March 18, 2018
Evening Service

In the first part of chapter 11 we saw the power of God in that Jesus raised Lazarus from the grave after he had been there 4 days.  We also got to see the compassion and heart of God in that upon seeing His followers grieve, He wept with them.  It is really a revelation too that God not only is present in our suffering, but He suffers along with us.  As we describe Him as our Heavenly Father or even our Good Shepherd it has so much more impact now.  He loves us.

John 11:45-46 Then many of the Jews who came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on Him.  (46)  But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.

·        Throughout this book, John consistently shows that after being exposed to Jesus some believe and some do not.  Even seeing this miracle happen before their eyes was not enough proof to convince them of who He really was.  The Pharisees now get involved.

 

John 11:47-53 Then the chief priests and Pharisees gathered a Sanhedrin, and said, “What can we do? For this man does many miracles.  (48)  If we let him alone this way, all will believe on him. And the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.”  (49)  And one of them, Caiaphas, being the high priest of that year, said to them, “You do not know anything at all,  (50)  nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation perish.”  (51)  And he did not speak this of himself, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation;  (52)  and not for that nation only, but also that He should gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.  (53)  Then from that day they took counsel together that they might kill Him.

·        The Pharisees not only chose not to believe but they also plotted to silence Jesus by killing Him.  They again are acting like their father the devil who Jesus said is a “liar and a murderer.”

·        The Romans gave some freedom to the Jewish nation as long as everything remained relatively peaceful.  The Sanhedrin feared that Jesus was bringing unwanted attention to them and would cause the Romans to get involved.  Caiaphas actually prophesies of God’s plan when he suggests that “one should die for the good of many.”  God’s plan however was a little larger than defeating the Romans.  He planned to defeat sin and death.

 

John 11:54-57  Therefore Jesus walked no more openly among the Jews; but He went away from there to a country near the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and continued there with His disciples.  (55)  And the Jews' Passover was near. And many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover in order to purify themselves.  (56)  Then they sought Jesus, and spoke with one another as they stood in the temple, “What does it seem to you, that He will not at all come to the feast?”  (57)  And all the chief priests and the Pharisees had given commands that if anyone knew where He was, he should make it known so that they might seize Him.

·        God’s plan was coming together perfectly as the Jews sought to seize Jesus at the Passover.  That piece was now in place for the crucifixion of Christ.

 

John 12:1-3 Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was (who had died, whom He raised from the dead).  (2)  Then they made a supper there for Him. And Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those reclining with Him.  (3)  Then Mary took a pound of ointment of pure spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.

·        We again see the two sisters with Lazarus hosting the Lord and His disciples on the evening before the Triumphal Entry.  Notice Martha was serving and Mary performs a wonderful act of worship.  This fragrant ointment would have filled the house with a beautifully strong fragrance.  The amount she used was very expensive worth a year’s wages.  It was often used as at burials to mask the odor of decomposition.  It now was a foreshadowing of Jesus’ coming death.

 

John 12:4-9  Then said one of His disciples (Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, who was to betray Him)  (5)  “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”  (6)  He said this, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief and held the moneybag and carried the things put in.  (7)  Then Jesus said, “Let her alone. She has kept this for the day of My burial.  (8)  For you have the poor with you always; but you do not always have Me.” 

·        Judas was that guy who had to find something wrong with everything.  This was an awesome display of worship for the person Mary knew not only as Jesus, but as the Christ the Son of God.

·        Jesus is not teaching here that the poor should be ignored, but that in this special circumstance, the anointing of the Holy One before He was to give His life for all mankind He should come first.  Mark recorded in his gospel that Jesus said this about Mary’s act of worship.

Mark 14:9 ‘Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel shall be proclaimed in all the world, this also that she has done will be spoken of for a memorial of her.”

·        Mary willingly gave her most prized possession to worship the One who had brought her brother back from the grave.  Is there anything in our lives that we hold onto tighter than we do Jesus?   Jesus said this in Matthew’s gospel.

Matthew 16:26-27 For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?  (27)  For the Son of Man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He shall reward each one according to his works.

·        Mary’s works will be rewarded because her works revealed that her heart belonged to Jesus.  Judas on the other hand showed the opposite.  He was not concerned with the poor but wanted the money to be given to the ministry so he could steal it.

·        Is it possible to give too much?  Do a trial and try to out give God, you won’t win.

 

John 12:9-11 Then a great crowd of the Jews learned that He was there. And they did not come for Jesus' sake only, but also that they might see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead.  (10)  But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus to death also, (11)  because many of the Jews went away and believed on Jesus because of him.

·        Sin often becomes compounded as it goes deeper into someone’s life.  The Jews felt like they were justified in seeking to kill Jesus because of His blasphemy, but what had Lazarus done?  He simple stood as a living testimony that Jesus’ power was real.  Many who saw him believed in Jesus as the Christ.

 

What have we learned about Jesus today?

·        He has the power over death.

·        He loves us so much that when we hurt He shares our pain with us.

·        He inhabits and enjoys our acts of worship.

 

What can we apply to our lives?

·        Our faith has to be strengthened knowing that death is not undefeated.

·        Our heart needs to be encouraged in the fact that our Savior, Lord and Creator cares for us so deeply and intimately.

·        We need to give our best to God always.

 

Heavenly Father please grant that our heart is always set on worshipping you and thank You for loving us.