The transcript of the service can be read below
John 12:1-11
1Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honour. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with Him.3 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.
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.”6 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.
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.”
9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of Him but also to see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead.10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well,11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in Him.
Rev. 2:7 “Whoever has ears let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches.”
John 12:1-11 LISTEN TO
JESUS DEFEND
SPRINGFORD BAPTIST CHURCH: March 21, 2021.
Think about how carefully we choose a gift for someone we love a great deal. We want that gift to convey how much that person means to us. Often significant thought is put into the gift and into what the reaction of the person receiving the gift will be when it is given.
If you have put a lot of thought and care into a gift and the person receiving the gift does not recognize the thought and care, and appreciate it, that would be both disappointing and hurtful.
One of my favourite things when gifts are given is seeing the delight on someone’s face with what has been received.
Here, in this account from Scripture in John 12:1-11, Jesus is attending a special dinner given in His honour (vs. 2a). It is an occasion when an extremely extravagant gift is given to Jesus.
While those gathered and reclining over dinner are being served by Martha, (vs. 2b), Mary enters the room. She has with her a jar of very expensive perfume (pure nard).
Now usually, if you have an expensive fragrance you would use it very sparingly. You would want it to last since it cost so much.
But watch what Mary does. Seemingly, without hesitation, she goes and pours this perfume over Jesus’ feet. Then she proceeds to wipe His feet with her hair (vs. 3).
What is going on here? If we were to see something like this when we were at someone’s home for dinner, what would we think?
The whole house is filled
with the beautiful fragrance of the perfume (vs.
4). This extravagant gift cannot go
unnoticed. And it does not go unnoticed by Jesus.
It does not go
unnoticed by one of Jesus’ disciples either. We are told that Judas
Iscariot is immediately critical of what Mary has done, of the
extravagant gift she has given. He objects, “Why
wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was
worth a year’s wages”? (vs. 5)
We are given accurate insight into the true motivations of Judas, when we are told that he did not say this because he cared about the poor. He said this because he was in the habit of helping himself and stealing from the money bag which he had responsibility to keep. (vs.6)
Jesus, God’s Son, who knows every heart, knows both the hearts of Judas and of Mary.
Listen to Jesus speak words to defend Mary, “Leave her alone. It was intended that she should save the perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” (vss. 7,8)
Jesus brings honour to Mary’s extravagant gift and defends her against the criticism of Judas.
When Jesus speaks these words and refers to the “day of His burial”, He is anticipating the cross. Remember we are continuing to accompany Jesus on His way to the cross. As we listen carefully, we are learning from Jesus on His persistent journey to the cross.
Jesus is preparing to give His own extravagant gift, the gift of Himself on the cross for us.
There will be those who will not understand Jesus’ extravagant gift either. There will be those who will criticize and insist that there must be some other way, some better way.
But Jesus is absolutely clear that this is the gift He has come to give the world and He will not turn back from it.
Don’t you wonder how Mary was feeling through this whole exchange?
It is obvious that she loves Jesus a great deal. She has sat at His feet and listened so attentively to what He has said. She has wanted to find a way to express her deep love for Jesus and then it has come to her. She could give Him the most costly thing she owns, this jar of expensive perfume. She will not save it to be used a little at a time or for her own special occasion. She will give it to Jesus.
She may not have expected the criticism that was raised against her action. In those moments perhaps she felt embarrassed and uncertain about her gift, but only for moments because when Jesus speaks to defend her, she knows that He understands completely why she has done what she has. Jesus receives her extravagant gift as a sincere expression of her love and devotion to Him.
What is the most extravagant gift that we could give to Jesus? We might look around and think, “I don’t have much of value to give.” Know that what Jesus wants most is you and me. We can choose to give all of ourselves to Jesus, holding nothing back.
It is likely that our decisions to give ourselves to Jesus and to live wholeheartedly for Jesus will be met by criticism. There are always people who have opinions about what other people should do. What matters most is not what other people think, but what Jesus thinks.
It is refreshingly liberating to be set free from concern about what other people might say and to care deeply about listening for what Jesus will say.
When we choose to completely surrender the extravagant gift of ourselves to Jesus, Jesus speaks in our defense. He knows if we give ourselves out of our committed love for Him and He will understand our motivation.
What will it mean for us to surrender all to Jesus and to keep on surrendering all to Jesus.? We can determine to hold nothing back. We can decide to bring the exquisite and extravagant gift of ourselves to our Lord and Saviour. We can give all to Jesus who has given all of Himself for us. Will you surrender all to Jesus?