What’s Your House Smell Like?

John 12:1–8 NLT

Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead. A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with him. Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance. But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself. Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

Introduction:

As we prepare our hearts for Easter lets look at what happened the week before the week that changed the world.

Next Sunday is Palm Sunday and then Resurrection Sunday follows.

This week, we see Jesus visiting his friends in Bethany and the expensive perfume is poured out on Him.

It is a scene that mesmerizes me and shows us what being close to Jesus looks like.

I recognize for some its okay to know Jesus and keep Him at a distance, but for me and for others like some of you, you need and want to be closer to Jesus.

I want to talk to you today about being close to Jesus.

Closeness With Jesus is Cause for Celebration

Jesus knew what lie ahead for Him and He wanted to go spend some time with His friends before He gave His life for them.

Lazarus had been raised from the dead.

Matthew and Mark record that this dinner was at the house of Simon the Leper (John is vague) (EXPLAIN)

Martha served and Lazarus was one of the people there.

Martha worshiped Jesus in what she did (Don’t look negatively on her)

Lazarus worshiped Jesus

Mary worshiped Jesus

All of them were celebrating Jesus and rejoicing at what He had done (THIS IS PRAISE)

Has Jesus done anything for you?

Isn’t it time to celebrate?

Take a few minutes and just give God praise for what He’s done for you!

Closeness With Jesus is Costly

John’s gospel is the only one who names this woman. It is Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha

What did she do? - the other gospel accounts say she had much forgiven

What was it that caused this woman to do what she did?

It cost her

It cost her some very pricy perfume - a years wages

It cost her tradition and dignity -

She let her hair down

She poured it on his feet

She wiped with her hair

It cost her - we see closeness with Jesus costing others also

Abraham Genesis 42 - sacrifice of Isaac (Mt Moriah)

David at the threshing floor of Araunah 1 Chronicles 21 (Mt Moriah)

Its one thing to say a prayer

Its one thing to come to church

Then there is getting close with Jesus -

what is it going to cost you?

Closeness With Jesus is the Priority

Judas got ugly about the money he considered wasted

But Judas was a thief

Mary had her eyes on Jesus not the money

Mary might have known that this was her only chance to anoint Jesus - did she understand his soon coming appointment with the cross?

Did she know that He was going to die?

Jesus told them the poor would always be among them

Jesus isn’t saying don’t take care of them

The whole Bible is clear that taking care of people is a priority for God

God is saying keep your eyes on me and make Me a priority

Those other things will be a by-product of your relationship with Me

Closeness With Jesus Produces a Fragrance

The sense of smell has a way of capturing your attention and bringing back memories.

The smell of buttered popcorn for instance or the smell of an old leather jacket.

Home viewings use cookies or sweets to attract home buyers

Spas use essential oils

Wouldn’t it be cool if movie theaters were able to capitalize on this feature in movies?

Smell has an important role

Smells can both repel and attract.

What’s Your House Smell Like?

Mary has done what you and I wish we could do, she poured everything for Jesus.

If Jesus were sitting on the front row, how many would come and give Him that kind of adoration?

Mary took what she would have used to make herself smell better and made the whole house smell

She put it on Jesus and Jesus’ smell filled the place

Too many houses have their own smell - what’s your house smell like?

Let Jesus come and fill it and the fragrance of His Holy Spirit will fill it and you’ll smell like Him too!

Altar