e-mail: davidparham@internetbible.net

 Memory verse for this week: Prov 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction..

Introduction: Last week we saw Christ prove that He had power even over death when he raised Lazarus from the dead. After this, the Pharisees began plotting to put Jesus to death. From this point forward, Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews.

I. The Supper at Bethany 

John 12:2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.

This is one of the greatest stories about being sure we prioritize things in life. Jesus was the ultimate example of how we should all be a servant, but in this account we see the one who was worried about the serving was wrong. Martha meant well in trying to take care of the company, but Mary demonstrated the greater spirituality in wanting to be with the Lord. Sometimes we can get so wrapped up in our day to day business that we fail to give the Lord the proper attention that He so deserves.

John 12:3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

We see that Mary "sat" at the feet of Jesus learning. There are many great teachers, but there has never been one nor shall there ever be one greater than Jesus Christ.

Luke 10:38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

Luke 10:39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.

Luke 10:40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

Luke 10:41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

Luke 10:42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

 

The account in Luke says that Mary chose the good part which would not be taken away. Do you choose the good part each day. If we do choose the good part, we will read the Bible each day and draw close to the Lord. But that takes dedication, and much discipline. But we need to be like Mary. We see that Mary earlier had "fell" at the feet of Jesus when she was grieving at the loss of Lazarus.

John 12:6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

Anytime money is spent by the church, questions are raised as to the reason and purpose. We need to be sure it is the Will of the Lord that we make those expenditures. If our main focus in the church is not to spread the Gospel, we had best question our motives. Here, Mary is questioned why she has "wasted" this ointment on Jesus. Many think that any money given to the cause of the Lord is wasted, but it is never wasted. Only the future will reveal what is in store for those who faithfully give to the work of the Lord. J. Vernon McGee had this to say about these verses.

"Judas Iscariot is revealing his true nature. He is the treasurer of the group. He doesn’t care for the poor; he cares for himself—he is a thief. He was taking some money out on the sly. He wants Mary’s money given to the poor so he can handle it and take out his percentage. May I say to you today, the real test of a Christian, the hard-coin test, is the way he handles his finances. The real test of a church or a Christian organization is the way it handles its finances. Is the money used for the cause for which it was given, or is it shifted and used in some other way? Three hundred pence was the annual wage of a laboring man of that day. Because the spikenard was too costly for Mary to use on herself, she poured it all out on Jesus. Friend, it we would learn to sit at His feet, we would give more to Him, too. Mary had saved this precious ointment in an alabaster box. It came out of India, where the herbs grow high in the Himalayas, and was very expensive. Do you know why she had bought it and saved it? So that when she died it could be used on her body! Now she pours it all out on Him. This is absolute affection, adoration, and attachment to His Person. The odor of that ointment filled the house, and it still fills the world today.

John 12:8 For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.

We see that Jesus rebukes Judas Iscariot for what he said. He was not concerned about the poor, he was a thief. You see many in the church who murmur over how money is spent, but rarely is it one of the tithers. Those involved in doing the Lord’s Work rarely complain, but rather look for ways to further God’s kingdom. Jesus loved the poor as we well know, but he points out that they will always be with us. Should we ignore the poor? Absolutely not. But we should not be overwhelmed with our inability to help all those who are in need. God give us certain families and burdens to help, and we should take advantage of those. We should note that the anointing that Mary did of Christ’s body

1. It pictured Christ’s death on the Cross
2. It showed Mary’s Love for Christ
3. It was an excellent example of how we should give.

John 12:11 Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.

We see the response of the people. We see three different kinds of people. There were those who were curious, many were wicked, but thank God, some believed on Jesus. When we go out and witness for the Lord, we should not be disappointed when not everyone responds to the Gospel. If only a few truly believed Jesus, we should not be surprised when many refuse to accept Christ as Savior.

John 12:12 On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,

John 12:13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.

John 12:14 And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,

John 12:15 Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt.

John 12:16 These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.

We see that many knew that Jesus was coming. I recently was listening to a study of Daniel by David Jeremiah, and he says this was a fulfillment of prophecy, and it came exactly to the day it was prophesied to come (to the day) if you follow the prophecy laid out in Daniel.

Zec 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

John 12:17 The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.

John 12:18 For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle.

John 12:19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.

Oh that the comment of the Pharisees was true. At this time, they thought everyone had gone after Christ, but truly only a few acknowledged Jesus as the true Messiah. On this day, on the triumphant entry to Jerusalem, many were there to celebrate his coming.

III.  The Inquisitive Greeks

John 12:20 And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:

John 12:21 The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.

We see some of the wise Greeks came to the feast and sought to meet Jesus. During the Christmas season, much is made of the Wise men coming from the east at Jesus’ birth. The reality is that they came much later ( a year or two later), but it was Wise Men who sought out Jesus. All that seek Jesus today are wise.

Psa 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

IV.  Jesus’ Answer

John 12:25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

Christ is presented as the crucified one. It is true that unless a seed dies and is placed in the ground, it will not sprout and bring forth much fruit. This teaching was to show that Christ had to die on the cross that we might be forgiven of our sins.

John 17:1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:

John 17:2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Mat 26:45 Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Mat 26:46 Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.

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