Have You Had an Encounter or an Experience?

KJV - 16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,

19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

NRSV - Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 2 There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. 3 Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

So what’s the difference between an encounter and an experience? Well an encounter is defined as a chance meeting, to happen or stumble upon, to come upon face-to-face.

An experience is practical knowledge, skill, or practice derived from direct observation of or participation in events or in a particular activity.

With that being said I have a question for you, “Have you experienced God or have you merely encountered Him?

In our text in Matthew, this man, known as the rich young ruler comes to Jesus with a question. To start the conversation, he addresses Jesus as Good Master. Now this is an honorable title, he understands and respects Jesus as not just an ordinary teacher but a teaching master and the fact that he uses the word master shows his submissiveness to Jesus and his willingness to be taught by Jesus.

To learn,

you must have a desire to be taught,

you must avail yourself to the teaching and

you must respect the person who is teaching you.

If any of these ingredients are missing, learning is not necessarily impossible, but it is improbable.

This man understood that Jesus came from God, he had no doubt heard about Jesus, the things he was doing, healing people, casting out spirits and such. I’m sure he had heard about how he taught in the Temple, as one with knowledge. So he’s confident that He can answer his question, after all this should be an easy one for this man who knew so much and so he goes for it.

“…what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” This was a great and important question, after all eternal life is important, it’s real and this man wanted to know how to get it. We can see a few things from his actions

he was convinced that it was possible to have eternal life and

he knew there was something he had to do in this life to get it and he wanted to make sure he had his bases covered.

He was a young man but it’s never too early to start preparing for your future and your eternity. And that is exactly what this man was doing.

But let’s look at this man, he was young, he was rich and he was a ruler, a magistrate, a justice of the peace in his country or what we would call today a judge. So he had some clout and some abilities beyond his years. In other words he was no dummy. He undoubtedly had a good life on earth and he was looking into the future knowing that at some point this life on earth would end and he was thinking about the next life. This type of thinking is probably the reason he was a rich—young—ruler.

This man had prepared for where he was in life, he had it going on and he thought let me find out what’s next, what do I have to do to seal the deal for the next life. I believe it’s out there, I want it so let me find out what good deed I have to do to get it. He was willing to work for it, he wasn’t asking for a handout.

But what he didn’t understand and what is clear for us today is you can’t work your way to heaven. It’s not about deeds, it’s about the confession of your mouth, it’s about the profession of your faith, it’s about the condition of your heart, what are you believing in your heart?

And now we see Jesus’ answer which begins with a question, “Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God:” So Jesus is establishing something first; only God is good, so are you acknowledging me as God? Are you hearing the words that are coming out of your mouth? Do you realize what you’re saying?

Words have power, so it’s very important to choose your words carefully and be intentional about what you say and to whom you say it.

Then Jesus answers his question, “…but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.” At this point the people are still under the law, the dispensation of grace has not yet been made available. The rich, young ruler was talking to grace, but grace had not yet finished his assignment, his work was not yet complete.

The man says, alright keep the commandments but excuse me Jesus, I have a follow up question, can you clarify, which ones?

Jesus is so patient and he tells him,

don’t murder,

don’t commit adultery,

don’t steal,

don’t bear false witness,

honor your father and mother and

love your neighbor as yourself.

The young man says cool, I have kept all those commandments since my youth. But remember this young man is smart and he senses there’s something else because he says, what else, what do I still lack? He’s thinking, could it be that easy?

The young man says cool, I have kept all those commandments since my youth. But remember this young man is smart and he senses there’s something else because he says, what else, what do I still lack? He’s thinking, could it be that easy?

And now comes the challenge for him, Jesus knows how to get to the heart of the matter and he says, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” Wait what?

This young man was probably what would be classified as an analytical person, he thought things through, he worked things out, he made a plan and he carried out his plan. This man thought, I am preparing for my next life long before this one is over and I’m going straight to the source to get the road map.

And then, uuuurrrrrrr! Pump the brakes, what do you mean sell all I have and give the money to the poor? Do you know how much I have and then you want me to follow you? Treasure in heaven? I got treasure right here on earth and you want me to give it away. What?! Really?!

And now we see the real man, because when he heard what he needed to do, “…he went away grieving, for he had many possessions.” We now see what was truly important to the man, his life was all about his stuff, the wealth he had amassed and he didn’t want to give it away and the status he had achieved and he didn’t want to give it up to follow Jesus.

You see Jesus appeared to be a man with nothing, he had no home in fact back in Jesus says, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.” This man had no doubt worked diligently to get to where he was and to ask him to walk away was a lot and as much as he wanted eternal life, he couldn’t take his eyes off his present life long enough to get it.

If we are going to follow Jesus, we have to be willing to lay down the lower life so that we may obtain the higher life. There’s a song that says, I give myself away, so you can use me.

This man had an encounter, he came face to face with Jesus and he walked away sad and grieving because he was not willing to do what it took to get what he wanted. In his mind, the price was just too high.

And now as we turn to the text in John, we journey to Bethany and we’re in the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus.

This is a place Jesus spent some time. He had been to this house for dinner on more than one occasion.

This is the place where you’ll find in that Martha complained to Jesus that Mary wasn’t helping her serve and Jesus told her Mary had chosen the good part and it would not be taken away from her.

This is the place Jesus came to raise his friend Lazarus from the dead

This is the place where six days before the passover Jesus came to once again to dine with his friends.

As we set the scene Jesus has come to dinner, Lazarus was at the table with Jesus, Martha was doing her thing serving. Her gift was the gift of hospitality, she enjoyed preparing the meals and serving their guests and you can find many places where you’ll see Martha serving.

Martha was a doer, she didn’t sit idly by and wait for things to come to her she went out after them, including Jesus when her brother Lazarus had died. When Martha heard Jesus was in the neighborhood, she went out to meet him, and let’s listen to their conversation as recorded in Martha begins, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.”

Because she had spent time with Jesus she knew what he could do and so

even though she had already seen her brother die

even though they had already dressed him for burial

even though they had already had the funeral service

even though they had already placed him in the tomb

even though he had already been there four days

Martha still has the confidence to say, “But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.”

When you have an experience with something or someone, you have confidence in their abilities.

The conversation continues...23 “Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.[f] Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah,[g] the Son of God, the one coming into the world.”

He’s just so matter of fact, so succinct and speaks with such confidence, but of course he is after all God in the flesh.

24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”

So Martha understood and believed what Jesus had taught about the resurrection, even though she was busy prepping and cooking and serving she was still listening, she still heard what Jesus was saying when he was at the house. Martha was a multi-tasker.

But Jesus continues and here he makes it plain, 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.[f] Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah,[g] the Son of God, the one coming into the world.”

Jesus leaves no doubt who he is, what happens for those who believe in him and believe him and then he ask her a question “Do you believe this?”

27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.”

Not only did she believe, she ran it down

The Messiah

The Son of God

The one coming into the world

She had had an experience with Jesus and she was about to have another one.

Meanwhile, Mary was back at the house and Martha went to get her, now they’re both here with Jesus, discussing Lazarus’ death and there is an audience.

Back then people would hang around watching, waiting. Some were probably family while others were just there to see what they could see, nevertheless they followed the ladies to Jesus and now they have some comments too, but you can read that in your time.

Ultimately Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. These siblings had each had their own experience with God.

And surely because of their experiences they were grateful for the things Jesus had done, but Mary wanted to show her appreciation in a tangible way. You see, saying thank you is good, in fact we teach our children at an early age to say please and thank you, but when you show your gratitude with a card, some flowers or something like a pastoral anniversary celebration it means even more.

Martha made a feast, that was what she did to express her love and show her gratitude.

Lazarus showed his love by sitting at the table with Jesus.

Mary loved Jesus too, she was thankful for the time he had spent, the things he had done and the love he had for her and she decided to express her love for him by pouring a pound of expensive perfume made of pure nard on his feet.

But I need you to get this picture. In those days, they wore sandals on their feet and walked on dirt roads to get to where they were going, so they had dirty, dusty feet. Chances are that servants may have washed Jesus’ feet when he came in, which was the custom of the time.

As Jesus sat with them, Mary goes and gets this ointment a pound of what the Bible says is costly perfume called pure nard. I looked up nard and it’s full name is spikenard and to get a pound of spikenard today you will pay about $1,400 for it. Can you imagine taking $1,400 worth of perfume and pouring it on someones feet? That’s love in action, Mary knew real love and real value.

You have to know the value of things, you have to know their worth. The value or worth was not in the ointment she poured on Jesus’ feet, the worth was in the friendship, the time they had spent together, the love they had exchanged and this ointment was nothing compared to all of that. What price can you assign to true friendship, to love, to life?

Not only did she pour this expensive oil on Jesus feet, she then wiped his feet with her hair. Now ladies, you know how we can be about our hair. Women will spend money they don’t have to get their hair done and Mary was using her hair to wipe the feet of Jesus. Y’all that’s love in action.

When you have experienced God, you have no problem showing your love for him in tangible, expressive ways.

“And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”

When you experience God, your life emits a sweet smelling savor, there is a beauty about you that is seen in how you talk to people. Are you polite, is your tone soft and gentle or are you short and loud.

Are you demanding of your own way or do you tend to the ways of others?

Do you put others needs ahead of your own or do you have a look out for #1 mentality and you are #1?

Are you a servant or are you always expecting someone to serve you?

When you experience God, you look at life differently. You assign worth differently. You see people as children of God, that Jesus died for, instead of

children of God, that Jesus died for, instead of nuisances and people who get on your nerves or are in your way or unworthy of love, grace, mercy or another chance. But wait, that was you and me before we accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior.

nuisances and

people who get on your nerves or

are in your way or

unworthy of love, grace, mercy or another chance.

But wait, that was you and me before we accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior.

But I must tell you when you make your profession of faith and belief, that is merely the encounter, to fully experience God you must spend time with Him, everyday.

Spend time with Him in prayer, talking with and listening to Him,

reading His Word in the Bible and learning His character,

meditating on His Word to understand what it means in your life.

You must spend time in praise and worship, expressing your love.

You must spend time with God’s people in fellowship

You must recognize that love is a verb — Children, what is a verb? So it’s more than just saying I love you Lord with your mouth. How have you shown God you love Him today?

Jesus showed his love for you and me

by giving up his glory and being born of a woman

by putting on an earthly body, one that experienced fatigue and hunger and pain and hurt

by walking this earth for 33 years

He showed his love

by walking this earth for 33 years

by allowing soldiers to take him into custody to stand before a kangaroo court

by allowing them to beat him all night long,

by allowing them to pluck out his beard and strike his face,

by allowing them to mock and ridicule him,

by allowing them to nail him to a cross,

by allowing them to put him on display,

by allowing them to place a crown of thorns on his head

by laying down his life on an old rugged cross

by dying on an old rugged cross

You see Jesus said, no man can take my life, I lay it down freely. Jesus laid down his life for you, will you lay down yours for him? If you’ve already taken the step to encounter Jesus by making him the Lord and Savior of your life, that is wonderful, now let me ask you this, “Have you experienced God yet?”

The doors of the church are open