Fragrant Offering
LENT: A Journey to the Cross Week 5 • Sermon • Submitted
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Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead. A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with him. Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.
But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.
Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”
When all the people heard of Jesus’ arrival, they flocked to see him and also to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead. Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too,
Read John 12:1-10
Does the fragrance of your love of/for Jesus fill the room?
Who is present?
Why is it important to note that Lazarus is present and eating at the table?
He is actually alive and well
This ties back to the last scene where Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. It also ties to the plot to kill Jesus after he raised Lazarus - and now the plot thickens as the evidence of Lazarus being alive has drawn more people to believe in Jesus. So, now the religious elite want not only to kill Jesus, but to kill the prime evidence of Jesus’ power - Lazarus.
What is happening?
What is Martha doing?
She is serving
What might be the significance of what Martha is doing?
What is Mary doing?
She is sitting at Jesus’ feet. She does annoint his feet too (that is the main problem/crisis in the story).
What might be the significance of what Mary is doing?
Both these responses are valid responses to Jesus! Both responses affect others in the rooom!!
Have you thought about the different ways we were made and the different ways we can express love of/for Christ?
Martha reminds me of my mother...
This is a response that has been seen before...
See also Luke 10:38-42
As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”
But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Like most siblings, Martha and Mary cannot agree on what is the most important expression of love , devotion, and worship. BUT, Jesus here does not chastise any of the ladies for their expression - as long as it is genuine!
Back to John 12
Jesus has resurrected Lazarus and now Jesus is in the home of Lazarus again. In response to everyone being there, Martha does what she does best - she serves!
Mary, on the other hand, also does what she does best - sit at the feet of Jesus and learn.
Both responses have an affect on others in the room!
Martha’s serving allows others to eat
Mary’s sitting at the feet of Jesus and then annointing Him also has an affect on those in the room…
What does Mary do? How does she annoint Jesus? With what?
She uses nard based perfume. This was expensive and problably was in the family for years and used SPARINGLY for special occasions.
Mary pours the ENTIRE contents onto Jesus!
Jesus interprets this as an act of devotion, honor, respect, and He ties this act into his coming burial.
Others would view this as wasteful, reckless, and lacking forthought...
But, how do they know she did what she did?
Well, it was probably done in front of others - true.
But, the fragrance of the offering filled the room. Everyone around was affected by this act of devotion - whether they wanted to be or not…! There presence in the vicinity included them in BOTH Martha’s and Mary’s consequences of their devotion to Christ!
So, badk to the question I asked at the beginning.
Does the fragrance of your love for Jesus fill the room you are in?
Does your love for Jesus change the world around you?
Does your act(s) of devotion not only show your love for Jesus, but CHANGE the room you are in? Martha changed it by serving. Mary changed it by a lavish offering. There is NO wrong way, so long as it is sincere.
So, does your love for Christ change those around you?
Does the evidence of your love fro Christ cause others to think you are irrational, crazy, reckless?
Now, we recognize we do not do things to PURPOSEFULLY draw attention to us. But, when we show sincere devotion to Christ the world will take notice. When they do , they might not think we are altogether there… they might think we are a few fries short of a happy meal if you know what I mean…
BUT, our sincere devotion to Christ SHOULD change the room. It SHOULD affect the world around us.
Does it?
EXAMPLES...
Nancy Miller
Ray Miller
Sandy Krantz
Phyllis Dresen
Carol Thune
Think of examples of people you know who their love for Jesus affects the world
How can you model those examples?