Jesus Anointed
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Anointing of the King
Anointing of the King
Good morning!
I hope you’ve had a good week, school has been out, parents and kids are getting into different routines as they adjust to a new schedule.
And it is a good time for each of you.
The reason is this.... Jesus is King, He loves you! And with each new day that He gives you, you have the joy of life, liberty in in our land and the opportunity to draw closer to God.
I hope you take advantage of all the time God gives you.
Don’t forget please pray daily for two events, our youth sports camp and Vacation Bible School.
Pray that the children will hear and their hearts prepared to act on what they receive in the Bible studies and devotions. These are important times for children that will direct their future steps.
Today we come back to the gospel of Matthew and we begin a look at chapter 26.
We know that from the beginning of the chapter we are 2 days from His crucifixion and death, so it is late Tuesday or early Wednesday.
The hour for which He came is almost upon Him, but there is still much to do… So lets begin by looking at the first 5 verses, and we will look at the last 8 in a bit....
1 When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, 2 “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”
3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, 4 and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. 5 But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.”
So as Jesus is approaching the cross, he continued to try and prepare his disciples for what was about to happen. They certainly wouldn’t understand it, yet it was necessary. What he was about to do was crucial for all mankind.
So lets begin with this thought....
1. Jesus foretells His Death.....
As we think about what is about to happen, remember the nation was about to celebrate the Passover.
The passover was an important time, a special time remembering how God delivered the children of Israel from the bondage of Egypt. You can find this recorded in Exodus chapter 12.
God had told Pharoah to free his people. Pharoah remained stubborn even though God sent plagues upon the land, until finally the last plague would break him. The last plague would take the life of every first born creature, no matter if it were man or beast.
But there was one hope, God told Moses to tell the people if they were take the blood of a sacrificial lamb, and apply it on the door posts of their homes, that night when the death angel came, he would pass over all those who had the blood applied.
Let me share with you from Exodus 12
21 Then Moses called all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go and select lambs for yourselves according to your clans, and kill the Passover lamb. 22 Take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and touch the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. None of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning. 23 For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians, and when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you. 24 You shall observe this rite as a statute for you and for your sons forever.
Even thought is was a description of God’s immediate salvation from the plague, It was a picture of God’s future work, remember John called Jesus the lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world, John 1:29
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
Jesus would die, his blood shed and every heart who has the blood applied, who has been forgiven of their sins, and literally they would not know death…
There is a snap shot of the passover and what God was doing..... now back to our text
So as Jesus has been teaching His disciples, get ready, be faithful… here he tells them this in verse 2… the passover is almost here, The Son of Man is about to be delivered up and crucified.
This time is the day for which he had been prepared and the time the world waited for God’s redemptive work to come...
I’m sure that these words are hard for the disciple to hear, it was difficult when he first alluded to it in Matthew 16 and so it is now… I wonder if their thoughts are something like ....”surely He cannot mean it...”
This was the plan of God from the foundation of the world, Jesus would die for the sins of the world.
Now we know from the testimony of Scriptures, the religious leaders were plotting against Jesus, they wanted to take him and kill Him, but they had decided to wait till after the passover for the fear of the people might rebel and harm them...
But they wouldn’t have to wait. Jesus was about to be delivered up to the religious leaders...
God was at work in them, in the world and through the Son...
And this brings us to a second thought...
2. An Act of Devotion....
Now the Bible tells us that Jesus is back in the village of Bethany. Remember that Bethany was a small community that lay about 2 miles outside of the city of Jerusalem to the east.
If you left Jerusalem through the eastern gate, you would come to the Mount of Olives, then to Bethphage (remember that is where Jesus sent the two disciples to get the donkey just a few day earlier during the triumphal entry into the city, in what we call Palm Sunday) and then on the same road continuing east you would find Bethany. .
Now, remember we normally associate Bethany with a little family who loved Jesus, two sisters Mary and Martha and their brother Lazarus whom Jesus had raised from the dead ( John 11)
But Jesus is not at their home one this day, instead we are told that we are at the home of Simon the Leper.
lets look at the text..verses 6-7
6 Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, 7 a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table.
Now we don’t have a lot of information on Simon, but obviously He is a man who has hosted a dinner for Jesus, most likely so that His friends could meet Jesus, who has healed him of his lepersy.
And we know that Jesus often went to the homes of sinners and publicans, another reason why the Pharisees and religious leaders hated him, they considered He must be a sinner since He ate with them. In truth we know that Jesus loved everyone.
And while in this home, we know the disciples are there and of course, Mary, Martha and Lazarus are most likely there as well. I say that because they followed Jesus closely.
While in this home, the Scriptures say a lady came up behind him, it was Mary, and she broke open a alabaster flask containing a very precious, fragrant ointment, the Scriptures refer to at as pure nard.
Now Matthew says it was a costly ointment, Pure nard and Mark 14:5 tells us that it was of value, more than a years wages.
Friends, this sweet smelling ointment was rich and costly. It was something the family bought and stored up for their own need. But she comes to Jesus and anoints His body.
Now why do I say the body....
As you compare the whole teaching of the gospels Matthew through John, we see in John 12:3, John tells us that Mary anointed the feet of Jesus there in Bethany. And here Matthew tells us the head.
I think the bigger picture is that the alabaster flask contained a lot of liquid. She did pour it over his head and over the feet, using it all on Jesus.
Once you open this flask, it could not be resealed, so it had to be used, she gave it all to Jesus this day.
This was her act of love, her act of devotion and her act of care… Jesus had done so much for them, He loved them, he had blessed them and had raised Lazarus from the dead.
She had to give back to Jesus.
Listen my friends, Jesus has saved you, he has walked with you and blessed you, healed you and forgiven you. He has given you eternal life and a home that awaits you in heaven.
What will you give back to Him?
What do you have? What do you possess (time and talent) and what will you give unto Him?
Will you show your devotion to the Lord?
And this brings us to the next thought...
3. The Disciples Discontent....
As Mary anoints Jesus, there is something special taking place, what she does out of love, it serves a greater purpose. We will talk more about that in a minute.
But there is something else happening, grumbling...
As Mary anoints Jesus, some of the disciples grumble… they complain.
Lets look at the text… Matthew 26:8-9
8 And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? 9 For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.”
All they see is this expensive ointment, one that retails for a years wages being poured out on one person, its Jesus and they are still grumbling about it. They can’t even see it at a act of devotion to Jesus… They cant see her love for Jesus or anything else.
All they see is so many more people could have benefited from what was given to Jesus.
Here is what I find interesting, it belonged to Mary’s and her family - not the disciples, it was her right to give it to Jesus. It was hers. But yet they grumble.
So what of their concern? was it a valid one? Yes, there were many poor and needy people around them. They often ministered to the lowest of society....
But I would remind you, Mary is giving this to Jesus. it is a sacrifice to him, and act of worship to him and that changes everything..
The gift is one that has unmeasured value because it is given to God!
Now we are not told who is grumbling, or which one spoke up but we do believe it is Judas, along with a few others who complained. Now we say this since it is right after this event that Judas goes to betray Jesus in verses 14-16
And as they grumble and complain, Jesus speaks up… Matthew 26:10-13
10 But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. 12 In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. 13 Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”
Wow, what does Jesus mean by all this?
Let’s begin with verse 10, Jesus was aware of their grumbling, Nothing is hidden from him, then or now. He knows the intent of our hearts.
And as they grumble, Jesus rebukes them
He says “....why bother her, She has done a beautiful thing to me....” V10.
So consider Mary’s actions:
A. When you look at Mary’s action it is indeed a beautiful one. She is offering unto the Son of God a sacrifice. She pours out this fine ointment and gives it to Him. A sacrifice is always something costly and its given to God freely.... It is given out of love
B. That is really her second action.... She reveals her sacrificial love for Jesus. She is giving all to Him in that moment, she probably doesn’t understand her all that her actions represent, but she loves Jesus. She is showing the world, He is worthy of our praise, our love and our wealth, how great or small it is, he is worthy of it all.
There is a lesson for us… what we have is truly His…give it back to him.
And Jesus given a greater explanation to her actions....
A. Jesus reminds them again, He is going away. He says in verse 11
11 For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me.
It is a necessary action so that he might complete the work of the Father.
Jesus is not discounting the poor and needy, but reminding them he is in their physical presence only for a little longer. She was right in doing this...
B. Jesus tells them what she has done it s beautiful and important thing.
12 In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial.
Jesus has shared that he must suffer and die for the sins of many, but they haven’t really grasped this yet. But Mary’s act of devotion blesses him, for it actually preparing him for his death.
We know in those days people were wrapped in clothes, grave cloths and these perfumed ointments were placed on the bodies to prepare then for burial and on a more natural note, fight back the stench of death.
We know when Jesus gives up His life on the cross, there will not be a lot of time to burial him before the passover begins, those men will hurry to do this… Mary’s action is a prelude to what must take place ....
C. Jesus testifies that her actions will be remembered as a testimony for the years to come… She loved and gave much to Jesus.
13 Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”
What have you given to Jesus?
I am always reminded of this as well.....
D. In covering his head with this oil, running down onto His body and placing it on his feet also remind us that He is king. Kings were anointed with oil as God raised them up. Here it is just a picture, Jesus is King.
Jesus was anointed on that day, His head and feet covered with a beautiful fragrant ointment...
It reminds us that he deserves our all my friends,
He gave his all to us, give to him sacrificially, freely and be blessed as you show your love to him.
He is worthy of our all.
He is King and Lord....
Here we are on memorial day weekend, a time ot remember all those who gave all for us.
Friends, Jesus gave His all for us!
Invitation.....
What will you give back to him today....
I’m not talking about money here… I’m talking about you
Will you give him your heart, salvation begins with Jesus asking you to open your heart, let him in and follow him.
He promises to Save us
also, Have you opened your heart and said, Lord I am yours, will you take this life of mine and use it for your glory?
He can do that if you will...
What will you give to him...