Obliviously Ordinary

Introduction:

Matthew 26:1–30 KJV 1900

And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples, Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified. Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him. But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people. Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat. But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her. Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him. Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover? And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples. And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover. Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve. And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born. Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said. And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom. And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

PROPOSITION: Three different types of people in this passage. Some Plotting, one Pouring, and some Protesting.

Plotting

“Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him. But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.”

A Sneaky Plot

They hated Jesus, but they were slaves of popular opinion. They had to preserve their position, without tainting their reputation.

Isn’t it interesting that their closed-door, cloak and dagger, confidential, classified, meeting was plastered on the permanent pages of Scripture for all to see?

They could keep out the crowds, but they forgot that the Creator’s eyes are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

There are no secrets kept from Christ. Miles away, He knew exactly what was happening behind closed doors, and He knows you better than anyone else does.

1 Corinthians 4:5 KJV 1900

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

God sees it all:

The shortcuts you take on the job

The way you treat your spouse

The things you allow to project off your devices and screens

The bitterness you cling to

The secret things you say to certain people who will listen

The words you use when you think no one can hear

There is nothing that escapes God’s sight!

Ecclesiastes 12:14 KJV 1900

For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

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A Strategic Plot

The timing had to be right

The opportunity had to present itself

They had thought this out for a long time now

This was not mere impulse, this was a well-crafted scheme

A Sovereign Plot

They had no intention of crucifying Christ during the Passover

Jesus, however, had every intention of being Crucified during the Passover

He had come to be that perfect and permanent passover Lamb

Statement: No matter the schemes of politicians, or presidents, or prime-ministers, or any of the powers-that-be, our God will have His way with this world, and no one is exempt from His purpose and plans. Only He is that powerful.

Proverbs 21:1 KJV 1900

The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: He turneth it whithersoever he will.

Romans 13:1 KJV 1900

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

Pouring

"Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat. But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.”

Mary, sister of Lazarus, was the woman.

Lazarus, Mary, and Martha, were all at this dinner.

A Costly Act

This perfume would have been worth as much as a year’s wages

She had saved it, stored it. If she didn’t already have it, she spent all she had for it.

This was the most that she could offer Jesus. This was the very best she had to offer Him.

The cost of it did not matter. The loss of it did not matter. All that mattered was to offer it to Christ.

Quote — “Is Christ Himself so real and precious to us that we are ready to make any sacrifice in order to show our devotion to Him?” (Ironside, Matthew, p.200)

A Caring Act

ILLUSTRATION:

John identifies this woman as Mary, sister of Martha and Lazarus. She is found only three times in the Gospels, and in each instance she is at the feet of Jesus. She sat at His feet and listened to the Word (); she came to His feet in sorrow after the death of Lazarus (); and she worshiped at His feet when she anointed Him with the ointment (). Mary was a deeply spiritual woman. She found at His feet her blessing, she brought to His feet her burdens, and she gave at His feet her best.1

1 Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, pp. 94–95). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

A Consecrated Act

Statement: In a room full of future apostles, Mary seems to be the only one who truly understood Christ’s plan and purpose.

Jesus flat out said that He would be crucified, and had been saying that He would be killed for the past six months.

They had all listened, she was the only one who actually heard.

How many times had Jesus said, He who hath ears to hear, let him hear?

Mary was the only woman who anointed Jesus in time for His burial.

ILLUSTRATION: Missing the Point

A young man called his mother and excitedly announced that he had just met the woman of his dreams.

His mother said, “Why don’t you send her flowers and invite her to your apartment for a home-cooked meal?”

The day after the big date, his mother called to see how things had gone.

They were having dinner with a man who had been dead, and now was alive.

“Mom, the evening was a complete disaster,” he replied. “It was horrible!”

“Why, didn’t she come over?” his mother asked.

“Yes, she came over. But she refused to cook!”

Every time Jesus talked, Mary heard what He was saying.

Statement: Everyone there called Jesus Master, but only Mary had got the Message!

There’s an awful lot of Christians out there claiming to want to follow Jesus, but they’ve completely missed the message.

Following Christ converts you.

Following Christ convicts you.

Following Christ challenges you.

Following Christ changes you.

Following Christ cultivates you.

Following Christ conforms you.

If you are the same person today that you were before, are you sure you are following Christ?

If you are the same Christian today that you were before, are YOU sure you are following Christ?

Statement: All of the people in that room had grown in their knowledge of Jesus, they were even more fond of Jesus than ever before. But only Mary had grown in her devotion to Jesus Christ.

A Commended Act

“When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.”

Good work = beautiful

Statement: In preaching this message, Christ’s promise of her memorial is being fulfilled even now.

Statement: Just focus on doing what pleases Christ.

Colossians 3:23–24 KJV 1900

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

Protesting

“But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.”

A Supported Protest

They were all in agreement — this act of hers was inappropriate.

Statement: Here we find yet another example in Scripture of a congregational committee coming to a cruddy conclusion via consensus.

Three years they had walked with Jesus, and still had not learned to view things from the proper perspective.

This is the inherent human condition — many times our first thoughts or reactions are not godly or spiritual ones.

They even came up with good reasons for their objections

A Stewardship Protest

“This was a waste of good resources.”

How many times, when someone proposes doing something bold for Christ, do God’s people step up and start counting pennies, or offering better uses of church resources.

Statement: When God gives your Pastor a vision for this church, do you start coming up with ways you can help to see it accomplished, or reasons why it’s a waste of time and money?

How dare they presume to tell her what to offer Christ? That in giving her best, most expensive, most prized possession to the Saviour, that she had wasted her resources?

1001 Illustrations that Connect Illustration 496: Life with No Regrets

LIFE WITH NO REGRETS

Topics: Calling; Commitment; Compassion; Evangelism; Example; Focus; Leadership; Ministry; Missions; Passion; Prayer; Purpose; Regret; Sacrifice

References: Matthew 16:24–28; Luke 9:23–26; John 15:12–17; Philippians 2:5–11

When William Borden graduated from a Chicago high school in 1904, he was heir to the Borden Dairy estate, which made him a millionaire. For his graduation present, his parents gave him a trip around the world. As the young man traveled through Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, he felt a growing burden for the world’s hurting people. Finally, Borden wrote home to say, “I’m going to give my life to prepare for the mission field.” At the same time, he wrote two words in the back of his Bible: “No reserves.”

During his college years at Yale University, Borden became a pillar in the Christian community. One entry in his personal journal that defined the source of his spiritual strength simply said, “Say no to self and yes to Jesus every time.”

During his first semester at Yale, Borden started a small prayer group that mushroomed into a movement that spread across the campus. By the end of his first year, 150 freshmen were meeting for weekly Bible study and prayer. By the time Bill Borden was a senior, one thousand of Yale’s thirteen hundred students were meeting in such groups.

Borden met with fellow Christians to make sure every student on campus heard the gospel. Often he ministered to the poor in the streets of New Haven. But his real passion was missions. Once he narrowed his missionary call to the Kansu people in China, Borden never wavered.

Upon graduation from Yale, Borden wrote two more words in the back of his Bible: “No retreats.” He turned down several high-paying job offers and enrolled in seminary. After graduating, he went to Egypt to learn Arabic so he could work with Muslims in China. While in Egypt, Borden came down with spinal meningitis. Within a month he was dead at age twenty-five.

Prior to his death, Borden wrote two more words in his Bible. Underneath the words “No reserves” and “No retreats,” he wrote, “No regrets.”

—Mrs. Howard Taylor, Borden of Yale (Bethany, 1988)

Statement: Is that a life that was wasted? Was there potential there that was never utilized? In human thinking, probably so. But in heavenly thinking, it was a life well-spent.

A Sanctimonious Protest

Statement: Not only did they declare her sacrifice a waste, they proposed better, more spiritual ways it could have been put to use.

Statement: It’s always easy to put on spiritual airs. But it only counts if you put the spiritual into action.

ILLUSTRATION:

A man came up to Moody once and criticized him for the way he went about winning souls. Moody listened courteously and then asked, “How would you do it?” The man, taken aback, mumbled that he didn’t do it. “Well,” said Moody, “I prefer the way I do it to the way you don’t do it.” (http://ministry127.com/resources/illustration/it-is-easier-to-criticize-than-to-work)

Quote — When God gives your pastor a vision, get on board wholeheartedly. Don’t critique and nit-pick and look for flaws in his plan. Find out how you can help and join hands with him in the work. Put your talents and spiritual gifts to work to help the pastor accomplish his God-given vision, and you will profit from it. (I’m not talking about getting your name in the church paper or being recognized. I’m referring to the profit of God’s approval and hearing Him say, “Well done.”)

Ferrso, Jerry. Laborers Together: Defining and Developing Your Relationship with Your Pastor . Striving Together Publications. Kindle Edition.

Ferrso, Jerry. Laborers Together: Defining and Developing Your Relationship with Your Pastor . Striving Together Publications. Kindle Edition.

Statement: How many opportunities to offer yourself to Jesus have you wasted by declaring there was a more productive, or more pious way to serve, all the while not serving at all!

They were sitting in the house of a man who had been a leper, but was made clean by Jesus Christ.

They were having dinner with a man who had been dead, and now was alive.

They missed their opportunity to see Christ the way Mary saw Him, and to worship Him the way Mary worshiped Him.

A Selfish Protest

John 12:1–6 KJV 1900

Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

jo 12 1-6

Statement: John tells us that it was Judas that instigated this protest, but all the others agreed and took up his complaint.

In doing so, the disciples were siding with the one who would betray Christ.

Judas just wanted more money to embezzle, and the disciples had no clue that the cause they were championing was the cause of a thief.

Statement: Be careful about getting on the wagon with a critic. There is a reason he’s critical in the first place.

Proverbs 16:28 KJV 1900

A froward man soweth strife: And a whisperer separateth chief friends.

10,000 Sermon Illustrations Good Quotes

It is much easier to be critical than to be correct. - Disraeli

Prepping the Trap

Prepping the Traitor

Preparing the Troop

Preparing the Tragedy

Conclusion:

I. Plotting

A Sneaky Plot

A Strategic Plot

A Sovereign Plot

Statement: Where will you stand in the day that all the schemes and secrets are brought into the light?

II. Pouring

A Costly Act

A Caring Act

A Consecrated Act

A Commended Act

Statement: Is your relationship with Christ such that no sacrifice is too great and nothing to valuable to offer to Him? Do you know Him for what He is, and do you listen to what He has to say? Is His opinion of you all that matters?

III. Protesting

A Supported Protest

A Stewardship Protest

A Sanctimonious Protest

A Selfish Protest

Statement: It’s always easier to criticize, to rationalize, to analyze than it is sacrifice. Which one are you actively doing?

Statement: Just because the general consensus is that you need not get too crazy in serving Christ, that doesn’t mean it’s the right consensus. You set out to worship Christ, by giving Him your life.

ILLUSTRATION:

On Tuesday, January 3, 1956, Jim Elliot and four other missionaries landed on a small strip of land in the jungles of Ecuador.1 It was a dangerous landing, and they could not all land at once. For years they had been dreaming of and planning for this moment. Their hearts were set on reaching the Auca Indians with the good news of Jesus.

The Aucas were a notoriously dangerous tribe. No one had reached them before. Some had exchanged gifts, but always the Aucas had attacked them. For three months the missionaries had been regularly flying over the area, dropping gifts and shouting greetings. When they landed they built a hut and waited for the Aucas to come and find them.

They knew the dangers. Their wives had discussed the possibility of becoming widows. Elisabeth Elliot, the wife of Jim Elliot, says they went simply because they knew they belonged to God, because he was their creator and their redeemer. They had no choice but to willingly obey him, and that meant obeying his command to take the good news to every nation.

On Friday, January 6, three Aucas—one man and two women—approached them. They exchanged greetings. The missionaries showed them rubber bands, yo-yos, and balloons, and the man was taken up in the plane.

On Sunday, January 8, they were due to radio in at 4:30. There was silence. When no message came, a plane was sent and then a rescue party. Four of their bodies were recovered—all lanced to death. The fifth was never found. It seems they were ambushed.

All five were martyred for the sake of Christ. All were married, and four were fathers. One wife was pregnant. Her three-year-old was heard to tell the new crying baby, “Never you mind, when we get to heaven I’ll show you which one is daddy.”

Jim Elliot once said: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

He was 28 when he was killed — many even declared his early death to be a waste of potential. Yet God continues to be glorified because a young life was poured out completely for Christ.

(https://www.crossway.org/articles/jim-elliot-was-no-fool/)

A Sneaky Plot

A Sneaky Plot

A Strategic Plot

A Sovereign Plot

Statement: Where will you stand in the day that all the schemes and secrets are brought into the light?

II. Pouring

A Costly Act

A Caring Act

A Consecrated Act

INVITATION:

A Commended Act

Statement: Is your relationship with Christ such that no sacrifice is too great and nothing to valuable to offer to Him? Do you know Him for what He is, and do you listen to what He has to say? Is His opinion of you all that matters?

III. Protesting

A Supported Protest

A Stewardship Protest

ANNOUNCEMENTS & OFFERING:

A Sanctimonious Protest

A Selfish Protest

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Statement: It’s always easier to criticize, to rationalize, to analyze than it is sacrifice. Which one are you actively doing?

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Statement: Just because the general consensus is that you need not get too crazy in serving Christ, that doesn’t mean it’s the right consensus. You set out to worship Christ, by giving Him your life.

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