Up Close and Personal
Written by Ed Allen, Kristy Baik
Sunday, 26 March 2006 07:50
Sermon Notes
John 12
Jesus Anointed at Bethany
1Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5"Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages." 6He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7"Leave her alone," Jesus replied. " It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me." 9Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.- In the previous chapter, Jesus had raised Lasarus from the dead.
- Mary responds at the dinner by pouring out very expensive perfume on Jesus' feet and wiping them with her hair.
- Mary had seen an unbelievable demonstration of Christ's power. But the Pharisees had also seen this same demonstration of power. Mary responded in worship. The Pharisees responded by wanting to kill Jesus.
- Judas also saw this demonstration but then was upset at the "waste" of money.
- The point wasn't in Mary's elaborate giving, but in her full response of worship of God.
- God shows Himself to us and calls for an either/or response as a fork in the road. There is a time sensitivity to Gdo's call for response.
- God calls us to respond based on what we have received, not on what we don't have.
- The greater the glory, the greater the responsibility.
Learn to pay attention to how God is working around you and how He is revealing Himself.