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BR RD - FILLED WITH THE FRAGRANCE - John Xii 13th Feb 2005 AM
BR RD - FILLED WITH THE FRAGRANCE - John Xii 13th Feb 2005 AM
One thought links both our sermons today – this morning the fragrance
that fills the house at Bethany, and this evening the smoke that fills the
temple in Isaiah 6. The one thought is of the presence and glory of God in
the majesty and wonder of His presence.
Tonight, God willing, we will come with Isaiah into the temple and share his
experience of being in the presence of the Lord. The “bottom line” will be
whether anyone will notice that we have been in the presence of God
today. Will anyone know that you have worshipped the King of Kings? Will
anyone know that you are the better for time spent in His presence and in
His worship?1
a Greek a litra (probably about 0.5 litre)
a Greek three hundred denarii
1
I was much saddened last Sunday that the service finished on a note of discord
Bristol Road Baptist Church
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It has been observed before – and is worth repeating – that John’s short
description tells us how the characters acted:
ℵ Martha served
ℵ Lazarus was reclining at table with Him
ℵ Mary anointed Jesus
and
ℵ Judas criticised the wastefulness
I want to remind you of those people and the parts they played in this
short narrative, but I want to consider the motives some of them display.
In particular John tells us about Judas’ motive, and the words of Jesus tell
us about Mary’s motive.
If we are going to understand this story and its significance we have to set
the scene.
The clouds are gathering. The wonderful chapter eleven finishes with the
plotting of the Jewish religious leaders to kill Jesus.
45
Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen
what Jesus did, put their faith in him. 46 But some of them went to the
Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 Then the chief priests and
the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin.
“What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing
many miraculous signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will
believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our
placea and our nation.”
49
Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year,
spoke up, “You know nothing at all! 50 You do not realise that it is better for
you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”
51
He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied
that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, 52 and not only for that nation
but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and
make them one. 53 So from that day on they plotted to take his life.
John wants us to be in no doubt that God’s plan was being worked out –
and even the words of Caiaphas have their place as we are being led
inexorably to Calvary.
a Or temple
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15th August 2004 PM
Every time we meet in His honour we should experience by the Holy Spirit
the power of Jesus to change our lives too. If we go away from worship
without there being any change or even the consideration of change – then
we have not truly been with Him at all.
First let us look at the those who were there in honour of Jesus:
Martha Served
2
Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honour. Martha served,
I guess she was comfortable with that! (The Gk work is διηκονει !!)
She has only recently experienced the mountain top experience of hearing
Him say “I am the resurrection and the life” – of seeing Lazarus come forth.
This is not a lapse on her part – on the contrary she is doing what she does
best – but she is doing it IN JESUS’ HONOUR
We have heard from Luke that was an earlier occasion when she served
Him too – but that time she allowed the business to get in the way of the
blessing – and she has learned that it is important to listen and to sit at His
feet.
I am reminded of the young Samuel after that momentous night when God
spoke to him for the very first time and gave him a message to share with
Eli.
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15th August 2004 PM
1 Samuel 3 v 15 Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the
doors of the house of the Lord.
After the spiritual experience comes duty. After the vision – the need for
service.
MARTHA SERVED
10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others,
faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone
speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone
serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things
God may be praised through Jesus Christ.2
Martha did what she was good at – and she did it best when she did it as to
the Lord Jesus.
2
The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1984; Publsihed in electronic form by Logos Research Systems, 1996 (electronic
edition.) . Hodder & Stoughton: London
Bristol Road Baptist Church
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The part Lazarus plays at the dinner is simply that of a guest. He sits at
the table with Jesus. He is – just by being there – a reminder of the power
of Jesus.
Although John does not record any words of Lazarus I cannot but believe
he had to tell the story over and over again. Many came to Bethany just
to see Lazarus whom Jesus had raised.
I may not have the practical gifts of Martha – but I cannot escape the
obligation of living my whole life in the presence of Christ – and in honour
of Him.
Is there that about my everyday being that reminds folk of what God can
do?
Without the presence of Lazarus and the labours of Martha the feast would
have not been the same – BUT MARY FILLED THE HOUSE WITH
FRAGRANCE!
Jesus is not called upon to comment on the living brother or the serving
sister – but He is called upon to explain the MOTIVE of Mary’s
extravagance.
7
“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save
this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor
among you, but you will not always have me.”
I wonder if Mary had discussed it earlier with Martha or with Lazarus. It was
to be an expensive gesture!
There can be no doubt that it was done out of love and out of gratitude.
Mary, like her brother, says nothing that is recorded at the time – she
simply pours a half litre of perfume on Jesus and wipes His feet with her
hair. It is a moment of touching intimacy and devotion – and Jesus makes
it plain to them then and to us now, that this was done FOR HIS BURIAL.
How often have we heard it remarked that a grieving relative wishes they
had wasted what they had on their loved one before their death? Mary
knows what the dark clouds mean. She too has heard the rumours and
indeed the words of Jesus Himself that He is going up to Jerusalem where
He will be captured and killed. She has a flask of perfumed oil which she
will use – not in part but in whole – to demonstrate to Him publicly what He
means to her.
Bristol Road Baptist Church
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15th August 2004 PM
And, after His death – others will come to the tomb bearing perfumes and
spices to embalm His body – but they will wish that like Mary they had
done it whilst He was still with them.
ℵ Extravagant
ℵ Sincere
ℵ Focussed
You cannot set a price on devotion – but you can forget to show it.
You can recognise emotion and its sincerity – or you can condemn it
You have to accept that it was ALL FOR JESUS.
But Judas…objected
4
But 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.” He 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.
Not because he cared for the poor but because he was a thief.
This man criticised (and in the other gospels we find he is not alone!)
Where there are acts of extravagant devotion there will be voices raised in
self righteous criticism.
Oh, Judas, did He not mean anything more to you? Could you not
understand her generosity?
As we turn away from the events at Bethany we are struck by the TWO
CONTRASTS
of Mary’s devotion and Judas’ selfishness.
Mary’s act left lingering in the air the mark of costly devotion