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      "A Funeral Pre-Arrangement"
      John 12:1-11
      Theme:       The level of our devotion demonstrates the level of our discernment.

        1. The Involvement in Worship – 12:1-3

          1. Worshipping God through Activity – vv. 1-2a

            1. Jesus leaves the area of the wilderness of Ephraim and joins a caravan coming up to Jerusalem – "Jesus, therefore, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany …"
            2. Instead of proceeding directly into Jerusalem, He stops two miles outside of Jerusalem at the town He had recently had to vacate due to the threats of the Jews – "… where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead."
            3. It is interesting that it had only been a couple of weeks (at the most) since Lazarus had been raised and they were interested in showing Christ great honor – "So they made Him a supper there …"
              1. This "supper" is literally a "banquet" and portrays that Jesus was a particular guest of honor.
              2. It is understood that this was not at the home of Lazarus, Mary & Martha – cp. Matthew 26:6
            4. This gesture of worship was all the more bold in light of the Sanhedrin’s charge that if anyone knew where Jesus was, they were to report it – cp. John 11:57
            5. Instead of shrinking back in fear, the servants of Christ were all the more intent on paying Him public homage – letting their affection for Him be seen in an honest and sincere expression of their love
            6. One of the most eloquent ways that love for Christ is able to be expressed is through "acts of service" – a particularly encouraging "dialect" of the love languages!
            7. Here we see one of the most eloquent "servants" busily occupied showing her adoration to Christ through serving – "… and Martha was serving." – cp. 1 Corinthians 15:58

          2. Worshipping God through Association – v. 2b

            1. Yet another way that people show their adoration to the Lord is through great devotional fellowship with Him – "… but Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him."
            2. This is a beautiful picture of someone who has been the recipient of the tremendous grace of God delighting in the presence of the Lord
            3. We know that there were at least 15 people at this meal – Jesus, the "Twelve," Simon the Leper (the host), and Lazarus.
            4. Special mention is made of Lazarus being present – a particularly poignant illustration of what is the goal of God’s grace in a sinner’s life – the ability to fellowship with Him – cp. Ephesians 2:5-6
            5. There was never so complete a joy as in this picture - the gracious Master and the grace-filled sinner sharing tremendous fellowship because of the operation of God’s glorious grace.
            6. Such it is as the sinner enjoys the presence of the One who is Himself Grace – an occasion that evokes the most intense and purest worship.

          3. Worshipping God through Attitudes – v. 3

            1. We’ve seen someone who worships through their activity on Christ’s behalf as well as through the association with the One who is so gracious; but, the final involvement surrounds a deed that portrays such a tremendous attitude toward the Savior.
            2. We are told that "Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus"
              1. This ointment was a very precious perfume that had been acquired at great cost – a year’s salary – cp. v. 5.
              2. We learn that it was hermetically sealed in an alabaster vial that had to be broken to release the oil - Mark 14:3
              3. She first anointed the head of the Lord – a sign of great respect and love – cp. Mark 14:3
              4. However, she wouldn’t stop there … treating this most expensive "pure nard" as though it were only common water she took the rest of the perfume and poured out on the feet of the Lord – an act of great devotion and worship.
            3. So much had been used that she had to "wipe His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume."
              1. Such a loss of "decorum" was disgraceful for a woman – to allow her hair to be let down in public.
              2. It is clear that by doing this she bears witness that no sacrifice is too costly for her, no service is too menial since she is giving all to Him.
            4. Thus, Mary demonstrates an attitude of tremendous devotion and sacrifice – withholding nothing dear to herself from use in the worship of the Son of God.

        2. The Incentive to Worship – 12:4-8

          1. A Faulty Call to Secular Priorities – vv. 4-6

            1. What is it that calls men to so demonstrate their devotion to the Lord Jesus – that they will by means of their activities, associations, and attitudes hold Christ as the most precious thing?
            2. We are first introduced to something tragic that serves as a contrast, enabling us to appreciate the proper motivation more clearly.
            3. As Mary finishes drying the feet of Christ with her hair, "Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, who was intending to betray Him, said, ‘Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor people’?"
            4. Judas had been with the Lord throughout His ministry and had heard all the same teaching and preaching as Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.
            5. However, he had preserved strong secular priorities in the midst of the most masterful teaching ever that had ever, or would ever, occur.
            6. Yet, he was offended that such great "waste" had occurred in the worship of the Lord when there were better uses of such a tremendous amount of money
            7. We are informed that Judas could have cared less about the plight of the poor – "Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it."
            8. However, we are told in the synoptics that all the disciples were angry with Mary for her waste of this ointment – cp. Matthew 26:8; Mark 14:4

          2. A Fruitful Comprehension of Salvation – vv. 7-8

            1. However, in contrast to Judas, Mary had been perhaps the best "listener" that Jesus had ever had – cp. Luke 10:39
            2. It is likely that she actually believed what nobody else had believed – that before long, Jesus would be put to death by His enemies – cp. John 10:11, 15; Matthew 16:21
            3. Jesus immediately comes to her defense and confirms the insights that Mary demonstrated – "Let her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial"
              1. This is best understood to mean that this ointment had been saved for the occasion when my body would have to be buried.
              2. However, perceiving that she may not have another opportunity to show devotion to me, why would she wait until I’ve died to show me her devotion.
            4. This corresponds to the synoptics’ statements by Christ regarding Mary’s motivation for what she had just done – cp. Matthew 26:12; Mark 14:8
            5. He then confirms her fear – "For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have Me."
            6. Her devotion to the Lord seemed to spring forth from an awareness of what Jesus was about to do – she had listened well and the Word had done its work in her heart – she was possibly one of the first true believers in Jesus.

        3. The Interference to Worship – 12:9-11

          1. The Prevalence of Personal Curiosity – v. 9

            1. It is at this point that the genuine worship is curtailed – since all those who had wondered whether Jesus was going to have the courage to show up to Passover hear that Jesus was in Bethany.
            2. More than likely they heard about Jesus’ whereabouts from those with whom He had traveled from Ephraim who had proceeded into Jerusalem after Jesus stopped off in Bethany -"the large crowd of the Jews then learned that He was there;"
            3. However, they were looking for Him out of a carnal curiosity – not because of a devotion to Christ - "… and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He raised from the dead"
            4. Thus, we go from the purest form of worship, to the bane of worship – those who do not believe but are curious to know whether there are any sensational or dramatic displays for their amusement.
            5. It is unfortunate that it is to this crowd that many churches are now pandering to the neglect of true worship.

          2. Those Priority of Personal Calculation – vv. 10-11

            1. Another tremendous obstacle or interference with worship are those who are so interested in their own vindication that they would rather commit murder than to admit they were wrong – "But the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death also; because of account of him many of the Jews were going away and were believing in Jesus."
            2. The chief priests were the Sadducees – the sect that denied the reality of the resurrection – therefore Lazarus was a tremendously aggravating reality.
            3. Like many people today, because Christianity infringes on my preconceived notions, or encroaches on the world I enjoy, I will reject it at all cost.

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