in bondage to sin and death…

Mary and the group were enjoying the essence of worship…

And, as a consequence…

Life and freedom from the bondage of sin and death.

Jesus told Mary in front of the group…

John 11:25 ESV

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,

They’ve believed it.

They’re celebrating it.

They’re celebrating Christ.

Life is meant to be a celebration of Christ.

Our victory over death is in Christ.

His resurrection secures ours.

We read…

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.

Mary, in an act of worship…

Overwhelmed with the joy that she had found in Christ.

Over-flowing with gratitude for the blessing it is to be in the friendly presence of Christ, God incarnate.

Consumed with the beauty and majesty of the gospel…

She breaks open this jar of ointment/perfume.

This jar of perfume that was a year’s wages.

Imagine taking your annual salary…

—> Buying perfume with it…

And, breaking it open and pouring on the feet of your guest.

Then, letting down your hair and wiping your guest’s feet clean with the ointment and your hair.

Judas loses it.

—> Others may have been in awe.

And, if it were any other guest it may be over the top.

But, in light of the guest being Christ…

Even this extravagance falls short of grasping the worthiness of Christ for such a gesture.

And, how this extreme gesture falls infinitely below what He is worthy of receiving.

We’re reminded of this great truth in…

Revelation 5:13 ESV

13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

And, this is why Jesus responds to Judas the way He does…

John 12:4–8 ESV

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.”

Jesus is saying it is right to honor me in such a way.

The same, but more will be lavished upon Christ at His burial by Jospeh of Arimethea & Nicodemus.

The reality of the person of Christ…

Is that He’s worth infinitely more than a year’s wages…

He’s worthy of the entirety of your life.

And, how appropriate that this is said to Judas Iscariot.

The Religious Leaders

They’re not celebrating.

They’re not filled with joy.

They’re filled with fear.

They’re conspiring towards evil and sin.

They’re pretending externally to care about God.

But, all the while they’re conspiring to nail the Son of God to the cross.

They’re consumed with sin and death…

Because they are in bondage to it.

So, we have these two scenes that are in stark contrast with one another.

One, the Nation and RL’s…

Absent of true joy.

Paralyzed by fear of losing temporal comforts from their enemy who has their nation in bondage.

Conspiring to willfully sin and commit murder.

Missing the point of the Passover.

Blind to their spiritual bondage and their need for Christ.

Rejecting Christ and suffering the slavery of sin.

And then, you have Mary, Martha, Lazarus and the party group…

Rejoicing in their Savior.

Rejoicing in death being conquered by Christ.

Rejoicing in the friendly presence of God.

Celebrating the victory of Christ…

—> And, the majesty of Christ.

Freed from the bondage of sin and death.

Now, we see this stark contrast between those who are still in the bondage of sin and death and those who already experience life in Christ.

But, I want is to see…

Another Truth to Notice

Notice Judas

John 12:4–6 ESV

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.

Judas stealing from the money that supported the ministry of Christ.

Pretending to be part of the celebration.

Ready to betray Jesus at the first opportunity.

Why? Why turn on Christ?

Here’s the answer that rings true to all those who betray God…

—> Because He does not serve your purposes.

Judas was all on board at the thought of Jesus as a Political Messiah.

But, jumped ship internally as soon as he realized Jesus was not serving Judas’ temporal comforts.

The Religious Leaders did the same.

They were all about interviewing Christ.

At first they wanted to interview Him.

Find out what His end game was.

But, the moment they figured out that He was not going to serve their purposes…

To support their comfortable lifestyles and positions of authority…

They were seeking a way to kill Him.

This is at the heart of mankind.

Serve me and my purposes or get out of my way.

As Christians, we must not be this way

We must be careful to not use Christ this way.

We must be careful to not use others this way.

Our goal is to serve the purposes of God.

Die to self driven lives.

And, serve the Lord in love.

Location and Peer Group do not define your loyalty

Judas was with the right group.

He was at the right celebration.

But, for the wrong reasons.

The RL’s were in places of authority.

Leaders of their religion.

But, for the wrong reasons.

None were for serving God…

But, rather God serve them.

Location, Position, and Peer group do not make you right with God.

Only faith in Christ.

Only resting in the person and finished work of Christ…

Can make you right with God.

Make your best resume and then set it aflame.

And, trust only upon Christ.

Let’s think about this...

This post resurrection party is a foretaste of our life with Christ after our own death.

We will be in the presence of Christ.

Freed from sin.

Freed from pain.

Freed from all sorrows of this world.

Freed to live sinless in the presence of God.

Reclining at table with our Lord.

—> Feasting with Him.

—> Celebrating because of Him.

We have our great hope…

We have new life, eternal…

And, His name is Jesus.

Closing Prayer