John 12:1-8
GUESS WHO CAME TO DINNER?
LIFE OF CHRIST #45
One evening Calvin Coolidge was sitting at dinner when a fellow guest - well aware of his reputation for taciturnity - attempted to lure him into conversation. "I have made a bet, Mr. Coolidge," she began, "that I can get more than two words out of you." Calvin's reply? "You lose." http://www.anecdotage.com/browse.php?term=dinner%20parties
When Reddi-wip, whipped cream in an aerosol can, was marketed nationally in the mid-1950’s my Mom brought home a can. My Aunt Carrie was a guest at dinner that night. My Dad sliced slabs of ice cream for dessert, and Mom got out the Reddi-wip. My Aunt shook the can real well and sprayed it on her flat piece of ice-cream. I looked at the slab after she used the Reddi-wip and there was little to no whipped cream on the ice cream. It was all over my mother’s face. It had ricocheted off the ice cream and right at Mom. My poor Aunt didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Most of us have fun remembrances of dinner and dinner guests that we have enjoyed. One of the dinners that I wish that I could have attended took place after Jesus had left Jericho where he had healed Blind Bartimaeus and saved Zacchaeus, the tax collector. Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem for the last time, and stopped first in Bethany, about six miles away, to visit his dear friends, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. It was here that there was a memorable dinner party where a wonderful act of devotion took place.
There is much to learn from the people named by name in this story. Hopefully we can glean some lessons from those involved in this dinner party.
· THERE WAS MARTHA, WHO SERVED - SHE WAS FAITHFUL – Vs. 2
· THERE WAS LAZARUS, WHO SAT - HE HAD FELLOWSHIP - Vs. 2
· THERE WAS MARY WHO SHARED - SHE WAS FERVENT (IN HER DEVOTION) - Vs. 3
· THERE WAS JUDAS, WHO STOLE - HE WAS A FAKE - Vss. 4-6
· THERE WAS JESUS WHO SAVED - HE IS FANTASTIC! - Vss. 7-8
Vss. 1-2 – Many of the meals that Jesus attended were business dinners. He would have been ministering to someone with physical or spiritual needs, or he would have been sparring verbally with the Pharisees.
This meal seemed to be a celebration dinner at the house of another person Jesus must have healed, Simon the Leper. Jesus was the guest of honor, and it appeared to be celebration of the resurrection of Lazarus from the dead. It might have been kind of a “thank you” super.
I think that this dinner was a brief respite before the events of what we call “Holy Week”, the last week of Jesus’ life.
Jesus had a chance to unwind and enjoy fellowship with many people that he loved.
THERE WAS MARTHA WHO SERVED - SHE WAS FAITHFUL – Vs. 2
This is the same Martha who served a dinner back in Luke 10. It was not her home this time, but she still was involved in the making and serving of the meal. I imagine that she was in charge.
I said that this was the same Martha, but in a real sense it wasn’t.
Luke 10:38-42 - Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. [39] And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. [40] But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. [41] And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: [42] But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
The Martha in Luke 10 was frustrated and overwhelmed. Obviously this Martha was not.
The Martha in Luke 10 was upset with Mary and Jesus.
I believe this time Martha was allowing her love for Jesus to motivate her service, and may have even put her approval on the act of devotion that Mary was about to do.
Martha still served, but obviously Martha was serving with a different attitude. She was serving out of love for the Lord Jesus and appreciation for what Jesus had done to resurrect her brother from the dead.
She evidently had taken Jesus’ words of rebuke to heart, and had learned to “sit at Jesus feet and hear His word” before she got on her feet and served her master.
Martha is a great example of faithful service. And when Martha learned that devotion came first and service second, I believe she became a very effective servant.
Ephesians 2:10 - For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Romans 12:11 - Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
Galatians 5:13 - For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
· We serve when we practice hospitality towards each other.
· We serve when we help those with physical needs.
· We serve when we help those with spiritual needs.
· We serve when we teach others, share our faith with others, and invite others to come to church and Sunday School.
· We serve when we roll up our sleeves and work at whatever needs to be done.
We serve best when we serve out of love and devotion for the Lord Jesus. It does not matter what others say and think. We are doing it for Him because we love Him!
THERE WAS MARTHA, WHO SERVED - SHE WAS FAITHFUL – Vs. 2
· THERE WAS LAZARUS, WHO SAT - HE HAD FELLOWSHIP - Vs. 2
We serve best after we do what Lazarus did.
Lazarus was a guest at the meal. He was there to have fellowship with Jesus.
To have fellowship with Jesus is to spend time with Him.
That time is spent in worship, in His Word, and in prayer.
To have fellowship with Jesus is to abide in Him.
John 15:7 - If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
To have fellowship with Jesus is to accept His invitation for communion with Him.
Revelation 3:20 - Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
We live in a busy age.
Being busy is a curse when we are:
· too busy for church
· too busy for Sunday School
· too busy for Prayer Meeting
· too busy for getting together with other Christians
· too busy to pray
· too busy to read our Bibles
· too busy to meditate on God’s Word
All of the things I just mentioned are ways of ultimately fellowshipping with the Lord Jesus. When we don’t do these things, we will not be fellowshipping with Him.
And remember this: For Lazarus to have fellowship with Jesus he had to stop whatever else he was doing and sit in His presence.
Although we can fellowship with Jesus as we do other things, the best fellowship is when we set aside everything else to spend time with the Lord Jesus.
THERE WAS MARTHA, WHO SERVED - SHE WAS FAITHFUL – Vs. 2
THERE WAS LAZARUS, WHO SAT - HE HAD FELLOWSHIP - Vs. 2
· THERE WAS MARY WHO SHARED - SHE WAS FERVENT (IN HER DEVOTION) - Vs. 3
Vs. 3 – Mary had a very expensive container of perfume.
It was pure nard, perhaps imported from India.
Perhaps she had been saving it for her wedding day. Perhaps she went out and bought it for this occasion.
Comparing the Gospel accounts Mary poured this perfume on Jesus’ head and feet, and probably over His whole body.
Then she did something unimaginable for the culture of that day, she unloosed her hair in public and dried Jesus’ feet.
It was an active of supreme devotion.
This perfume was so expensive that Judas claimed that it was worth about 300 pence or 300 days wages for a common laborer. It took a year’s salary, so to speak, to buy this perfume.
Mary shared the best that she had with the Lord Jesus. She was passionate in her devotion to Him.
When we are passionate in our love for Christ nothing is too good for Him.
What is the best that you have?
· Is it intellect?
· Is it a Spiritual gift?
· Is it time?
· Is it money?
· Is it musical ability?
· Is it the ability to preach of teach?
· Is it the ability to share your faith?
· Whatever is the best that you have should be used in loving commitment to our Lord Jesus Christ.
Why did Mary do what she did?
Yes, because she loved Him. But Mary was also listening and Mary understood.
John 12:7 - Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.
Mark 14:8 - She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.
Jesus had been telling the disciples all along that He was going to Jerusalem to be crucified, to be buried and to rise again. The disciples were not getting it. They weren’t listening closely. But Mary was, and she understood.
It was customary to anoint a body for burial. But Mary understood that a crucified body might not get the traditional treatment from loved ones. So Mary expressed her love for Jesus while she could.
This is a great lesson for us.
Express your love for others while you can! Make sure others know how you feel while you have the opportunity to do so.
Most important of all is that you express your love for Jesus while you can!
Jesus Himself said in John 9:4 (NASB) – We must work the works of Him who sent me, as long as it is day; night is coming, when no man can work.
Please note that verse 3 says …and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
Mary gave her best to Jesus and it smelled wonderful all around her. And wherever Mary went in that house her hair, with which she dried the perfume, carried the sweet fragrance.
Whenever you sacrifice your best for the Lord Jesus Christ as Mary did, your life will smell good! It will have a sweet-smelling affect on everyone around you.
Let us learn from Mary who gave her best for Jesus.
THERE WAS MARTHA, WHO SERVED - SHE WAS FAITHFUL – Vs. 2
THERE WAS LAZARUS, WHO SAT - HE HAD FELLOWSHIP - Vs. 2
THERE WAS MARY WHO SHARED - SHE WAS FERVENT (IN HER DEVOTION) - Vs. 3
· THERE WAS JUDAS, WHO STOLE - HE WAS A FAKE - Vss. 4-6
You can count on this - when you give your best to the Lord Jesus, someone will not like it. Judas didn’t like what Mary did.
Vss. 4-5 – Evidently Judas started to criticize and he influenced the other disciples.
Matthew 26:8-9 - But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? [9] For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.
Vs. 6 – Judas sounded very pious. But Judas was a fake, a phony! He was the treasurer and he was a thief. He was a hypocrite. He didn’t care about the poor.
He cared about His own “bottom line” and wanted at least part of this money for himself.
God hates hypocrisy more than you do!
Job 27:8 - For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?
Romans 12:9 - Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
Jesus knew that Judas was not as pious as he sounded.
Jesus knew that Judas was a thief.
Jesus knew that Judas would betray Him.
Jesus knew that Judas was a hypocrite.
Jesus as God always knows when an individual is a hypocrite.
Jesus knows when we are pretending to be pious, devoted, or religious but we are anything but that!
Jesus knows a phony Christian when he sees one.
Jesus knows a hypocritical Christian when he sees Him!
Jesus knows a Judas when he sees one.
Romans 2:22 - Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
Make sure that you are not like Judas – a phony, a fake, a hypocrite!
THERE WAS MARTHA, WHO SERVED - SHE WAS FAITHFUL – Vs. 2
THERE WAS LAZARUS, WHO SAT - HE HAD FELLOWSHIP - Vs. 2
THERE WAS MARY WHO SHARED - SHE WAS FERVENT (IN HER DEVOTION) - Vs. 3
THERE WAS JUDAS, WHO STOLE - HE WAS A FAKE - Vss. 4-6
· THERE WAS JESUS WHO SAVED - HE IS FANTASTIC! - Vss. 7-8
Jesus was the guest of honor at this dinner.
Jesus was also in charge at this dinner.
Jesus silenced the criticisms of Mary.
Mary understood. Mary knew that Jesus was going to die and that there would always be poor people to help.
But Mary knew that Jesus’ time was limited.
Mary knew what Jesus was about to do.
She was to be honored, not criticized.
Matthew 26:12-13 - For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. [13] Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.
I believe Mary understood something else.
She understood that Jesus was offering a sacrificial death for the sins of the world. She had been listening.
Mary understood that Jesus is fantastic!
His burial would follow His fantastic payment for our sins.
His death, His being lifted up on the cross opened the door for all to have forgiveness and eternal life.
John 3:14-15 - And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: [15] That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 - For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; [4] And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Today, Jesus who died for your sins will forgive you and wash away your sins if you but put your trust in Him.
So here we have it. There are lessons from five people who came to dinner. Will you apply their lessons to your life?
· THERE WAS MARTHA, WHO SERVED - SHE WAS FAITHFUL – Vs. 2
· THERE WAS LAZARUS, WHO SAT - HE HAD FELLOWSHIP - Vs. 2
· THERE WAS MARY WHO SHARED - SHE WAS FERVENT (IN HER DEVOTION) - Vs. 3
· THERE WAS JUDAS, WHO STOLE - HE WAS A FAKE - Vss. 4-6
· THERE WAS JESUS WHO SAVED - HE IS FANTASTIC! - Vss. 7-8