Give Me Jesus: Total Surrender: Mark 14:1-11

I. The Half-Hearted Attitude of the Religious vs. 1-2

A. The religious crowd were cowards then and now! The religious lost crowd will always move in secret until they have the majority.

B. The religious only care about what money they can make, not exalting God.

C. Religious people are only whole hearted in one thing and that is having power over people and keeping it!

II. The Half-Hearted vs. The Total Surrendered vs. 3-5

A. John 1:1-2 shows us the audience. Imagine what they talked about; probably the miracles. John 1:1-2

John 1:1–2 NASB95

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.

B. This whole account shows the difference between Mary (fully surrendered/ Christ follower) and Judas (half-hearted, selfish, religious hypocrite).

C. The woman in question was Mary. Martha and Lazarus’ sister.

III. The Lord’s Rebuke of the Half-Hearted vs. 6-11

A. Jesus tells us that we always will have the poor with us. We need to realize we will never eradicate poverty, no matter what political structure or programs we have. Some are born poor and choose not to get out. Some because of bad investments or ill health. Some jobs don’t pay much but you’re happy.

B. For Mary to take the “glory” of her hair and wipe Jesus’ feet shows full surrender/ humility.

C. It cost a year’s wages. Today it would be about $25-$30,000. Sacrificial service cost. If an offering hasn’t cost you anything, it’s only your duty and not an offering. “However, the king said to Araunah, ‘No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price, for I will not offer burnt offerings to Yahweh my God which cost me nothing.’ So David bought the threshing floor and oxen for fifty shekels of silver.” (II Sam. 24:24 LSB). She did what she could do worship Jesus.

D. It was a loving, spontaneous, Holy Spirit prompted action. I Cor. 13:1-3

1 Corinthians 13:1–3 NASB95

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.

Ephesians 5:2 NASB95

and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

E. Perfume was used for funerals. Mary may not have know the significance of what she was doing, and probably didn’t, but it was eternally significant.

F. Part of Mary’s reward is her testimony. Just like Judas’ fate is part of his punishment, and everyone knows about it! Judas, who wanted the money for himself, betrayed Jesus out of anger for the rebuke and for the money. John12:4-6

John 12:4–6 NASB95

But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, who was intending to betray Him, said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and given to poor people?” Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it.