OPPORTUNITY EMBRACED OR SQUANDERED (JN 12:1-8)

SERIES: ONE SOLITARY LIFE, PART 84

GCEFC: MAY 24, 2009

INTRODUCTION

1. At this point in the Gospel of John, we’ve reached the end of Jesus’ public ministry. Which seems strange considering we’re only in chapter 12 of a 21 chapter book.

2. But this is because nearly half of the Gospel of John is devoted to the final week of Jesus’ life. Much more than any of the other 3 gospel accounts.

3. It’s now the day before Palm Sunday—only a week before Jesus goes to the Cross. It was on this Saturday, just days before Passover, that a dinner in his honor is given in Bethany.

4. It might appear that the dinner was held at the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. But we know from Matthew/Mark that it was hosted by a man known as Simon the Leper.

5. Which doesn’t sound too appetizing, does it? But very likely Simon had been healed by Jesus of his leprosy. They wouldn’t have been having dinner at his home if he still had it.

6. But even though Simon hosted the dinner, Martha was the chief server of the meal. Which comes as no surprise to anyone. Joining Martha at the house were:

a. Simon, the host

b. Mary, and Martha’s brother Lazarus.

c. The 12 disciples

d. And Jesus was the guest of honor.

7. So why was Jesus the guest of honor? Well he had done this thing recently for Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha. He had raised him from the dead.

8. Which of course made them very grateful. So they put on this dinner in Jesus’ honor, which turned out to be only a matter of days before his death.

A. THE MAIN DINNER EVENT

1. Now we can assume that the dinner proceeded as dinners typically do. The meal was prepared, and then it was served by those who had prepared it. They ate the food, talked, laughed, and fellowshipped together.

2. But at one point in the meal, a very strange thing happened that shocked everyone there. V3: Then 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.

3. This act by Mary was strange in several ways.

a. First of all, it was unusual in that culture for a woman to even be present during a dinner with men. It was not typical. Women either served or they were out of sight.

b. Second, though foot anointing was done, it was not usually during a meal. It was usually done at the door when guests arrived with dirty feet from dusty roads.

c. Third, the foot washing or anointing was considered menial work and done by one of the servants—not by a woman who was a dear friend of the guest of honor.

d. Fourth, Mary let her hair down to wipe the perfume from Jesus’ feet. Women did not let their hair down in that society. It was considered indecent if not immoral.

e. And fifth, Mary didn’t use water or oil to anoint Jesus—she used outrageously expensive and rare perfume. The text says that the perfume was pure nard.

f. Nard was a fragrant oil taken from a plant native to the Himalayas of northern India. Hard to come by and extremely expensive.

g. Judas calculated the cost and he was probably right-on with his estimate. It was the equivalent of 300 denarii, a year’s wages for a minimum wage day laborer.

h. So today’s minimum wage of $6.55 @ 300 days of 8 hour days would be $15,720 for the bottle of perfume. And it was in an alabaster container, which Matthew tells us Mary broke to open.

i. She didn’t just open the jar, she lopped off the neck so all of the perfume would be used up this one time!

B. THE RESPONSE TO MARY

1. V4 begins the response of those gathered to what Mary was doing: But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, ‘Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.’

2. We know from the other gospel accounts that Judas wasn’t the only indignant one. So were the other disciples. They all felt this was an extravagant and irresponsible waste.

3. But notice what they don’t say, but yet clearly imply. They are really saying: Why was this perfume wasted…on Jesus?

4. Why wasn’t it used for something worthwhile and practical, like assisting the poor? Think how much could be done with $15,720 toward the poor and needy.

5. It seemed like a total no-brainer to the disciples. Of course, we know Judas’ motivation was self-interest. He was in charge of the money bag. From which came their living expenses and assistance to others.

6. Judas thought the perfume should be sold and the money taken and added to the money bag. From which he could remove what he wanted for himself.

7. The other disciples weren’t thieves. They just thought the money could be better spent on something other than selfless and generous and devoted worship of Jesus.

C. THE RESPONSE OF JESUS

1. But we should look at V7 to see how Jesus assessed the situation: His response? Leave her alone. Get off Mary’s case.

2. Then he explains what Mary had done. He tells why it’s important and valid. And then he provides some much needed perspective.

3. He says that what Mary had done was anoint him for his burial. His death would be coming soon. And Mary had provided a service to him that was honoring and worshipful.

4. Mary just wanted to express her love for Jesus and her gratefulness for what he had done for her and for her brother. She wasn’t concerned about the cost of the offering. She just wanted to honor him and this was how she chose to do it.

5. Mary wasn’t concerned about what others might think of her. Or how inappropriate it might seem. Her desire was to worship—and that’s what mattered.

6. Then Jesus reminds the group that they will always have the poor with them. Which is not to say that ministering to those in need is not a valid use of resources.

7. He’s saying that he won’t be around much longer, and the opportunity to serve him in this way will be gone forever.

8. What we see here are 2 opportunities. One for Mary and one for Judas and the disciples. Mary chose the opportunity to worship and serve her Lord.

9. Judas and the other disciples squandered the opportunity to serve. They were too busy criticizing Mary to recognize the opportunity at hand.

10. We can summarize the lesson in a few statements:

a. Opportunities to serve Jesus abound. We need to look for them.

b. Sometimes our ministry for Jesus will be misunderstood by others. We do it anyway.

c. Serving the Lord can be costly. But we pay the cost.

d. We won’t always have opportunity to serve Jesus on earth. Not because HE’S LEAVING, but because WE ARE.

e. Sometimes the greatest thing we do is worship God. Nothing practical or useful.

f. Sometimes we serve best by simply worshipping.

11. Which is a good reminder as we come to the Lord’s Table.