Walking with Jesus
Notes
Transcript
Walking with Jesus
Walking with Jesus
1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 3 Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”
Today we are going to continue our journey with Jesus as He makes His way to Jerusalem.
1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 3 Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”
John 12:1-8
The day before Jesus enters Jerusalem, He stops and enjoys time with friends.
Funny thing is that we see a familiar scene. Martha here is serving as she had done before and where is Mary? Right beside Jesus. lol
This time instead of Jesus teaching them something, Mary sets an example.
As we look at the event before us, Mary strived to do something good and Judas being Judas criticized her for what she done.
Have you been in a similar situation? You done something nice and still someone finds something negative about it?
There always has to be that one. That one that is jealous, or despises you, or has some hidden agenda.
You are always going to have those people. But it should never discourage us from doing what is right or doing good.
In this event we see a few things that we can hold to in our walk with Christ.
Always give your best
3 Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
Mary could have went to her cabinet and grabbed a cheap bottle of perfume and made some type of gesture with it.
But she didn’t! She grabbed the most expensive bottle she had and poured it all over Jesus’ feet.
Scripture tells us she didn’t pour some but all of it. She made sure every part of His feet was covered in it.
In this era, feet was the most dirtiest part of the body. The shoes they wore did not protect from nature.
Lazarus, as a good host would have had someone wash Jesus’ and the other guests feet upon entering the house.
Mary, seeing what Jesus had done in her life wanted to give a gesture of thanks.
Do you give your best? Your all when doing things?
7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
Give from your heart. We are not talking just about monetary giving, but everything you do in life.
Are you putting your all into it or just going through it half way.
Is what you are doing glorifying the Lord?
Mary wanted to make sure that Jesus was glorified in this act of giving.
Second, always stay humble
3 Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
Mary took her hair and wiped the feet of Jesus.
This act was usually done by someone that regarded themselves with no self worth.
Looking at this event, I don’t believe it was done out of having no self worth, but showing gratitude for what Jesus had done for her.
Mary teaching us that we should always stay humble, no matter where we are in live.
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Phil
Do you put the needs of others before yourself?
Never feel that you are above someone because of your status in life. (Whither it be wealth, career, or living status).
Give the example of cleaning toilets to set an example from the store.
As a follower of Christ, we are compelled to set an example of humility.
Jesus set the best example
8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Jesus did not have to leave were He was at. He could have said forget it, they chose to be disobedient. But He didn’t.
He left His throne, suffered as you and I, so much so that He willingly went through the torture of the cross that we could have life.
Church if we are going to reach the lost for Christ, we must become humble and leave our pride and arrogance at home.
We have to be willing to say, I don’t care what people may say about me, I will get dirty, go to areas that are not the best, give whatever it takes if it will lead others to Jesus.
Mary was willing to do something humiliating to show her gratitude toward Jesus.
Are we willing to do the same?