Sermon Tone Analysis

Matthew 8:27

Anais Nin, was a french born author who wrote these deep and revealing words.

She reminds us that who we are, does indeed affect how we see things.

If we apply Ms. Nins statement here— I would want us to be people who are committed to Jesus as Lord of the universe— and if that is who we are— we will see Him, others and ourselves the way Jesus does.

If we are in fact committed to any other world view, that will indeed affect how we see Jesus, others and ourselves.

Consider one of the first people to see Jesus for who he really was: John the Baptist.

With these ideas in our minds, I have a question for you?

How do you see Jesus?

Once again we are prone to extreme’s aren’t we?

Some may see Jesus through a worldly (or earthly) perspective— they conclude that Jesus was only a good man.

On the other end of the continuum, some may see Jesus as this heavenly, somewhat ghostly theory— seeing him as only God.

You see Jesus came, as the infinite Son of God-- in the form of a finite human man.

He is both God and man-- conceptual and concrete.

Immortal invisible God only wise— but humble, accessible, a Good Shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep.

Throughout his life on earth, he proclaimed for us that the Kingdom of God (which he would know all about) is not like the Kingdom of this world (that which he experienced right along with us) .

That is what makes Jesus, and thus our Christian faith, unlike any other faith or religion in the world.

The next evening of the week— this is Wednesday night fellowship dinner with Jesus, at the house of Simon the Leper.

Some speculate that this could be the same person named Lazarus— Either way, Jesus finds himself at the home of a person(and a family), none the less, that has experienced a miracle from Jesus.

This was no ordinary dinner party-- this evening, we will see both the best and the worst of what we as humans are capable of in expressing our relationship to Jesus.

Based on how they see him, (a reflection of how they think, who they are) we will observe both a reckless extravagant love, as well as evil selfish hatred.

This was going to be a lesson in pure worship.

There were three fundamental groups present at the dinner:

Pharisees and teachers of the law saw Jesus as a threat to be eliminated.

Their predisposition to hold power and influence led them to see Jesus this way.

They were becoming more and more jealous and as we will see — they play right into God’s plan.

Judas saw Jesus as a disappointing master who let him down.

Some believed that Jesus, as Messiah, was going to be a political and perhaps a military leader who would once again “free” the Jewish people from Roman oppression, they have watched and listened to Jesus for 3 years-- but as you know, they still didn’t quite understand Jesus’ true mission.

The woman who saw Jesus as her true personal intimate redeemer, savior, and friend.

She expresses her deep agape love, and may be the only one at this dinner party that really does understand Jesus’ true mission, to reconcile and create relationships.

Let’s dive into the dramatic story:

The Distribution of a woman’s heart:

Woman anoints Jesus with a very expensive oil.

Most likely a value of around 300 denarii— or about 1 year’s wage!

The median american wage in 2020 was about $44,000.

Can you imagine having a perfume or ointment that was worth that amount?

And using it all in one application?

This oil was probably for her dowry, or for her own burial.

She gives the entire amount- all that she had.

The Denouncement of her act:

Several, including Judas, judge the woman and claim this was a “waste”.

They (indignantly) scold her for dumping out one years’ wages on Jesus.

Indignant= feeling or showing anger or annoyance at what is perceived as unfair treatment.

Dictionary.com

They name the earthly “price” of the actual oil, and missed the act of pure worship (Worth-ship, ascribing worth to someone or something-- what was she communicating to Jesus?)

People often want to judge the “value” of something, based on earthly price.

Not on the value that SHE would have placed on it— or the value she is placing ON Jesus by anointing him with it!

Look at this CRITICAL error:

They are looking at the value of this act through a lens of Jesus’ mission, not the relationship to him it represents.

The anointing has a far greater “worth” to Jesus because it is rooted in the relationship.

Mark 14:6 (NIV)

6 “Leave her alone,” said Jesus.

“Why are you bothering her?

She has done a beautiful thing to me.

The Defense of her love:

V. 6 Jesus defends her, claiming she has done a beautiful thing.

Ultimately, they are not the judge of this act’s “worth”.

They misunderstand the opportunity and depth of her actions.

They mistakenly assume Jesus’ ultimate mission:

We think it might be to help the poor?

It’s actually to redeem the world!

V. 7 Jesus states that the opportunity to help the poor is always available.

Jesus values relationship, even over your sacrifice or your provision.

“She did what she could to prepare me for burial”.

An act of service

An act of reverence

An act of preparation

An act of love

William Barclay: (commentary on Mark)

“Love can see that there are things, the chance to do only comes once.”

This world would be so much more lovelier if there were more people like this woman, who acted on her impulse of love because she knew in her heart of hearts that if she did not do this at this time, she would never do it at all.

How that last extravagant, impulsive kindness must have lifted Jesus’ heart.”

What is the thing that Love might compel you to do for Jesus today?

Or what might your love compel you to do for someone else?

A note of encouragement, a kind word of thanks.

Don’t miss that chance.

We have no idea how what the Holy Spirit leads us to do may change the course of someone’s day, or even their life.

We are too shy, or too awkward?

Second thoughts lead us to miss our chances.

The Declaration of her worship:

“What she has done will be proclaimed to the whole world”!

An act of profound consequences, as the story is now found in Matthew, Mark, and John.

This section of the story ends on a very grim note:

Judas has had enough.

He can’t take it anymore— and he makes a move.

A move that will lead him to destroy himself.

Close:

How do we truly see Jesus?

Do we bring any predispositions to our understanding of him?

Are we allowing our earthly or “human” circumstances affect how we see him, or how we relate to him?

We can sometimes look at God through our circumstances.

But Jesus teaches us to flip that around— we need to see our circumstances through God.

I have a quick funny story of a good friend of mine back in my young adult years.

I was a college student, and a part of a Christian fellowship group that would occasionally take part in opportunities to share our faith in public spaces.

One day, while we were starting up conversations with people, I was actually playing some music with a group around a fountain — occasionally a person would step up and share scripture or preach openly---a guy, after listening to it all for a while-- approached my friend— and simply said “What if I don’t believe in God and I think that what you all believe in is stupid and worthless” My friend never blinked— he just replied.

“Aw friend, your lack of belief in God has no bearing on his existence.”

In essence, my buddy couldn’t have said it any more clearly.

This whole thing— it really isn’t about you.

You’re either going to believe or not, but that doesn’t affect whether he’s there or not.

-Perhaps you are far from Jesus right now, and you do see him as a threat.

You want control of your life, you want to make your own decisions, and you see Jesus coming into your space as an intruder to the way you want things to be.