John 12:1-11
Notes
Transcript
Here is the introduction to the sermon:
And KNOW THE WORD!
Get you a:
1689 London Baptist Confession
Westminster Shorter Catechism…SOMETHING!
Read that with your kids ...
Dads, study your Bibles and talk to your kids about God’s Word
I have had a few conversations, long conversations, with two different people this week. Actually more…but two I want to tell you about...
One of them comes from a church that I know very well and the other comes from a church in a town on the other side of the river. Now, I’m not going to tell you what river…I don’t want to give away too much detail.
But these two people have found themselves in some very unorthodox heretical teachings.
Im talking SERIOUS ERROR…bad stuff!
A lot of times people find themselves in these places when their pastors, teachers, and elders are not willing to study and answer some hard questions sometimes.
Sometimes it is because leaders are scared to tell them the truth
Sometimes it is because church leaders are scared to say, “man, I don’t know but I’ll study it out and get back with you”.
We have to be a church where people can ask hard questions and we have to be a church where we will take the time to try and answer their questions.
We have to be a church that shows people what the Bible teaches and what the historical church has taught.
I don’t believe that everyone will like our answers (TRUST ME…I KNOW) but we have to be willing to take the time and teach…not tell people what to believe, but teach. That is what it means to “make disciples”.
When church leaders, pastors, elders, are not willing to take the time there is no telling where that person will go to find something else they chew on.
One of the people I talked to now believes in Universalism, where everyone goes to Heaven.
To this one I show him all the verses and words of Christ about Hell but “no”… “it doesn’t mean that”
The other I talked to believes that we have to keep all of the laws of God, just like the Judaizers taught against Paul.
This guy and this group really believe you have to keep the dietary laws of the Old Testament, all of the Feasts and Festivals, the Old Testament Sabbath law
s, etc.
This one, I read Colossians 2:13-17 and its, “no”… “it doesn’t really mean that”
And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.
and it goes on to say in verses 20-23....
If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.
Here is my point… If we do not know Scripture, if YOU do not know (better yet, UNDERSTAND) Scripture and Orthodoxy…someone can confuse you and lead you into another pasture where you are eating poisonous mushrooms.
Listen to me… If you are visiting here, we are so glad you are here. But listen to what I am about to tell you…you can live on dessert. You will die! You need some meat and potatoes!
If you are going to a church that just does Topical Sermons every Sunday…FIND YOU A CHURCH THAT ACTUALLY PREACHES GOD’S WORD!
Find a church that preaches the Bible VERSE BY VERSE…EXPOSITORY PREACHING and LEARN GOD’S WORD!
You might not like me or that dude sitting next to you…fine, there are some good churches around here that Preach the Word. Find one, ask me and I’ll tell you where they are…go there. Raise your family, your kids, in a church that will teach them God’s Word, that will teach them Doctrine and Theology.
If you don’t teach them Theology…as soon as you give them to the University…their PHILOSOPHY will turn them into a completely different person.
Im done:
Now, John 12:1-11…
Hear God’s Word this morning:
Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”
When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.
Prayer:
To catch us up real quick, Jesus had just raised Lazarus from the dead and the Pharisees knew He had to be stopped. Caiaphas, the High Priest (a Sadducee) convinced them all that it would be better for one man to die for the people, instead of the whole nation dying. (11:50)
They made plans to kill him (11:53)
Jesus left and went to a town called Ephraim and stayed there with his disciples (11:54).
Then we read the last verse of chapter 11 that leads us into chapter 12.
Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should let them know, so that they might arrest him.
Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table.
“OBEY YOUR LEADERS!”… “they say”
“SUBMIT TO AUTHORITY”… “they say”
If they are Godly, yes
If they are not, ABSOLUTELY NOT!
Caiaphas, the High Priest, gave them this plan (which we know it was actually the plan of God <vs. 51-52>) to put Christ, the Son of God, to death.
The plan begins, by having the other leaders give “orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should let them know, so they might arrest him”.
Caiaphas: The HIGH Priest
He was the “representative for the nation of Israel.
He had the responsibility to direct the hearts of the people toward God and His Word.
The were looked up to for their “love” and “loyalty” to Yahweh and for their zeal to observe all of God’s laws.
Just because someone “SEEMS” to be a Godly person and he thinks he has some POSITION OF AUTHORITY DOES NOT mean you have obey whatever they tell you.
If what they tell you is not Godly...
If what they tell you is Un-Scriptural...
If how they TREAT you is not of God...
If what they ASK OF YOU is not of God...
Don’t obey them!
Reject them!
They are playing you!
But, we have to watch our own selves because our own hearts are deceitful…we can’t be legalistic about this…
The heart is deceitful above all things,
and desperately sick;
who can understand it?
Pastors, leaders, elders, make mistakes and I pray you give us grace and mercy when we do.
But there are many False Teachers out there. There always have been and there will continue to be.
It is up to you to know The Word of God to see if what they are telling you is actually God’s Word.
Otherwise, you could end up like so many today and like those in Corinth
Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast. For you gladly bear with fools, being wise yourselves! For you bear it if someone makes slaves of you, or devours you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or strikes you in the face.
these false teachers that Paul was up against were:
they hold them in bondage, enslave them
they take advantage of them, exploit them financially, etc.
they walk around like they are so much better than everyone else and expect you to honor them, submit to them, and obey them…without question.
BACK TO JOHN 12
Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should let them know, so that they might arrest him.
Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table.
Did Mary, Marth, Lazarus obey these Religious Leaders?
No!
Did Simon the leper obey them?
NO!
Who is Simon the Leper?
That’s the guy’s house they are eating at!
Matthew 26:6; Mark 14:3.
What did they do instead?
They threw a party…a BIG DINNER!
Jesus, Lazarus, Mary, Martha, the 12 disciples…and a lot more (read Acts 1 real slow sometime and you will see what I am saying)
There were a lot of cars in the yard is all I’m sayin’
And I HAVE TO BELIEVE that it was The Ladies who put this party together…BOLD MOVE!
BUT NOTICE MARTHA!
In Luke 10: 38-42 we see her serving but with a bit of an attitude.
she was “distracted with much serving” it says...
she comes to Jesus complaining that Mary is not helping her
Mary is just sitting at the feet of Jesus listening to Him.
And if she is anything like me or you, which I would bet she is even better…she might not have taken what Jesus said to her so well…but again, I bet she took it better than I would have:
But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
But this time, THIS TIME, when Jesus is there her attitude is different.
She is still serving because that is just who she is....BUT BECAUSE of what Christ does when we focus on Him and His LOVE…NOW, she SERVES WITH JOY.
Look at John 12:3
Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
There is so much to say in just this one verse:
“a pound of expensive ointment” - this was equivalent of a years wages
Many think that Mary, Martha, and Lazarus were pretty wealthy and this is why she had such an expensive perfume and why so many people came from Jerusalem to mourn with her and Martha.
I don’t know if she was rich…who really knows.
But lets say she was...
she could have sold the perfume and bought her something shiny and new...
but she gave it to the Lord.
Isn’t that something we can all learn from Mary
Did you know, statistically speaking, the more money people have the less they give
The ones who do not have as much are the ones who actually give more.
So, lets assume Mary, Martha, and Lazarus was poor:
She loved Christ so much that she did not think of herself and her wants but wanted to HONOR HIM...
and she gave Him her best!
What is Christ worth to you and me?
are there some possessions that we have that we are not willing to give to Him?
Am I willing to give Him my time?
Am I willing to give Him my talents and gifts?
Am I willing to give him my money so His Kingdom can be advanced? (2 Corinthians 9-10).
Let us all really be honest with ourselves and see HOW much we actually VALUE Jesus Christ and what He has done for us.
Look at verse 3 again:
Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
Did you know that if a woman let her hair down in this culture she could be divorced by her husband and if she were single, she could be stoned.
“Letting your hair down” in this culture isn’t like ours.
We let our hair down to just relax
They let their hair down as a sign of intimacy.
So, not only is she defying her Religious Leaders by not turning Him in (possibly be accused as being an accomplice)…she breaks her cultural system as well.
This girl wasn’t going to let nothing stop her from showing her love and devotion to Christ
No telling how many times she sat at His feet and heard Him teach the things of God
She loved him and was willing to risk it all...
Her money
Her reputation...
Are we willing to do the same?
Are you willing to show all those around you at WORK, AT SCHOOL, wherever....are you willing to let it be known your LOVE AND DEVOTION for Jesus Christ?
“THE HOUSE WAS FILLED WITH THE FRAGRANCE OF THE PERFUME”
When we look to Christ and fix our eyes on him…
everybody in the house is blessed
all those around you are blessed
And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.
But...
Let me warn you…WHEN you begin to leverage everything for Christ and His Kingdom…you will find opposition.
When you make a move like Mary…you will find opposition...
Look at the next few verses:
But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.
This guy had been walking with Jesus, seeing Him perform miracle after miracle…and it did nothing to him.
See, we think that “If I was with Jesus watching Him do all of that I would have believed”…nope!
Never forget…miracles do not change a mans heart…God changes peoples heart.
IF your heart loves the Lord Jesus, thank Him that He has rescued you and shined the light of the knowledge of Christ in your heart. (2Co. 4:6)
Now, you would “think” he would have a heart for the Lord, right?
But he didn’t truly care about Christ and His cause.
He cared about money and his own cause.
But, if you’re going to play the “I love Jesus” game, people like Judas have to say the right things. They have to speak the lingo and talk about their concern for the poor.
Is it not obvious that those who actually DO care for the poor are
those who are the most generous with their finances when it
comes to the cause of Christ?
The ones who actually DO want to see the advancement of
Christ’s Kingdom are the ones who give what they can to the
cause.
AW PINK SAYS:
WE MUST NOT EXPECT PROFESSORS TO DO ANYTHING FOR CHRIST
WHEN THEY HAVE NO SENSE OF INDEBTEDNESS TO CHRIST.
Look at vs. 7
Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial.
Here is Christ taking up for his little sheep against the wolf.
He knows what Judas is up to...
He knows the heart and motives of Mary…and He knows your heart and mine.
You will never go wrong being like Mary
giving what you have to Christ.
Showing, not saying, but showing your love for Him and being ALL IN.
You will never go right being like Judas
playing church
just being a professor of Christ
spiritualizing and justifying our actions
Ya’ll, there is a BUNCH OF CHURCH POLITICS GOING ON HERE…with the Jews, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, Judas, the hypocrite, who acts like he is a follower and cares about the poor but doesn’t...
And then Christ gives us a bigger picture of the political landscape in the next verse.
This is the death nail to Critical Race Theory in our culture today
This is the death nail to the Universities that are trying to brainwash our kids with Socialism.
For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”
First point is that caring for the poor or ANYTHING ELSE that is worth caring about SHOULD NEVER COME BEFORE CARING FOR CHRIST AND WORSHIPPING CHIRST.
SOCIALISM....it doesn’t work. It never has and never will.
The Poor is not the problem.
The Rich is not the problem.
Sin is our problem.
God gives us many windows to our soul if we take the time to really look honestly and deeply at ourselves.
See, a poor man can be just as greedy as a rich man…its just that he doesn’t have much money. But he is greedy with the littlet he has.
The man that has no powerful position can still crave power.
It is the soul that craves these things.
the poor shows us if we have compassion for our neighbor and the poor will always be here...
The question is what is tugging at your soul...
the poor
your identity, what people think of you
your own selfish desires
or Christ?
For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”
“but you do not always have me”
Mary took the opportunity she had when she had it to show her love for Christ.
She gave all she had...
If she wouldn’t have done it then she would have missed her greatest opportunity.
Guess what? Don’t miss your opportunity to come to Christ…give Him all you have!
Leverage what you can to the advancement of His Kingdom…you will not regret it but you will face opposition.
But it will be worth it!
When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.
Word spreads fast when you throw a dinner party for the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords…and the dead guy who was raised back to life just a few days ago.
Jesus always did draw a crowd and He still does when His people truly gather to worship Him with everything they’ve got!
See, these people wanted to see Lazarus just as bad as they wanted to see Jesus.
There is nothing new under the sun:
When Christ calls you out by name in your spiritually dead state...
When He brings you to life and gives you a new heart...
When that really happens in your life people notice.
People notice that the old you has gone…and something is completely different about you
Its like you are a new creation
Its like you are a new person....
People notice and they want to see
So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.
And guess what?
There will always be opposition for those who love Christ and who have been made new by Him...
the “Chief Priests” made plans to put Lazarus to death too!!!
The High Priest Caiaphas’ plan was that ONE MAN HAD TO DIE for the sake of the people...
But He didn’t understand…Christ Kingdom is growing and it will not stop...
They realize it has grown a little so they now say TWO have to die.
These people have been trying to kill followers of Christ ever since…but they don’t realize that this is a Global Takeover!
Christ the King will inherit the nations (Psalm 2)
But…why, on this day, in verse 11 are they wanting to kill Lazarus?
Because the chief priests were Sadducees
they didn’t believe in a resurrection like the Pharisees.
they can’t have Lazarus walking around COMPLETELY DISPROVING their religious beliefs.
who would continue to look up to them and listen to them if there was Lazarus walking around?
they had to get rid of him to protect their religious positions.
And even more than that GOOD REASON…for the simple fact that “many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus” because of Lazarus.
Religious people have always hated Jesus and His gospel.
But listen to me:
People were not believing in Jesus because of something Lazarus DID FOR JESUS...
They are believing in Jesus because of what Jesus DID to Lazarus!
So..the takeaway…what do we do with all of this?
Ask yourself some questions....
I’ll ask myself some questions...
Do I realize how much Christ has done for me?
Are you convinced in my heart and mind that His Word is TRUE and I am who He says I am…a new creation…a child of God.
I am secure Him…do you believe that?
I have all I need in Him…do you REALLY think so?
He provides for me…do you TRUST HIM?
Have you really thought of the seriousness of it all?
I say “I am a follower of Christ” but am I doing what Christ tells me to do?
Or do you trust your own efforts, your own skills, your own money
The truth is that none of it is yours anyway
Am I REALLY WILLING TO LOSE EVERYTHING FOR THE SAKE OF CHRIST?
Am I REALLY WILLING to DIE TO MYSELF, pick up my CROSS, and follow Him?
Or am I still holding on tight to my expensive bottle of perfume?
Am I REALLY willing to break it open and pour it on Christ and have the aroma cover everything around me?
DISCIPLES MAKE OTHER DISCIPLES...
Disciples of Christ DESIRE TO SEE HIS KINGDOM GROW...
WILL IT BE SAID OF ME, “ON ACCOUNT OF HIM/HER MANY WER GOING AWAY BELIEVING IN JESUS”?
ADVERTISEMENT