It's Time
Notes
Transcript
It's Time
It's Time
1 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
3 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.
This family
Serve - Martha
The character and gifting of Martha - she was a servant -
busy
laboring
serving
preparing
This is a needed gifting in the ministry of the Lord -
people who desire to serve the Savior
The caution of being a servant, can be that you get your identity from what you do and it is really no longer about who you are doing for, but only that you get your satisfaction and joy out of doing it...
There are a lot of things that we say we are doing for the Lord - but the reality is that we do it for ourselves.
our own identity
our own self worth
our own satisfaction
Are we serving the Savior by our labor or are we serving our own needs under the guise of serving?
Do we sing specials for the Lord, or is it jsut because we enjoy music and performance?
Do we teach in a class because we want to be a vessel to communicate the truths of scripture and reveal the Savior, or is it because we enjoy teaching and having a title of teacher?
Do we work in the PA ministry because we want to serve the Lord and partner together with the Pastor to spread the word of God, or is it because that’s “my” area of ministry and it isn’t partnering with the Pastor to communicate the message - it is only that you like that area of ministry - you might be good at it...
Security, nursery, choir, pianist, pastor, teacher,
Martha was a servant -
It’s Time to:
Serve - but let’s make sure we are serving the Lord!
Sit - Lazarus
John is the only gospel that records the events of Lazarus
No other gospel mentions Lazarus
in chapter 11, Lazarus is raised from the dead
in ch 12, we see he is seated with the Savior
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Just time to sit with the Savior
all the business of life
all of the work that Solomon calls vanity...
When Lazarus had been dead and was given another chance - he didn’t miss an opportunity to sit and spend time with the Savior
Are we too busy for Jesus?
Are we so busy that we can’t find time to sit and spend time with him?
Prayer
Meditation
fellowship...
Sometimes when you are with someone - there is an awkwardness -
tension
division
underlying bitterness,
guilt, shame
when this is case, there is no desire to sit and spend time together...
Lazarus had nothing to hide, nothing to fear, nothing to prove - He knew who the Savior was - and was going to sit with him -
Not sit and do nothing - fellowship...
It’s Time to:
Serve - Martha
Sit - Lazarus
Sacrifice - Mary
3 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.
sacrifice for the Savior is always worthwhile -
How can you out-give God
Mary had anointed the Lord several times -
In the house of Simon the leper - who also lived in Bethany
Matt. 26.6-13
Mark 14.3-9
Both of these accounts show that a woman anointed the head of the Savior
John records the account of Mary anointing the feet of the Savior.
Notice the Cost - pound - very costly - a little would have worked, but an entire pound - it spilled everywhere -
24 And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
Notice the humility
1 Cor. 11.15 shows that the hair of woman is her glory and she wiped the Saviors feet w/ her glory.
She undid her hair(something Jewish women did not do in public)
She humbled herself and took the place of the servant - foot care
she laid her glory at his feet...
sacrifice for the Savior is often misunderstood - even by good people
Judas - the betrayer -
4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him,
5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
These are the 1st recorded words of Judas in the Gospels...
It’s Time to:
Serve - Martha
Sit - Lazarus
Sacrifice - Mary
