WTTW: HIS WORD

SUNDAY

“Waste & Remove”

Psalm 95:6

Come, let us bow down in worship,
let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;

GOD'S WORD: John 12:1-11

Paraphrase

Six days before the Passover a dinner was held in Jesus honor in Bethany at the home of Lazarus - the man he raised from the dead. While Martha was serving and Lazarus was reclining at the table, Mary poured expensive perfume on Jesus' feet wiping it off with her hair fragrantly filling the room in the process.

Judas Iscariot who would latter betray Jesus and who was an embezzler of the money entrusted to him to manage for the disciples publically declared Mary’s use of expensive perfume for Jesus as wasteful promoting instead that it could have been used to feed the poor - covering up his real desire to steal it for his own use.

Telling Judas to leave Mary alone - that he didn’t understand the significance of Mary’s sacrifice for him in light of his coming death and burial- he pointed out to Judas that since the poor are always in need Mary’s burial offering as appropriate as it is provides no excuse for neglecting the poor.

When a large crowd heard Lazarus was present with Jesus they came to see the man who had been raised from the dead - something causing many Jews to believe in Jesus as the Son of God - but also something causing the chief priests to plot Lazarus' death to remove the evidence of Jesus’ miracle.


Principles

Central Idea of the Text (CIT)
Interrogatory (INT)
Answer (ANS)


A. Meaning for 1st Century Readers

I. CIT: John told his 1st Century Readers that when Mary made a great sacrifice for Jesus in light of his coming death and burial, Judas declared it a waste while the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus because in coming to life he was causing many to believe in Jesus.

II. INT: Why did Judas declare Mary’s great sacrifice for Jesus a waste while the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus?

III. ANS: Judas declared Mary’s great sacrifice for Jesus while the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus because:

A. Judas was:

1. Dubious
2. Treacherous
3. Gluttonous

B. The Chief Priests were:

1. Dubious
2. Treacherous
3. Murderous


B. Meaning for 21st Century Readers

I. CIT: John tells us today that whenever a great sacrifice is made for Jesus in light of his death and burial, Some declares it a waste while Others plot to remove evidence of the resurrection that causes many to believe in Him.

II. INT: Why do Some declare great sacrifices made for Jesus a waste while Others plot to remove evidence that causes many to believe in Him?

III. ANS: Some declare great sacrifices made for Jesus a waste while Others plot to remove evidence that causes many to believe in Him because:

C. Some are:

1. Dubious
2. Treacherous
3. Gluttonous

D. Others are:

1. Dubious
2. Treacherous
3. Murderous

Prayer

LORD, we thank You for Mary’s perfume, that cleansed Jesus’ felt, pervading the room, revealing the great sacrifice she made for her Lord – the One who had raised her brother from the dead.

LORD, we thank You for Great Sacrifices that are made today for Jesus and what He has done on the Cross and in rising from the Grave.

LORD, we ask that those who like Judas who consider these sacrifices a waste can have their eyes opened.

LORD, we ask that those who like the chief priests want to cover up the miraculous signs of Jesus – including His Resurrection – will have changed hearts.

LORD, we ask that You will help us commit out lives to being Great Sacrifices to Jesus and Great Witnesses to His Resurrection so that others may come to understand who he is and what he has done.

In the name of Jesus our Lord and Savior,

Amen.