Working, Worshipping & Witnessing
John 11:45-12:11
45 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.”
The Sanhedrin feared that this type of escalating messianic expectation.. would start a movement against Roman occupation that would cause the Romans to come and take away their positions, and standing as a 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.
2 Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God
53 Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death.
This section of John makes me think of Luke 16
Luke 16:28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.
The rich man in hades argued, 30 if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.
54 Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there remained with His disciples. 55 And the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went from the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves.
This is the third Passover mentioned in Johns gospel (John 2, 6). It’s on this Passover that Jesus would die as
1 Corinthians 5:7 Our Passover lamb sacrificed for us!
56 Then they sought Jesus, and spoke among themselves as they stood in the temple, “What do you think – that He will not come to the feast?” 57 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a command, that if anyone knew where He was, he should report it, that they might seize Him.
12:1 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.
Matthews gospel tells us this supper was at Simon the lepers house. ( Ex leper- who Jesus healed)
Simon, Lazarus and the Twelve ( At least 17 present )
This supper was to honor Jesus! How he had changed there lives! ( Simon and Lazarus sharing)
Simon hosted this dinner at his house
It’s so natural when you’ve opened up your heart to the Lord…to then open up your home for the Lord. HC
Bradley’s / HC vision
Matthew– ▪️Heart ▪️Home ▪️ Hand
2 There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him.
Martha served
Of course she did!
Earlier- Martha was corrected by Jesus
Luke 10:38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” 41 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.
Martha’s heart to SERVE is central to the message of Jesus.
John 13:15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
Matthew 23:11 But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.
Romans 12:6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Ephesians 4:12 The pastor-teacher… to prepare God’s people for works of service
Nehemiah 4:6 … the people had a mind to work.
A time to rest and heal….
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.
Now ..No Mary had been helping Martha in the work it took to serve the supper.
John 12:2 There they made Him a supper…
Next… we read in verse 3 of… Mary Worshipping.
Mary has no doubt been influenced by an act of worship that took place earlier in Jesus ministry.
Luke 7:36 Then one of the Pharisees (Simon) asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat.
37 And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, 38 and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”
40 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” So he said, “Teacher, say it.41 “There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” 44 Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. 45 You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. 46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. 47 Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” 48 Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 50 Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
John 12:3 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.
- Very Costly (300 denarii… An entire years wage)
- Sacrificial (Mary gave that which was valuable to her.)
- Lavish (Criticized for it / by leaders in her life)
- Public (Psalm 40)
- Personal
- Bowing at the feet of Jesus
- Giving glory to Jesus
- Unembarrassed to show her affection & love
- Far-Reaching
Breaking (Mark 14- Mary broke alabaster flask)
The house was filled with the fragrance of Mary’s worship!
The Church has been filled with the fragrance of Mary’s worship for 2000 years!
Mary’s worship in a home in little Bethany is still making ripples today!
Matthew 26:13 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.
Mary’s heart to WORSHIP Jesus is central to Scripture.
4 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.
- Until the very end… Judas looked like a true follower!
- Until the very end… Judas sounded like a true follower speaking up for the poor!
- Until the very end… Jesus reached out the hand of friendship to Judas.
Mary and Judas’ life stand in stark contrast!
Judas- was a materialistic, greedy, thief! He stole from & betrayed Jesus with a kiss, rejecting Jesus friendship which led to suicide! Judas’ life was a waisted his life!
Mary- was a friend, generous giver and proven true follower of Jesus! Mary gave lavishly, worshipping at the feet of Jesus! Jesus is still using Mary’s life today!
7 But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. (Q. So if she kept this burial … why now?)
Whenever we see Mary in the Scriptures we find her at the feet of Jesus!
Luke 10: 39 Mary, sat at Jesus’ feet & heard His word.
John 11:32 Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet
John 12:3 Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair.
Interesting… having spent time at the feet of Jesus … Mary understood what Jesus taught … (what others didn’t)
Mark 10:33 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; 34 and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”
7 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.”
It was right for Mary to extravagantly worship Jesus like this…in His incarnation. This should be our response too!
9 Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead.
10 But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.
There is an old adage that says There are none so blind as those who will not see.
The Jewish leaders were not willing to believe in Jesus as the Messiah even though Lazarus had been raised from the dead.
If you will not except the evidence, you must try to get rid of it!
They excommunicated the healed blind man out of their synagogue so he couldn’t testify each Sabbath. (John 9)
And now they’re wanting to murder Lazarus because his life was pointing many of the Jews to Jesus the Messiah.
Jesus taught… for a lot of people the problem is not a problem of EVIDENCE but it’s a problem of the will!
Matthew 23:37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets & stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing