Do not harden your hearts II

John 12:1 Six days before the Passover (he died), Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. ”It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” 9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him. 12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the King of Israel!”

Last week we talked about not hardening our hearts. I want to continue on this theme. We talked about hardening our hearts to his word and obedience. That if we didn’t obey we were not pursuing his rest. Disobedience is a sure sign of a hardening heart.

v:2 A dinner was given in Jesus’ honor

That’s what Church should be about “Honoring Jesus“

Martha served – Mary worshiped (last time we saw Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus listening to the word of GodLk10:39)
Mary took and expensive perfume and poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair.

What is an act of Honoring and loving?

Expensive – A year’s wages! How much do you earn in a year?

Should it be cheap? NO!

Probably something that she would have used for herself.

Not just the leftovers but something that means something to you!

Poured it on his feet

The least part of you…

Wiped his feet with her hair (Her glory)

Deserves the best part of me…

The house was filled with the fragrance – honoring God has a fragrance all its own.
One of his disciples objected (What a waste) sounds reasonable!

Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor

I meet people every so often that are more worried about social issues, the welfare of people, what people think, etc.. But not about Jesus!

He did not say this because he cared about the poor, because he was a thief

As keeper of the money bag he used to help himself to what was put into it.
The things that we put before Jesus are our Gods! Money, ourselves, religion?
Are we stealing out of God’s money bag? What about his glory, praise, honor,(giving him your first and best is honoring him)

You will always have the poor among you

Yes we are to help people, but we cannot forget the Lord deserves first place in our lives.
Jesus deserves an Extravagant love, not wasteful, but it should be clear to all who is more important to us.

When God built the temple! We want to represent God when we find our place.

You will not always have me

Jesus will not leave us, but when we give such little thought to loving, blessing, praising, and giving he will disappear into the back of our minds through forgetfulness.

A large crowd came NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF HIM,

People come to Jesus for many different reasons

Needs
But also to see Lazarus – Curiosity
I wonder how many came to Honor him. Remember that was the reason for the gathering

The Chief Priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well. I guess they came for another reason too.

I guess they already planned to kill Jesus
Because of him (Lazazus) many were coming to Jesus and believing in him

Religious people will not only “NOT Honor Jesus, they won’t honor anyone that is a follower of him.

“Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

This is the proper response of Honor!

Hosanna, a transliteration of the Greek word which is itself a transliteration of the Hebrew

hôšî ‘âh nâ’, originally was a prayer addressed to God, meaning “O save us now” ( cf. Ps. 118:25 a). Later it came to be used as a shout of praise (like “Hallelujah!”) and then as an enthusiastic welcome to pilgrims or to a famous Rabbi. Hosanna in the highest, in highest places, likely means “Save us, O God, who lives in heaven.” Its use here probably reflects a mixture of all these elements due to the nature of the crowd.[1]

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cf. confer , compare

[1]Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-c1985). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures (Mk 11:9). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.