November 10, 2024
Morning Service

The final miracle of raising Lazarus from the grave becomes a point of no return for Jesus much like His first miracle of turning water into wine was.  It was done openly and was witnessed by many bringing much attention to our Lord.  This is all according to perfect plan of God as pieces begin to fall in place as we will soon enter the last week of Jesus’ earthly ministry which we often refer to as “The Passion Week.”  These eye witnesses do what we would do; go and spread the news.  However, they share three separate reactions to what they saw happen.  These reactions will be the undertone for the Jesus’ “Triumphal Entry” into Jerusalem and reality is that the three are still prevalent today as well.  First we begin with the reaction of unbelief.

John 11:45-53 Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him.  (46)  But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did.  (47)  Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, "What shall we do? For this Man works many signs.  (48)  If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation."  (49)  And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing 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 should perish."  (51)  Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, (52) and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.  (53)  Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death.

            First we see than many believed, but some did not and went to the religious leaders and told them what had happened.  These leaders refuse to see Jesus in His true light as the Messiah, but look at Him as a threat to them and the entire nation of Israel.  Their fear was that Jesus’ followers would create enough of a stir that the Romans would step in and destroy their temple and their people.  God uses Caiaphas, the high priest, to prophecy of what is about to happen as he states “that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people and not the whole nation should perish.”  Caiaphas spoke this looking at their political point of view, but he unwittingly expresses the very intent of God’s sacrifice of His Son as the substitutionary atonement of all who believe.  The very Son of God gave His life so that all those who believe in Him would not die in their sins.

            It was from this point forward that “they plotted to put Him to death.”  Again, this reaction was necessary to God’s perfect plan.  These leaders are being used of God to fulfill His plan in this moment in time.  Their reaction to seeing or hearing of Lazarus being risen from the grave was one of unbelief, hate, and jealousy.  They were so filled with these worldly emotions that they were unable to see the awe in the wondrous event that had just occurred.  It did not line up with their agenda so they react in unbelief.  Now on to the reaction of faith.

 

John 12:1-3 Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead.  (2)  There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him.  (3)  Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.

            Of all those who witnessed the resurrection of Lazarus, Mary was one of the few that truly understood the significance of it.  She realized that without a single doubt in her heart that Jesus was indeed the long awaited Messiah and He was in here in her house.  She had to be so grateful for what He had done for her in raising her brother, but her reaction goes much deeper than just gratitude.  A “thank you” was not going to be enough in this case and God laid upon her heart to do something to show her love for Jesus.  To others this act of worship makes no sense, but she had to do something.  She truly believes who Jesus is and follows her heart and gives to Him her most prized possession in a very humble manner.  She wanted to offer something to display her love for Him because He deserved her best and she willingly and joyfully gave it to Him.

 

 

 

            The oil she poured out upon Him was worth 300 denarii, one year’s worth of wages.  Think about that in today’s world somewhere between 60-70 thousand dollars poured out all at once!  She then so humbly wiped the oil from His feet with her hair!  She not only was giving as a gift her most expensive material possession, but she was offering herself to Him as a “living sacrifice” to serve Him with everything she had and everything she was.  She reacted by faith.  Not everyone saw it that way however as we see the third reaction of self-centeredness or “what is in it for me?”

 

 John 12:4-7 But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, who would betray Him, said, (5)” Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?"  (6)  This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.  

            John gives us a glimpse into Judas’ heart here as he misses the spiritual beauty of this moment Mary plays out before them and openly criticizes her for not being practical and selling the oil to give to the poor.  John also reveals here that Judas was also stealing from the ministry making his criticism more personal as Mary was basically taking money out of his pocket.  Judas shows a very worldly view of her display of worship and simply states what would have made the most sense to him to do in the moment.  He never truly, fully surrenders his heart to Jesus and therefore his point of view comes from his own understanding and desires not having been “transformed” as Mary’s was.  An act of such sacrifice to him did not make sense from his perspective which was not spiritual, but worldly.  He reacted in selfishness, worldliness and self-centeredness and Jesus sets him straight very quickly:

 

 Joh 12:7-8 But Jesus said, "Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial.  (8)  For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always."

 

Mar 14:6-9 But Jesus said, "Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me.  (7)  For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always.  (8)  She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial.  (9)  Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her."  

            His words are true as here over 2000 years later, we are lifting Mary up for her beautiful, selfless, and humble act of worship she did before them all that day.  “She has done what she could” for Jesus in the moment obeying her heart and giving all that she had for Him.  It was given partly through gratitude for what He had done for her, partly through her love for Him, but also through her realization that the Son of God had come to her house and this moved her to this act of worship.  This type of heartfelt, true worship pleases God as we are moved by our faith into action.

            Now I want to turn the focus of these three reactions into a moment for us to look into our spiritual mirror asking “Where am I in all of this?”

 Am I like the Pharisees reacting in unbelief and rejecting Jesus despite all that I hear and see about Him?  If so, you choose not to engage at all with Him showing Him indifference or even disdain pushing yourself away from God rather than closer to Him.  We all know where that ends. 

  Am I like Judas acting in self-centeredness, coming to Jesus with the question “what is in it for me?” I will go through the motions come to church, sing with my lips not my heart, but only grab onto the parts of the message that speak of blessing for me.  Thinking that I can make God part of my life, but only when I need Him or it benefits me is some way.  If this is you, it is time to repent and get your heart right with God and quit “playing church.”  You have no idea what you are missing out on.

  Or am I like Mary this morning reacting in faith coming into His presence to worship Him with a sincere heart displaying gratitude, love, and humility fully realizing that I am in the presence of the One who gave His all for Me?  Do I have the willingness of Mary to be able to offer Jesus all that I have and all that I am?  Have I given myself to Him fully to be the “living sacrifice” He has called me to be yielding my will to His?   God called Mary and she “did what she could” and it became a lasting memorial to her.  He is calling you, how will you respond this morning with unbelief, self-centeredness, or by faith?  Look in your mirror and choose the path you want to take and do what God lays on your heart.

 

Heavenly Father, open the eyes of our hearts to see You with the loving eyes Mary saw you with. Instill within us the same desire to give all that we have and all that we are to You.