All For Jesus
Chasing Jesus • Sermon • Submitted
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· 4 viewsIn the last week of Jesus’ ministry, the gospel writer places great emphasis on the hearts and motivations of each character in the story. In this moment, Mary comes and anoints Jesus with an expensive perfume and washes His feet with her hair. What an act of humility and unrestrained love. Mary comes to worship Jesus without concern for what it might cost or how it might be perceived. In contrast, Judas’ motivation is clearly seen as the gospel writer points to his motivation of selfish gain. While we can often fool man with our intentions, God is not so easily deceived. Are our motivations for Christ or self?
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The Setting
The Setting
John 12:1-
Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.
The Passover is four to five months after the Feast of Dedication. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead during these months. Jesus is now heading back to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover feast. This will be Jesus’ final journey. The next day will mark the beginning of Holy Week, culminating in Jesus death, burial and resurrection.
According to Matthew and Mark’s gospels, this dinner is taking place at Simon the lepers house. Lazarus is there. This is truly a feast of those who are celebrating the work of God in their lives. Jesus has likely healed Simon, and of course, Jesus brought Lazarus back from the dead. Here they are reclining at the table in awe and celebration of the power of God and their gathering is evidence of this.
When God works in our lives, we have the opportunity to respond to His grace. How we respond is determined by our view of who is being served.
The Our Responses
The Our Responses
John 12:3-
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.
But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 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.
Remember back to last week when we saw Mary last. She was weeping at Jesus’ feet crying, “If only you had been here, my brother would not have died.” These past few months have been lived with the testimony of the power of Christ living and breathing right beside her.
Mary responds to this truth by coming and lavishing upon Christ the best offering that she could think of. In a lavish expression of love, she adorns Jesus with her most precious gift. She covers him in sweet smelling perfume. From head to toe she bathes him and then she bows at his feet wiping her hair on his feet. Mary thinks nothing of her reputation or what this expression might cost her or even how it might be perceived. Her King had arrived and He was worthy of any and all expressions of love.
In contrast, we see Judas. Judas had walked with Jesus now for almost three years. He witnessed miracle after miracle. He heard each day the words of Jesus. When he was hungry, Jesus provided. He saw the raising of Lazarus and could give testimony of the power of Christ at work. But Judas had lost the awe. He did not see Jesus as the king who was worthy of any and all expressions of love. Judas saw Jesus as a means to an end. Judas longed for what the spoils of following the king might bring.
In the Hands of the King
In the Hands of the King
“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”
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. So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.
John 12:
When our desire and intent is the works of the king and not the king himself, we will stop at nothing and are willing to sacrifice whomever to find ourselves in the position of blessing. The chief priests were willing to take Lazarus’ life in order to find themselves in the position of power. Judas was willing to steal from the very offering to God for his own gain. nothing is sacred and anything can be justified in this response.
On the other hand, when our response to God is to seek the king himself, the King transforms our simple offerings into so much more. They become testimonies of the king. They spread the message of the work, power and might of the King. The King welcomes these into His court and they become a part of the victory song of the conquering one. When people look toward the king, they see Him through the lens of our story.