Answering the Jesus Question: Worship or Waste?

The Road to Easter Part 1

Introduction:

Introduction:

There are questions that we want to know the answers to.

Where did Noahs Ark go?

Where is the Ark of the Covenant?

Are there any other universes or lifeforms out there?

What happened to the dinosaurs and why?

Why do some people do horrible things to other people and others don’t?

There are a lot of questions that we may or will have that we will want to know the answers too and we may never get the answers to some of the questions we may have. But there is one question that we need to have the answer to because this question had eternal consequence. Its the Jesus question. The question is:

Who is Jesus and what are we going to do about it?

Another way to put it is: Worship or waste?

Two people answer this question very differently.

What happened up to this time:

Prophecy is God’s way of revealing to us His plan and His Son.

A book written by 40 different authors at different times that compliment one another

Likelihood of Jesus fulfilling the prophecies is less likely than winning the buffet challenge

Warren Buffet “The billion Dollar challenge” video

On the way to Jerusalem for Passover (6 days before Jesus is crucified)

Village of Bethany 2 miles on the edge of Jerusalem; a suburb

2 miles on the edge of Jerusalem; a suburb

Pic of Bethany in regards to Jerusalem

6 days before Jesus is crucified

Matthew 26:6–13 NLT

6 Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. 7 While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over his head. 8 The disciples were indignant when they saw this. “What a waste!” they said. 9 “It could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.” 10 But Jesus, aware of this, replied, “Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me? 11 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me. 12 She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial. 13 I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.”

Bethany was Jesus’ stop before the hustle and bustle of the city

He also had friends (Mary, Martha, Lazarus, Simon the Leper who was healed possibly by Jesus at an earlier time)

Simon has a dinner in honor of Jesus.

Four different writers give us a wide angel lens, but John gives us a more focused perspective of this event.

John 12:3 NLT

3 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.

The alabaster jar was worn around the neck and was one piece and was opened by breaking it. Made with nard and thick and syrupy. Very expensive and smelled wonderful.

Breaking the alabaster jar is going all in.

Disciples thought is was senseless waste/indignant. They didn’t understand the extravagant gift of love.

Judas didn’t want Mary to break the jar and give the extravagant gift to Jesus because he wanted it. The jar is a metaphor of our life and everything that is important to us.

How many of us haven’t gone all in because we want to keep areas of our life for ourself? God calls us to be like Mary.

V10-11: Jesus defends Mary in spite of what the disciples and Judas thought.

Matthew 26:10–11 NLT

10 But Jesus, aware of this, replied, “Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me? 11 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.

Matthew 26:10 NLT

10 But Jesus, aware of this, replied, “Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me?

We need to make every opportunity to give everything to the Lord while we can. Today is the day we make a decision to live for Jesus and go all and worship Him. We can’t push that decision off forever because we will not always have the opportunity.

Mary knew the prophecies and knew who Jesus truly was and knew enough of what Jesus said that the time to anoint Him was now because the time was coming when He would die on the cross. It was now to show Jesus her faith and love for Him.

The worship God wants is for us to pour out our life for Jesus.

Contrast between Mary (worship) and Judas (waste).

How do you view pouring out your life for Jesus? Worship or waste?

John 4:25–26 NLT

25 The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” 26 Then Jesus told her, “I Am the Messiah!”

Just as Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well, He is the Messiah.

Jesus asks the disciples who people say that He is and then He asks the disciples who they say He is?

Jesus asks the disciples who people say that He is and then He asks the disciples who they say He is? Who do you say Jesus is? Not what do you know what everyone else says. What does the Bible say/God say?

Mark 8:29 NLT

29 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Peter replied, “You are the Messiah.”

Who do you say Jesus is? Not what do you know what everyone else says. What does the Bible say/God say?

What’s your answer to this most important question? Who is Jesus and what are you going to do about it?

Conclusion:

Have I ever poured my life to Christ as an act of worship like Mary did?

Have I gone all in?

Or am I still holding on to my alabaster jar?