النص 🔗
WEBVTT
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.540
Among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath like the rest of mankind.
00:00:09.540 --> 00:00:11.359
Right? Spiritually dead.
00:00:11.439 --> 00:00:13.660
I read all of that to you to make that point.
00:00:13.780 --> 00:00:16.399
You were dead in trespasses and sins.
00:00:16.539 --> 00:00:21.199
That's what this looked like within verse 4, Paul says.
00:00:21.199 --> 00:00:32.979
But God, being rich in mercy because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.
00:00:33.500 --> 00:00:42.620
By grace you have been saved and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
00:00:42.820 --> 00:00:50.700
So you see this little picture of that in the resurrection and the following feasting of Lazarus with Jesus.
00:00:52.020 --> 00:00:57.900
Every Christian is, spiritually speaking, Lazarus sitting at the table.
00:00:59.380 --> 00:01:03.100
Next, we can notice that Martha served.
00:01:04.120 --> 00:01:09.420
It's a different meal than the one where Martha complains to Jesus about her sister not helping.
00:01:09.840 --> 00:01:13.820
There is no criticism of Martha's service here.
00:01:14.900 --> 00:01:18.040
She, I suggest to you, is being faithful.
00:01:19.020 --> 00:01:20.379
Not more and less than her brother.
00:01:21.200 --> 00:01:22.400
He's reclining.
00:01:22.400 --> 00:01:26.340
Or her sister, who's about to do an extravagant thing.
00:01:27.180 --> 00:01:32.439
I think that she is using her skill of hospitality to serve her Savior.
00:01:32.859 --> 00:01:33.020
Right?
00:01:33.359 --> 00:01:35.939
I imagine that Martha was a bit of a type A.
00:01:36.299 --> 00:01:37.020
Organized.
00:01:37.320 --> 00:01:39.340
Knew how to put a party together.
00:01:39.579 --> 00:01:41.980
And she is faithfully serving her Lord.
00:01:43.020 --> 00:01:49.020
Martha's gratitude expresses itself through service.
00:01:49.019 --> 00:01:55.179
The siblings of Mary have undoubtedly received Jesus as the Christ.
00:01:55.879 --> 00:01:59.659
At great risk to himself, Lazarus welcomes him into his home.
00:02:00.060 --> 00:02:04.159
With great energy, Martha makes the meal possible.
00:02:04.159 --> 00:02:07.799
And this brings us to Mary.
00:02:07.799 --> 00:02:13.439
Mary, remember, in chapter 11, grieving without hope.
00:02:14.680 --> 00:02:19.659
Jesus is concerned about the way in which she comes to him and asks that question.
00:02:19.740 --> 00:02:23.699
Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
00:02:23.699 --> 00:02:32.639
And here we see this beautiful, beautiful picture of her receiving Jesus as the Christ.
00:02:33.599 --> 00:02:38.780
And John means for us to pause and really consider this act of worship.
00:02:40.060 --> 00:02:46.379
She is the primary character being juxtaposed against treacherous Judas.
00:02:46.620 --> 00:02:49.539
These are the two primaries in this story.
00:02:49.899 --> 00:02:51.979
Mary and Judas.
00:02:51.979 --> 00:02:58.039
Again, this account being framed in terms of worth.
00:02:58.939 --> 00:03:03.000
What is Jesus worth to you?
00:03:04.299 --> 00:03:08.060
Notice how valuable he is to Mary.
00:03:08.780 --> 00:03:10.199
First part of verse 3.
00:03:10.199 --> 00:03:18.060
Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard
00:03:18.060 --> 00:03:22.740
and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair.
00:03:24.120 --> 00:03:28.960
First, to Mary, Jesus was worth her resources.
00:03:30.319 --> 00:03:35.140
John tells us Mary took this expensive ointment, right?
00:03:35.139 --> 00:03:39.759
And a significant amount of expensive ointment.
00:03:40.899 --> 00:03:44.199
Nard is an oil that's derived from a plant grown in India.
00:03:44.439 --> 00:03:46.239
This is all I learned about it.
00:03:46.659 --> 00:03:50.899
But the fact that it's called pure meant that it would have been very expensive.
00:03:51.319 --> 00:03:52.959
It would have been imported.
00:03:53.239 --> 00:03:54.259
It was costly.
00:03:54.519 --> 00:03:55.379
Very costly.
00:03:55.379 --> 00:04:01.340
And of course we know how costly because Judas tells us how much in verse 5.
00:04:01.599 --> 00:04:02.939
At least some approximation.
00:04:03.299 --> 00:04:06.840
Maybe pure nard sold at a discounted rate second hand.
00:04:06.960 --> 00:04:07.759
I don't know.
00:04:08.500 --> 00:04:14.439
But he estimates that it could have been sold for 300 denarii.
00:04:14.439 --> 00:04:17.719
A denarii you may well know already.
00:04:17.860 --> 00:04:20.860
But if you don't, log this little bit of information away.
00:04:21.560 --> 00:04:24.500
It was the average day's wage.
00:04:24.819 --> 00:04:28.560
A typical worker was paid a denarii per day.
00:04:29.500 --> 00:04:34.579
So this is almost a year's pay.
00:04:35.300 --> 00:04:39.240
So in today's terms, you could do the math maybe for your own home.
00:04:39.240 --> 00:04:43.360
This ointment was worth tens of thousands of dollars.
00:04:43.360 --> 00:04:47.340
A perfume worth, I hope none of you own perfume worth tens of thousands of dollars.
00:04:47.660 --> 00:04:51.319
We need another conversation if you do.
00:04:51.980 --> 00:04:52.660
Mary does.
00:04:53.300 --> 00:04:55.620
Mary has this ointment.
00:04:55.879 --> 00:05:01.199
It was an ointment that was likely used in the preparation of dead bodies.
00:05:01.900 --> 00:05:05.480
This may have been something that had been carefully saved for and stored up.
00:05:05.480 --> 00:05:10.460
And it was meant for a future use of this kind.
00:05:10.459 --> 00:05:13.599
And expensive, expensive thing.
00:05:13.799 --> 00:05:19.159
And Mary is glad to spend it in worship of the Christ.
00:05:21.680 --> 00:05:24.779
Last
Load full transcript
week, in the cartoon in your bulletin,
00:05:25.180 --> 00:05:27.939
if you're an adult and you don't ever flip to the back, you are missing out.
00:05:27.939 --> 00:05:32.860
Today, just as a quote, as a simple text quote in your bulletin,
00:05:34.079 --> 00:05:35.420
Augustine once said,
00:05:35.420 --> 00:05:41.779
Christ is not valued at all unless he is valued above all.
00:05:42.500 --> 00:05:48.480
Christ is not valued at all unless he is valued above all.
00:05:48.480 --> 00:05:53.140
And Mary so wonderfully expresses that to us here.
00:05:53.800 --> 00:06:00.520
Tens of thousands of dollars worth of this, right, given in worship of Christ.
00:06:01.759 --> 00:06:05.740
But not only that, secondly, so Jesus is worth her resources,
00:06:05.879 --> 00:06:10.640
but secondly, to Mary, Jesus was also worth her dignity.
00:06:10.639 --> 00:06:16.259
To wash someone's feet was an act of great service.
00:06:17.379 --> 00:06:20.019
Feet, generally speaking, are gross.
00:06:21.500 --> 00:06:26.159
And to that, a sandal-wearing culture in a dusty environment,
00:06:26.620 --> 00:06:34.899
and you have the cleaning of feet as a task for the lowliest of servants in a house.
00:06:34.899 --> 00:06:40.219
It was a customary thing when someone would come over that you would have the lowest servant,
00:06:40.679 --> 00:06:42.099
the last in the pecking order,
00:06:42.799 --> 00:06:49.979
would wash feet so that people could recline at table and enjoy their time without dusty, smelly feet.
00:06:51.279 --> 00:06:54.099
John is not unaware of the humility of this act,
00:06:54.239 --> 00:06:58.019
as he will have Jesus himself wash his feet a few chapters later, right?
00:06:58.060 --> 00:07:03.639
Remember, he's writing that with all of this in mind as a model of humble service.
00:07:04.899 --> 00:07:11.399
Additionally, Mary lets down her hair to wipe his feet clean.
00:07:12.099 --> 00:07:14.099
And this would not have been normative.
00:07:14.299 --> 00:07:18.079
This is not the normal way that foot washing concluded.
00:07:19.259 --> 00:07:22.199
What I imagine, and this is not explicit in the text,
00:07:22.579 --> 00:07:27.199
is that she, being so generous in the anointing of Jesus' feet,
00:07:27.839 --> 00:07:29.579
makes a bit of a mess.
00:07:30.500 --> 00:07:34.199
She puts a little more on than she meant to.
00:07:34.899 --> 00:07:40.339
We're going to spend some time on the extravagance of the offering with the sentence,
00:07:40.560 --> 00:07:43.379
the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
00:07:43.599 --> 00:07:45.679
This was not a little bit that she used.
00:07:45.719 --> 00:07:50.099
It was enough to fill the space with the smell.
00:07:51.539 --> 00:07:54.560
It's probably a picture from one perspective,
00:07:55.019 --> 00:07:56.060
certainly that of Judas,
00:07:56.060 --> 00:07:58.860
of her overdoing it.
00:08:00.060 --> 00:08:02.780
I think, knowing that she was going to anoint Jesus' feet,
00:08:02.879 --> 00:08:05.600
that she brought along a towel.
00:08:06.639 --> 00:08:11.319
But that towel was insufficient for the extravagance of her offering.
00:08:11.319 --> 00:08:14.879
So she, with no thought to herself,
00:08:15.040 --> 00:08:17.480
already washing feet,
00:08:18.439 --> 00:08:20.939
uses her hair to serve her king.
00:08:21.480 --> 00:08:23.420
I think the towel didn't suffice,
00:08:23.939 --> 00:08:27.120
and she immediately, to help finish this process,
00:08:27.259 --> 00:08:29.019
to serve Jesus in this way,
00:08:29.399 --> 00:08:30.980
thought, I have something that can help.
00:08:31.480 --> 00:08:32.600
And she lets down her hair,
00:08:32.700 --> 00:08:35.939
and uses her hair to clean up this ointment.
00:08:35.940 --> 00:08:39.420
To Mary, I would argue,
00:08:39.940 --> 00:08:43.060
Jesus is worth everything.
00:08:44.240 --> 00:08:44.700
Everything.
00:08:46.160 --> 00:08:49.060
And so I ask the question again,
00:08:50.260 --> 00:08:53.020
what is Jesus worth to you?
00:08:54.300 --> 00:08:58.520
Mary does not calculate the minimum amount necessary to honor Christ.
00:08:59.180 --> 00:09:01.640
She gives extravagantly.
00:09:01.639 --> 00:09:07.000
Now there is an important distinction that should be made at this point.
00:09:08.179 --> 00:09:13.000
Extravagant worship is not wasteful worship.
00:09:14.279 --> 00:09:20.019
Waste occurs when something valuable is spent upon something unworthy of it.
00:09:20.580 --> 00:09:22.319
Certainly this happens.
00:09:23.580 --> 00:09:26.620
But if Jesus possesses infinite worth,
00:09:27.080 --> 00:09:30.279
then nothing genuinely offered to him in faith
00:09:30.279 --> 00:09:33.720
can finally be described as wasted.
00:09:33.720 --> 00:09:39.259
He is worthy of all of our praise.
00:09:40.620 --> 00:09:45.039
Judah sees 300 denarii going up in vapor.
00:09:46.259 --> 00:09:49.000
Mary sees Jesus.
00:09:50.279 --> 00:09:55.079
And that difference between the two changes everything.
00:09:57.000 --> 00:09:58.379
Second point.
00:09:58.379 --> 00:10:03.799
The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
00:10:04.720 --> 00:10:06.799
Now last week I made a lengthy argument.
00:10:06.960 --> 00:10:09.460
We took that odd break because I really wanted to show you
00:10:09.460 --> 00:10:14.480
that this phrase is the chiastic center of John's gospel.
00:10:15.919 --> 00:10:18.139
If you disagree with me about this,
00:10:18.220 --> 00:10:20.439
you are welcome to be wrong.
00:10:21.919 --> 00:10:23.320
And we can still be friends.
00:10:24.120 --> 00:10:25.019
I believe though,
00:10:25.100 --> 00:10:27.320
this is the chiastic center of John's gospel.
00:10:27.320 --> 00:10:29.340
And that is to say,
00:10:29.940 --> 00:10:31.020
John means to do,
00:10:31.460 --> 00:10:35.680
is he wants to fill our minds with imagery of the high priest
00:10:35.680 --> 00:10:38.000
entering into the Holy of Holies
00:10:38.000 --> 00:10:39.660
on that one day in the year
00:10:39.660 --> 00:10:42.520
when he made atonement for the sins of Israel.
00:10:42.920 --> 00:10:44.820
I believe that's what's happening in this text.
00:10:44.879 --> 00:10:45.420
This phrase,
00:10:45.540 --> 00:10:49.540
the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
00:10:49.539 --> 00:10:51.019
One man,
00:10:51.019 --> 00:10:52.539
one time a year,
00:10:53.419 --> 00:10:56.419
amongst the varied instructions for cleansing and sacrifice
00:10:56.419 --> 00:10:59.519
was a command to take incense into that place
00:10:59.519 --> 00:11:03.039
and fill it with the aroma of the smoke.
00:11:03.399 --> 00:11:05.719
I think that's what's being pictured here.
00:11:06.059 --> 00:11:06.099
Right?
00:11:06.379 --> 00:11:11.079
The whole book of John is turning on this phrase.
00:11:11.080 --> 00:11:12.320
Why?
00:11:13.040 --> 00:11:13.600
Why?
00:11:13.600 --> 00:11:13.660
Why?
00:11:14.940 --> 00:11:22.160
John means for us to see Mary worshiping in the very presence of God himself.
00:11:22.720 --> 00:11:24.300
This extravagant act of worship,
00:11:24.860 --> 00:11:28.180
she's putting herself at the feet of God.
00:11:28.179 --> 00:11:31.620
Not cut off in some outer part of the temple.
00:11:32.899 --> 00:11:34.659
Limited access to God.
00:11:34.939 --> 00:11:36.339
Access through one man,
00:11:36.559 --> 00:11:37.579
one time of year.
00:11:38.039 --> 00:11:40.839
Everybody stood back and walked and hoped
00:11:40.839 --> 00:11:43.719
that he carried out the instructions precisely as he should.
00:11:44.000 --> 00:11:46.500
That atonement would in fact happen.
00:11:48.079 --> 00:11:50.199
But this is shadowing this thing is about to happen.
00:11:50.399 --> 00:11:53.599
Jesus is going to die once for all.
00:11:53.719 --> 00:11:55.419
He's going to make that final payment.
00:11:55.419 --> 00:11:59.339
The Lamb of God will lay his life down for his people.
00:11:59.419 --> 00:12:02.500
He would atone for their sins forever.
00:12:03.019 --> 00:12:06.059
This is forward looking to that moment.
00:12:06.579 --> 00:12:11.279
And Jesus is meeting with Mary in this moment.
00:12:11.399 --> 00:12:14.759
God himself with a worshiper.
00:12:15.459 --> 00:12:17.219
Intimate affection.
00:12:18.879 --> 00:12:21.719
Now, I said this in brief last week.
00:12:21.759 --> 00:12:22.539
I want to say it again.
00:12:22.539 --> 00:12:25.599
And I think it's important for us to do this as a church.
00:12:25.599 --> 00:12:30.779
Mostly because I think I've erred so often in my thinking and in my teaching.
00:12:31.719 --> 00:12:35.539
We rightly defend the doctrine of justification.
00:12:35.799 --> 00:12:38.899
Justification by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
00:12:39.039 --> 00:12:41.360
It is a hill that we should die on.
00:12:41.679 --> 00:12:42.759
We are Protestants.
00:12:42.819 --> 00:12:43.799
We are still protesting.
00:12:43.980 --> 00:12:45.579
We want to uphold this doctrine.
00:12:45.580 --> 00:12:55.220
It's so incredibly important for our sin to be expunged and for us to have a law-keeping record so that we can stand before God and not be condemned.
00:12:55.360 --> 00:12:57.000
We must be justified.
00:12:57.160 --> 00:13:02.900
But if we stop there, we miss the fullness of the beauty of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
00:13:03.720 --> 00:13:05.320
We're welcomed back in.
00:13:05.900 --> 00:13:07.820
We're back part of the family.
00:13:07.820 --> 00:13:14.580
The doctrine of justification must lead our minds to think about the doctrine of adoption.
00:13:15.620 --> 00:13:20.960
What do we think about God when we think of him as our father?
00:13:22.220 --> 00:13:23.960
That we are welcomed.
00:13:24.400 --> 00:13:26.600
That he is ours and we are his.
00:13:26.740 --> 00:13:30.200
That all of his promises are yes and amen for us.
00:13:30.200 --> 00:13:34.820
We're not trying to be performative to earn his acceptance.
00:13:34.980 --> 00:13:37.780
We have his acceptance.
00:13:38.300 --> 00:13:41.900
Because we're justified, we are adopted.
00:13:43.280 --> 00:13:45.320
And I want to make this case briefly to you from John.
00:13:45.379 --> 00:13:45.860
I did this again.
00:13:45.940 --> 00:13:46.879
I did it last week.
00:13:46.900 --> 00:13:48.379
I want to do it again quickly.
00:13:48.780 --> 00:13:52.040
Remembering that John gives us the reason for his writing.
00:13:52.160 --> 00:13:54.160
John chapter 20, verse 30 and 31.
00:13:54.740 --> 00:13:56.200
Repeated this many, many times.
00:13:56.200 --> 00:14:00.480
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples which are not written in this book.
00:14:00.800 --> 00:14:02.000
But these are written.
00:14:02.620 --> 00:14:03.280
He took the time.
00:14:03.540 --> 00:14:05.360
He wrote it down under inspiration.
00:14:06.240 --> 00:14:09.040
So that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ.
00:14:09.140 --> 00:14:09.759
The Son of God.
00:14:09.879 --> 00:14:11.400
Receive him as the Christ.
00:14:12.220 --> 00:14:16.640
And that by believing you may have life in his name.
00:14:17.500 --> 00:14:18.400
Life now.
00:14:18.660 --> 00:14:20.440
Life forever more.
00:14:20.680 --> 00:14:22.680
Spiritual life.
00:14:23.180 --> 00:14:25.160
And when we read this in John 20,
00:14:25.159 --> 00:14:27.259
we should know exactly what he's talking about.
00:14:27.379 --> 00:14:32.059
Because in John 17, he has defined what that life is.
00:14:32.519 --> 00:14:34.620
Carry the idea with us to John 20.
00:14:34.719 --> 00:14:35.819
In John 17, he says,
00:14:36.240 --> 00:14:38.600
And this is eternal life.
00:14:39.559 --> 00:14:45.740
That they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
00:14:47.299 --> 00:14:48.500
Knowing God.
00:14:48.860 --> 00:14:51.559
Being in relationship with God.
00:14:51.559 --> 00:14:54.419
This is eternal life.
00:14:55.159 --> 00:14:59.839
We were made for intimate fellowship with God.
00:15:00.459 --> 00:15:02.740
It's what we were designed for.
00:15:03.839 --> 00:15:07.620
Sin separates us relationally from him.
00:15:07.620 --> 00:15:12.980
And your life will never be fulfilled until you, created one.
00:15:13.799 --> 00:15:15.220
You, created one.
00:15:15.620 --> 00:15:18.120
Are restored to your creator.
00:15:19.080 --> 00:15:20.560
There will always be a deficiency.
00:15:21.320 --> 00:15:23.320
You could try all types of things.
00:15:23.700 --> 00:15:24.240
Success.
00:15:24.960 --> 00:15:25.220
Money.
00:15:25.620 --> 00:15:26.139
Relationships.
00:15:26.860 --> 00:15:27.100
Sex.
00:15:27.200 --> 00:15:27.580
Drugs.
00:15:28.519 --> 00:15:30.340
I feel like I was supposed to say rock and roll there.
00:15:30.340 --> 00:15:31.340
Hobbies.
00:15:31.800 --> 00:15:32.240
Hobbies.
00:15:34.160 --> 00:15:36.860
Nothing will satisfy the hunger of your soul,
00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:40.620
but the restoration of your relationship with God.
00:15:42.300 --> 00:15:43.500
Try it all you want.
00:15:43.620 --> 00:15:44.700
It will not happen.
00:15:45.800 --> 00:15:47.060
Spell yourself the pain,
00:15:47.180 --> 00:15:49.980
if you've yet to be restored to God in Christ,
00:15:50.220 --> 00:15:53.580
of trying everything out that you could possibly try out.
00:15:53.580 --> 00:15:59.540
You will not be satisfied until you're restored to God.
00:16:00.840 --> 00:16:02.520
Again, a quote from Augustine.
00:16:03.259 --> 00:16:06.400
From the first paragraph of his work, Confessions.
00:16:07.379 --> 00:16:07.740
He said,
00:16:07.840 --> 00:16:09.860
You have made us for yourself, O Lord,
00:16:10.440 --> 00:16:15.460
and our heart is restless until it rests in you.
00:16:15.460 --> 00:16:19.280
That's exactly the sentiment that he is expressing there.
00:16:20.879 --> 00:16:23.820
So the beauty of this whole scene,
00:16:24.840 --> 00:16:30.560
leading up to in this last little part of verse 3 of John 12,
00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:32.700
the beauty of the whole scene,
00:16:33.019 --> 00:16:36.220
it's emphasized by this phrase,
00:16:37.580 --> 00:16:44.519
I want to live in the aroma of life with God.
00:16:45.460 --> 00:16:46.660
God himself.
00:16:47.879 --> 00:16:50.060
And I think that if we do,
00:16:50.840 --> 00:16:55.019
we are going to spread that smell around.
00:16:56.780 --> 00:17:01.200
That if the idea that we have access to God in this way,
00:17:01.320 --> 00:17:02.879
through his word and in prayer,
00:17:03.840 --> 00:17:05.019
meeting with the church,
00:17:05.559 --> 00:17:08.539
we've got restored access to God himself.
00:17:09.600 --> 00:17:12.380
We live life in that aroma.
00:17:13.519 --> 00:17:15.019
We're going to spread that around.
00:17:15.460 --> 00:17:17.400
It's going to be inevitable that it will happen.
00:17:18.539 --> 00:17:21.019
Perhaps Paul had this very scene in mind
00:17:21.019 --> 00:17:23.160
when he wrote 2 Corinthians 2,
00:17:23.539 --> 00:17:24.579
and verse 14,
00:17:25.460 --> 00:17:26.059
where he says,
00:17:26.160 --> 00:17:27.039
But thanks be to God,
00:17:27.539 --> 00:17:31.220
who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession,
00:17:31.500 --> 00:17:34.340
and through us spreads the fragrance
00:17:34.340 --> 00:17:37.720
of the knowledge of him everywhere.
00:17:37.720 --> 00:17:45.759
Now, I am sad to say that our text does not end on a high note.
00:17:46.360 --> 00:17:47.140
There it was.
00:17:48.839 --> 00:17:52.620
The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
00:17:52.619 --> 00:17:55.279
But following that,
00:17:55.779 --> 00:17:57.579
because it's chiastic,
00:17:58.219 --> 00:18:01.979
we see that Judas rejects Jesus.
00:18:02.719 --> 00:18:04.359
In contradiction to,
00:18:04.519 --> 00:18:06.519
in juxtaposition of Mary,
00:18:07.559 --> 00:18:09.439
Judas rejects Jesus.
00:18:10.279 --> 00:18:11.639
The fragrance fills the room,
00:18:11.640 --> 00:18:14.140
and then Judas speaks,
00:18:14.680 --> 00:18:18.200
why was this ointment not sold for 300 denarii
00:18:18.200 --> 00:18:19.420
and given to the poor?
00:18:20.940 --> 00:18:22.740
Now, without John's commentary,
00:18:23.220 --> 00:18:25.360
Judas sounds reasonable.
00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:28.740
Perhaps he even sounds spiritual.
00:18:30.259 --> 00:18:31.460
300 denarii?
00:18:32.600 --> 00:18:35.460
Think how many hungry people could have been fed
00:18:35.460 --> 00:18:38.860
that day, abundantly fed.
00:18:38.859 --> 00:18:45.559
Judas' objection possesses the appearance of compassion.
00:18:46.740 --> 00:18:50.139
But John immediately pulls back the curtain
00:18:50.139 --> 00:18:51.639
and gives us this commentary.
00:18:51.839 --> 00:18:53.819
He said this not because he cared about the poor,
00:18:54.779 --> 00:18:56.079
but because he was a thief.
00:18:56.839 --> 00:18:58.559
And having charge of the money bag,
00:18:58.619 --> 00:19:01.079
he was serving as the treasurer for this group.
00:19:01.659 --> 00:19:04.519
He used to help himself to what was put into it.
00:19:04.740 --> 00:19:07.439
He was skimming off the top,
00:19:07.439 --> 00:19:08.839
as they say.
00:19:09.859 --> 00:19:14.939
Here's one of the most sobering realities in the passage.
00:19:16.219 --> 00:19:21.579
Religious language can conceal an unbelieving heart.
00:19:23.119 --> 00:19:26.839
Judas knows how to sound righteous.
00:19:28.039 --> 00:19:30.559
Perhaps you know people like this.
00:19:30.639 --> 00:19:31.139
I have.
00:19:31.359 --> 00:19:32.979
They know all the right answers.
00:19:33.159 --> 00:19:35.699
They can say all the right things.
00:19:35.700 --> 00:19:42.400
Judas has been around Jesus.
00:19:42.660 --> 00:19:44.799
He has spent all this time with him.
00:19:45.600 --> 00:19:47.000
He's heard the sermons,
00:19:47.700 -->
00:19:49.880
the instruction to care for the poor.
00:19:50.640 --> 00:19:52.220
He has witnessed the miracles.
00:19:52.980 --> 00:19:54.840
He knows the vocabulary.
00:19:55.940 --> 00:19:59.900
He knows what Christ followers are supposed to care about.
00:19:59.900 --> 00:20:06.040
And so, his greed speaks the language of compassion.
00:20:06.039 --> 00:20:10.960
It is possible to know Christian vocabulary,
00:20:11.579 --> 00:20:13.259
participate in Christian ministry,
00:20:13.899 --> 00:20:16.019
associate closely with Christian people,
00:20:16.200 --> 00:20:19.779
and even appear concerned about Christian causes
00:20:19.779 --> 00:20:23.259
while loving something more than Christ.
00:20:24.299 --> 00:20:26.859
Sometimes it's even those Christian things
00:20:26.859 --> 00:20:29.519
that are loved more than the Savior.
00:20:30.980 --> 00:20:32.759
Judas measures everything
00:20:32.759 --> 00:20:35.259
by what it can give him.
00:20:35.779 --> 00:20:38.059
He is not concerned about serving others,
00:20:38.059 --> 00:20:40.679
but about serving himself.
00:20:41.819 --> 00:20:43.619
As opposed to Mary and the siblings.
00:20:43.799 --> 00:20:45.379
It's all about service too.
00:20:46.279 --> 00:20:48.799
His is about serving himself.
00:20:50.220 --> 00:20:56.059
Mary and Judas stand as deliberate, stark contrasts.
00:20:56.940 --> 00:20:57.740
Mary asks,
00:20:58.399 --> 00:21:00.859
What can I give to Jesus?
00:21:02.099 --> 00:21:03.119
Judas asks,
00:21:03.879 --> 00:21:07.000
What could this have given to me?
00:21:07.000 --> 00:21:09.759
What do I get from Jesus?
00:21:10.859 --> 00:21:14.579
Mary empties something valuable for Christ.
00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:18.259
Judas steals what belongs to Christ.
00:21:19.259 --> 00:21:21.440
And eventually the difference between them
00:21:21.440 --> 00:21:23.940
will become even clearer.
00:21:25.200 --> 00:21:28.920
Mary values Jesus more than 300 denarii.
00:21:29.819 --> 00:21:34.579
Judas will betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver,
00:21:34.579 --> 00:21:38.319
which would be about four months of labor.
00:21:38.899 --> 00:21:40.879
The price he sells Jesus for
00:21:40.879 --> 00:21:42.319
is not even as much
00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:45.079
as the sacrifice here by Mary.
00:21:46.819 --> 00:21:49.019
So Jesus says in response,
00:21:49.899 --> 00:21:50.699
Leave her alone
00:21:50.699 --> 00:21:54.659
so that she may keep it for the day of my burial.
00:21:55.480 --> 00:21:57.000
There's a fair amount of debate
00:21:57.000 --> 00:21:59.480
about what this sentence means exactly.
00:21:59.480 --> 00:22:02.700
We can be clear that he's saying letter B.
00:22:03.860 --> 00:22:05.579
But what exactly is meant by
00:22:05.579 --> 00:22:08.079
her keeping it for the day of burial
00:22:08.079 --> 00:22:11.019
is strangely hotly contested.
00:22:11.059 --> 00:22:11.839
I don't really know why.
00:22:11.920 --> 00:22:13.839
I don't think it matters
all that much.
00:22:13.980 --> 00:22:15.339
But what I think is happening
00:22:15.339 --> 00:22:18.240
is that Jesus is alluding to his death
00:22:18.240 --> 00:22:20.460
by suggesting that Mary should be allowed
00:22:20.460 --> 00:22:22.640
to keep the rest of the perfume
00:22:22.640 --> 00:22:25.460
to anoint his body after the crucifixion.
00:22:26.120 --> 00:22:27.560
That's my very best guess
00:22:27.560 --> 00:22:29.480
at what he means by this phrase.
00:22:30.720 --> 00:22:31.860
Some say that it's just
00:22:31.860 --> 00:22:33.500
leave the sacrifice alone.
00:22:33.800 --> 00:22:36.540
Let it be remembered for that day.
00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:38.980
I never felt anything was very convincing,
00:22:39.240 --> 00:22:40.320
but that's my best guess
00:22:40.320 --> 00:22:41.360
at what he means by that.
00:22:41.420 --> 00:22:42.080
But regardless,
00:22:42.880 --> 00:22:44.180
letter B.
00:22:44.840 --> 00:22:48.620
What she has done is a beautiful and good thing.
00:22:49.400 --> 00:22:51.180
And then he elaborates,
00:22:51.180 --> 00:22:54.080
for the poor you always have with you,
00:22:54.480 --> 00:22:57.640
but you do not always have me.
00:22:58.620 --> 00:23:01.420
Now, Jesus is here not being dismissive to the poor.
00:23:01.560 --> 00:23:04.140
He's not disregarding the poor at all, right?
00:23:04.180 --> 00:23:05.240
In many places he has taught
00:23:05.240 --> 00:23:07.060
that we ought to care for the poor,
00:23:07.160 --> 00:23:08.720
sell our possessions and give to the poor
00:23:08.720 --> 00:23:11.620
and store up heavenly reward.
00:23:11.799 --> 00:23:15.320
He's not being anti-poor in this case.
00:23:15.440 --> 00:23:16.940
But what he's likely doing
00:23:16.940 --> 00:23:19.360
is referencing Deuteronomy chapter 15
00:23:19.360 --> 00:23:21.080
and verse 11.
00:23:21.180 --> 00:23:22.220
Which says this,
00:23:23.320 --> 00:23:26.880
For there will never cease to be poor in the land.
00:23:27.039 --> 00:23:28.920
That's what we think he's citing right there.
00:23:29.519 --> 00:23:30.900
Therefore, the text goes on,
00:23:30.980 --> 00:23:33.299
I command you in your land.
00:23:33.759 --> 00:23:35.660
So the familiarity with this text,
00:23:35.920 --> 00:23:36.820
when he says that,
00:23:36.900 --> 00:23:37.539
they would have known,
00:23:37.620 --> 00:23:39.240
oh, he's not speaking against,
00:23:39.400 --> 00:23:41.880
he's saying there will be future opportunity
00:23:41.880 --> 00:23:44.700
because the poor will be in the land.
00:23:44.759 --> 00:23:45.960
They will never cease to be in the land.
00:23:46.039 --> 00:23:46.360
And therefore,
00:23:46.440 --> 00:23:47.840
our generosity towards the poor
00:23:47.840 --> 00:23:49.180
should never cease.
00:23:49.180 --> 00:23:51.120
The difference here
00:23:51.120 --> 00:23:54.299
is that you won't always have me.
00:23:54.960 --> 00:23:56.160
Bodily form,
00:23:56.380 --> 00:23:57.799
here on earth
with you.
00:23:58.140 --> 00:23:59.920
So to be generous toward me
00:23:59.920 --> 00:24:01.460
was an appropriate thing
00:24:01.460 --> 00:24:02.799
for Mary to do
00:24:02.799 --> 00:24:04.279
in this moment.
00:24:04.279 --> 00:24:06.619
So,
00:24:07.220 --> 00:24:08.859
some final applications
00:24:08.859 --> 00:24:09.839
in closing,
00:24:09.980 --> 00:24:10.539
just to sum
00:24:10.539 --> 00:24:11.519
some of this up
00:24:11.519 --> 00:24:12.200
for us.
00:24:13.399 --> 00:24:14.399
Number one,
00:24:15.259 --> 00:24:16.559
remember the grace
00:24:16.559 --> 00:24:18.099
you have received.
00:24:19.460 --> 00:24:20.639
Lazarus at the table
00:24:20.639 --> 00:24:21.799
reminds us
00:24:21.799 --> 00:24:22.920
that Christian devotion
00:24:22.920 --> 00:24:23.639
begins
00:24:23.639 --> 00:24:24.980
with resurrection
00:24:24.980 --> 00:24:26.200
grace.
00:24:26.200 --> 00:24:28.140
We recline
00:24:28.140 --> 00:24:29.200
and we serve
00:24:29.200 --> 00:24:30.039
and we worship
00:24:30.039 --> 00:24:31.819
because Christ
00:24:31.819 --> 00:24:32.680
has made
00:24:32.680 --> 00:24:33.840
dead sinners
00:24:33.840 --> 00:24:35.039
alive.
00:24:35.580 --> 00:24:36.759
All of it's possible
00:24:36.759 --> 00:24:37.920
because of what God
00:24:37.920 --> 00:24:38.319
has done
00:24:38.319 --> 00:24:39.580
on our behalf
00:24:39.580 --> 00:24:40.559
and the personal work
00:24:40.559 --> 00:24:41.319
of Jesus.
00:24:41.460 --> 00:24:42.140
Remember the grace
00:24:42.140 --> 00:24:43.160
you have received.
00:24:44.180 --> 00:24:44.700
Number two,
00:24:45.779 --> 00:24:46.279
examine
00:24:46.279 --> 00:24:47.920
what your sacrifices
00:24:47.920 --> 00:24:48.880
reveal
00:24:48.880 --> 00:24:50.620
about Christ's worth
00:24:50.620 --> 00:24:51.799
to you.
00:24:52.080 --> 00:24:53.140
Just ask that question
00:24:53.140 --> 00:24:53.559
again.
00:24:53.759 --> 00:24:54.920
What is Jesus worth
00:24:54.920 --> 00:24:55.800
to you?
00:24:56.660 --> 00:24:57.700
Our use of money,
00:24:58.080 --> 00:24:58.519
time,
00:24:59.080 --> 00:24:59.500
comfort,
00:25:00.440 --> 00:25:00.980
reputation,
00:25:01.360 --> 00:25:02.000
and energy
00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:03.539
reveals what we believe
00:25:03.539 --> 00:25:04.400
is valuable.
00:25:05.560 --> 00:25:06.779
How do you spend
00:25:06.779 --> 00:25:08.420
and how are you
00:25:08.420 --> 00:25:09.519
spent?
00:25:10.720 --> 00:25:12.200
How do you spend
00:25:12.200 --> 00:25:13.480
and how are you
00:25:13.480 --> 00:25:14.660
spent?
00:25:15.720 --> 00:25:16.600
What do you think
00:25:16.600 --> 00:25:17.259
about most?
00:25:17.539 --> 00:25:18.420
What do you talk
00:25:18.420 --> 00:25:19.240
about most?
00:25:19.960 --> 00:25:21.060
Start to notice
00:25:21.060 --> 00:25:22.279
what this may communicate
00:25:22.279 --> 00:25:23.980
about your heart
00:25:23.980 --> 00:25:24.900
and what about you
00:25:24.900 --> 00:25:27.300
truly value.
00:25:28.940 --> 00:25:29.680
Third,
00:25:30.880 --> 00:25:32.300
beware of respectable
00:25:32.300 --> 00:25:32.900
arguments
00:25:32.900 --> 00:25:34.580
that conceal
00:25:34.580 --> 00:25:35.960
sinful loves.
00:25:37.200 --> 00:25:38.480
Judas teaches us
00:25:38.480 --> 00:25:39.600
that the human heart
00:25:39.600 --> 00:25:40.560
is capable
00:25:40.560 --> 00:25:41.640
of clothing,
00:25:41.920 --> 00:25:42.180
greed,
00:25:42.180 --> 00:25:43.860
and false worship
00:25:43.860 --> 00:25:44.880
of all sorts
00:25:44.880 --> 00:25:46.600
in theological
00:25:46.600 --> 00:25:48.100
language.
00:25:48.880 --> 00:25:49.840
Beware of respectable
00:25:49.840 --> 00:25:50.360
arguments
00:25:50.360 --> 00:25:51.280
that conceal
00:25:51.280 --> 00:25:53.080
sinful loves.
00:25:53.079 --> 00:25:53.179
things.
00:25:54.179 --> 00:25:55.279
And fourth,
00:25:55.619 --> 00:25:56.220
and lastly,
00:25:57.220 --> 00:25:58.339
do not confuse
00:25:58.339 --> 00:26:00.099
extravagant devotion
00:26:00.099 --> 00:26:01.779
with waste.
00:26:02.500 --> 00:26:03.619
The world,
00:26:03.740 --> 00:26:04.259
and sometimes
00:26:04.259 --> 00:26:05.119
even professing
00:26:05.119 --> 00:26:05.519
Christians,
00:26:05.619 --> 00:26:06.299
will regard
00:26:06.299 --> 00:26:07.460
wholehearted devotion
00:26:07.460 --> 00:26:08.259
to Christ
00:26:08.259 --> 00:26:09.559
as excessive.
00:26:09.559 --> 00:26:11.299
but nothing
00:26:11.299 --> 00:26:12.259
is wasted
00:26:12.259 --> 00:26:13.000
when it is
00:26:13.000 --> 00:26:13.799
genuinely given
00:26:13.799 --> 00:26:14.819
to the one
00:26:14.819 --> 00:26:16.259
of infinite
00:26:16.259 --> 00:26:17.279
worth.
00:26:17.279 --> 00:26:19.359
Let's pray.
00:26:19.359 --> 00:26:19.359
00:26:19.359 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700
00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.700