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Favorite fast food? Local eats?

When you find a fav place to eat, you become a loyal customer. But eating familiar and tasty meals can become like devotion. Admit it – some foods are heavenly, and meals can be memorable experiences not just for the food, but the company. Today’s message explores a memorable meal for when dinner becomes devotion to Jesus.

EXAMINE     When Dinner Becomes Devotion (John 12)

Jesus Chronicles: Remaining messages all in the last week of Jesus’ earthly life. #26of42

¹ Six days before the Passover,

John’s Gospel includes 3 Passovers in Jesus’ ministry (2:13; 6:4; 11:55/12:1/13:1).  

Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. ² Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.

Before Lazarus was raised, the sisters Mary & Martha were upset/disappointed at Jesus. But now they’re sponsoring a dinner in Jesus’ honor.  

>>Regular worship is reminding ourselves that God is wise, Jesus is faithful, and the Spirit’s work in our life is better than we can desire or dream on our own. When we neglect worship, we are deciding to be ungrateful and untethered to God’s wisdom for our life.

>>Additionally, other individuals were present at this dinner. Jesus and the disciples were undoubtedly using hospitality as an opportunity for evangelism. This is one of multiple reasons you should participate in our Family Groups, and invite not-yet believing friends.[1]

³ Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

This act occurs in all 4 Gospels, yet it could be different events.^[2] Matthew (26:6-13) & Mark (14:3-9) report an anointing of Jesus’ head whereas Luke (7:36-38) & John speak of the anointing of his feet. Moreover, whereas Bethany (likely to be in Judea) is mentioned in connection with the anointing in Matthew, Mark, & John, the setting in Luke, although not mentioned, would appear to be in Galilee since that was where Jesus was reportedly doing his early ministry at the time. Matthew & Mark note the location to be the house of Simon the leper, while in Luke it is the home of a Pharisee named Simon. Furthermore, John names the devoted woman as Mary; Luke describes her as an immoral woman but unnamed, along with Matthew & Mark not naming the individual. All of this could indicate multiple “anointings,”[3] or a single episode with differing perspectives to account for differences (my view).^[4]

The act of pouring perfume on Jesus’ feet and wiping with her hair is not seductive, but a sincere expression of devotion. It was customary to anoint the heads of highly important persons or guests such as Jesus, but a host would provide only water for the feet.[5] Mary’s actions were identifying a) Jesus as worthy, b) herself as a servant to Jesus.

>> What do your actions identify about your faith?

⁴ But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, ⁵ “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” ⁶ He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

The disciples are all present at dinner. Together, they express indignation at the action, believing it too extravagant and wasteful (Mt 26:89); yet Judas appears as the key instigator.

*Curious why Jesus chose Judas as treasurer; yet why does He choose any of us to do anything? We’re all servants with a choice. Judas’ legacy was a hypocrite and thief; what’s yours? We can have close proximity to Jesus’ teachings but still be far from genuine faith.

**Curious that the perfume cost a year’s worth of wages!

⁷ “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “[It was intended] that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. ⁸ You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

*When others were shaming a female, Jesus was celebrating her. Jesus never treated females as inferior or unreliable. Jesus uplifted and protected every female in his path.

*Jesus was providing a context for the purpose of worship and the practice of mission. If anything replaces our purpose of worshiping God, then every practice (no matter how worthy) eventually becomes meaningless.

– To the church: You could use that $ for the poor.
– To you: You could use that $ on…   

APPLY/TAKEAWAY

Overall, this passage helps us discern at least 3 ways to express devotion to Jesus.

1. Martha served.
   She was always busy – cooking, cleaning, operating checklists. We see this in Luke 10:40 where she was distracted (περισπάω = pulled all around) in service. She even voiced complaint against her siblings and asked Jesus to rebuke them into action. Yet, Jesus identified Martha as being “anxious and troubled by many things, but one thing is necessary.” IOW: her heart was focused on the tasks rather than the treasure of serving others.

Yet, in this instance, Martha is serving with gratefulness and joy. She knows how much she’s loved and appreciated, bc she heard those words from Jesus. She’s working from spiritual acceptance not for physical acknowledgement.

>> Adjust motivation. Remind yourself that attitudes and actions are for the Lord & not just human approval (Col 3:23-24); & that your labor in the Lord is never in vain (1Cor 15:58).

>> Acknowledge others. Most every NT letter is not just proclaiming doctrine but expressing gratitude (cf Php 1:3; Ro 16:3-4; 1Cor 1:4; Col 1:3; 1Thes 1:2; 3:9; / Ruth 1:8; 2:12; 2Sam 2:6; etc.).
The writers knew they needed to connect before they could correct. SO, say the words: TY / ILY / I couldn’t do this without you. I’m so glad we’re in this together. May God bless you in return.

>>Apprehend how and where God wants to use your life experiences and gifts to serve with joy and gratitude, and do it with all your might as unto the Lord.

2. Lazarus sat.
He reclined. My man is mentioned 13x in John only, but speaks ZEROx. He’s apparently “dead tired” and just a chill dude. He’s a model for practicing the presence of God – listening and speaking with Jesus.
Ps 16:11 “in God’s presence there is fullness of joy, at God’s right hand are pleasures forevermore”
Ps 37/46 “Be still before the Lord. Fret not over anything else.”
Heb 4:16 “Let us with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Heb 13:5 “be content with this: God will never leave nor forsake you.”
James 4:8 “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”
Ps 23 “Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul… my cup overflows…”

>> Many operate in chaos waves bc we don’t take time to be still before Jesus.
When’s the last time you spent 20 or even 2 minutes in stillness before the Lord?

>> Orange card… praise creates contentment and clarity for the challenges of life.

3. Mary sacrificed.

• Mary, like her sister, had disappointment. Sometimes people with past “faith-hurt” suppress emotion, reserve participation, and withhold contribution. There is definitely time to grieve and a season to heal. But if we nurture wounds instead of allowing them to scar and repair, then we miss out on the enduring joy of Jesus.
• Mary had just seen Jesus do the most spectacular and supernatural miracle of raising her brother from the dead. Her gratefulness wasn’t afraid to express emotion or generously give. Her dedication was not partial but complete and sacrificial – giving Jesus her most precious and costly possession.
• Some people measure out their faith and devotion to Jesus. They think in set hours or scheduled days. But Mary didn’t measure. Her love was incalculable and unrestrained.
• Mary sacrificially served – even through the overheard grumblings and criticisms. Friends, if you’re serving Jesus, you can expect to get pushback and sadly often from those who should know better. You can listen to the complainers or do courageous things for God, but you can’t do both. Choose your audience.

>> What is the vase that you need to break to serve Jesus freely and faithfully?

Friend, let us worship Jesus by serving, sitting, and sacrificing.

But if you’re holding on to something, it’s time to lay it down at the feet of Jesus.

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[1] https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/the-key-to-evangelism-in-21st-century

^[2] Gerald L. Borchert, John 12–21, vol. 25B, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2002), 32.

[3] https://answersingenesis.org/contradictions-in-the-bible/how-many-times-was-jesus-anointed/?srsltid=AfmBOopsCX9gp1EgRk7fNmXwBwQ-8_9kpdpzh9RUrim3OBDVZCkFptb7

^[4] Greco-Roman bios were permitted some liberality, including chronological details to create thematic See: Craig L. Blomberg, Jesus and the Gospels: An Introduction and Survey; The Historical Reliability of the Gospels; among other sources.

[5] Craig Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, NT, John 12:1-8, p.294.