SUNDAY SERVICE

Before I start today’s message, I want to share a scripture that just leapt off the page in my devotions today. I felt it was a Word for me and I feel it is for you too:

James 112Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

For some of us who are suffering with chronic illness or disability—or both---just living from day to day is a trial. Is there any among us who haven’t wished at least once that God would just take us home so we don’t have to suffer anymore? But there is a crown promised if we persevere.

If you will pour out your best on Jesus (Worship, Talent, Possessions, Time), He will pour out his best on you (His promises).

There is some confusion among scholars as to how many anointings there were and whether they were all Mary of Bethany or also Mary Magdalene. In fact, there are few Bible scholars that address all of the scriptures and put them together. I’ll talk about that in moment.

There are at least three accounts in scripture of a woman pouring out precious perfumed oil on Jesus—oil from an alabaster box. One account is in Luke 7 and another two in Mark 14 and John 12. The first is at the beginning of Jesus’s ministry, the second is right before His Death. Both times, the woman poured out her all on Jesus. Both times, there were objections from the people around. The first objection was from the Pharisees and the objection was that the woman was sinful and shouldn’t even be touching Him. The second objection was from His own disciples, mainly Judas, and the objection was that the woman was wasting money by pouring this out on Jesus. The money should be given to the poor. The first time, the oil was poured out on His feet, to clean them. The second time, the oil was poured on His head to anoint Him and there.

It’s interesting because the first time, the people making the objection had just a superficial relationship to Jesus—they were religious, but not disciples. The first time, the objection was religious—and obvious. Their objection was based on religious pride and hypocrisy. The first time, the reason the woman was doing it was for intense gratefulness that her sins were forgiven.

The second time, the objectors were those who had a relationship with Jesus and certainly should have known better. The objection was a bit more subtle—alms for the poor. The objection was based on covetousness, greed, selfishness and lack of spiritual perception. The reason for the anointing by the woman was deeper—Jesus was about to die and the woman was anointing Him for His burial. She did it out of love. BUT BOTH WERE POURING OUT THEIR ALL.

THE REASONS WHY WE DO THINGS IN THE NEWNESS OF OUR FAITH ARE DIFFERENT FROM THE REASONS WHY WE DO THINGS IN OUR MATURITY, BUT THE PRINCIPLE IS THE SAME: WHEREVER YOU ARE ON YOUR JOURNEY, WHATEVER MEASURE YOU USE—POUR OUT YOUR ALL AND GIVE YOUR FIRST AND YOUR BEST TO JESUS!

AS I SAID BEFORE, there is some confusion among scholars as to how many anointings there were and whether they were all Mary of Bethany or also Mary Magdelene. For some reason, people don’t take into account that this probably was done several times and by more than one person. It doesn’t matter as much as to how many times or which were Mary of Bethany and which were Mary Magdelene. For the sake of this lessons, let say….

The second and third instance was Mary of Bethany—the sister of Lazarus and Martha.

John 12: 1^(A)Jesus, therefore, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.

2So they made Him a supper there, and Martha was serving; but Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him

3Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume

Her brother had been resurrected. She had always had a desire to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen. Now, she broke tradition and dared to step out of her “proper place” by coming to Him in the house of Simon, a leper who was healed by Jesus, and anointing His head with costly oil.

Mark 14:3While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.

She was sharply rebuked for her deed. Shame on Simon, the former leper who was healed by Jesus—who owed Jesus so much for healing him and taking away his outcast status.

The first anointing does not seem to be Mary of Bethany, but probably Mary Magdalene (she was called a sinner).

Luke 7:37 When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume,

She defied religious and social tradition by entering the house of a pharisee, uninvited. She had her hair uncovered—which may be why she was accused of being a sinful woman (harlot). The pharisee had not even wiped Jesus’ feet (a very important courtesy to do for guests) but she poured out her treasured oil on His feet and wiped them with her own hair—a sharp contrast to the pharisee’s indifference. He was so caught up in religiosity that He totally missed the significance of what was happening—as well as his own obligation to even an ordinary guest, let alone the Messiah. She was totally caught up in extravagant worship. The Pharisee didn’t even bother to rebuke the woman; she was beneath his notice. He just judged Jesus in his thoughts and muttered words. Jesus knew this.

39When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner."

Both times, the oil in the alabaster box, was her most precious worldly possession. It was worth a fortune. She did not pour it out to waste it, but rather, to anoint Jesus---her Lord. What most people don't realize is that by doing this, the woman not only 'spent' her greatest treasure on Jesus---but she put her life on the line by stepping out of tradition. Her act of love and faith is still spoken of today as an example of the purest faith and valor.

I. (Breaking the flask did not necessarily mean cracking it, but probably meant she broke the seal and then poured it. If she’s actually broken it, the oil would have spilled on the floor---unless she broke it ON the head of Jesus).

II. Alabaster was made in and named for Alabastron, Egypt, where soft marble could be found. The vessels were called ‘alabastra’ and were also made from other materials. They were of various sizes and shapes and the average one held about a pint. Its value was about $51.00 which, in that time, was a lot of money.

There are many songs and stories about the alabaster box. They catch the essence of giving of something precious and costly and pouring it all out on God. That is the humanistic aspect of it, but there is another that is not usually spoken of. It certainly seemed lost on the people who were rebuking the woman for doing this.

Their viewpoint was that it was wasted; that it should be sold and the money given to the poor...the common PEOPLE.

THE HUMANISTIC VIEWPOINT WILL ALWAYS LEAD YOU IN THE OPPOSITE WAY OF THE WORD OF GOD AND THE SPIRITUAL VIEWPOINT. THE WORLD SAYS ‘ME FIRST”—THE WORD SAYS “GOD FIRST”. THE WORLD SAYS LIVE FOR SELF, GOD SAYS DIE TO SELF. THE WORLD SAYS SEEK SECURITY FOR YOURSELF, SEEK MONEY, GOD SAYS SEEK THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND RIGHTEOUSNESS.

PRINCIPLE: POUR YOURSELF OUT ON JESUS---TRUST HIM WITH YOUR LIFE. HE WILL KEEP YOU SAFE, REWARD YOU WITH BLESSINGS, AND POUR OUT HIS SPIRIT—HIS ALL ON YOU

Nothing given to God with a pure heart is ever wasted. In fact, it becomes a treasure stored up for all eternity.

Mat 6:19-21 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;"but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

This attitude of BOTH Marys’ is one we need to understand. This is an example for us in our lives. Mary loved Jesus and listened intently whenever He taught. How do we look at Jesus Christ and the calling we have from God the Father? Do we listen intently to what Christ is telling us? By calling ourselves "Christians," we acknowledge that we are a follower of Jesus Christ. Are we? Mary had the attitude of total giving. She held nothing –not just money but all—time, talent, devotion—etc. The oil symbolized her total love and devotion to Jesus Christ. She totally gave of herself, holding nothing back.

THERE IS NO GREATER GIFT WE CAN GIVE TO GOD THAN OUR LOVE, TRUST, AND WORSHIP. WE WHO LOVE HIM SEND OUT A SWEET FRAGRANCE---TO GOD, HIS CHILDREN, AND TO THOSE WHO ARE DESTINED TO BE HIS.

Sometimes we have to leave the religious people behind and go out on a limb to do the right thing. The crowds won't always be cheering us when we do---but God will.

Jesus spoke to the religious leaders who criticized Mary and Jesus will defend you. But, meanwhile, pour yourself out on Him.

POUR YOURSELF OUT ON JESUS AND YOU WILL LEAVE A LEGACY OF FAITH FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

Mark 14:4-6 But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, "Why was this fragrant oil wasted? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor." And they criticized her sharply. But Jesus said, "Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me.

Their viewpoint was that it was wasted; that it should be sold and the money given to the poor...the common people. If they were looking at it just from the money aspect, they were totally forgetting, or ignorant of a commandment God had given in Exodus 30:23—about the anointing of the Priest, the Tabernacle, the Ark of Testimony, the Ark of incense, the Lampstand, and the burnt offering---all of which Jesus was. If somehow they did remember that scripture, they were inferring that Jesus was not the priest.

Exo 30:23-27 "Also take for yourself quality spices; five hundred shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much sweet-smelling cinnamon (two hundred and fifty shekels), two hundred and fifty shekels of sweet-smelling cane, five hundred shekels of cassia, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, and a hin of olive oil. And you shall make from these a holy anointing oil, an ointment compounded according to the art of the perfumer. It shall be a holy anointing oil. With it you shall anoint the tabernacle of meeting and the ark of the Testimony; the table and all its utensils, the lampstand and its utensils, and the altar of incense; the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the laver and its base.

29 "You shall consecrate them, that they may be most holy; whatever touches them must be holy.

Exo 30:30-33 "And you shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister to Me as priests. 31 "And you shall speak to the children of Israel, saying: 'This shall be a holy anointing oil to Me throughout your generations. 'It shall not be poured on man's flesh; nor shall you make any other like it, according to its composition. It is holy, and it shall be holy to you. 'Whoever compounds any like it, or whoever puts any of it on an outsider, shall be cut off from his people.'"

Exo 30:37 "But as for the incense which you shall make, you shall not make any for yourselves, according to its composition. It shall be to you holy for the Lord. Whoever makes any like it, to smell it, he shall be cut off from his people."

Whether or not the woman or any of the disciples understood the significance of Mary’s act, it symbolized the anointing of the high priest or his sons. The disciples wanted this to be sold and given to the poor----in other words, poured out on “man” rather than used on the man who was their high priest forever.

The woman was also showing her faith in Jesus and putting her life and soul on the line. If Jesus wasn’t the priest, but just a common man, she would have been worthy of death.

PRINCIPLE: THERE IS NO GREATER GIFT WE CAN GIVE TO GOD THAN OUR LOVE, TRUST, AND WORSHIP. WE WHO LOVE HIM SEND OUT A SWEET FRAGRANCE---TO GOD, HIS CHILDREN, AND TO THOSE WHO ARE DESTINED TO BE HIS.