Text: John 12:1-3
1 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
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.
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Introduction:
Have ever blamed God, Mary and Martha did.
John 11:21
Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
John 11:32
Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
John 11:35
Jesus wept.
But Jesus was not done, we get mad at God before we see the end result.
John 11:43-44
43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
Let us go back to our text and consider “Celebrating What Jesus Has Done For You”.
Martha, Mary and Lazarus, after Lazarus is raised from the dead, honor Jesus with a dinner.
Picture yourself at this house where a dinner celebration is going on, as you first come in you smell the food (Martha Served), then you hear an excited voice (Lazarus Testified), then you see someone bowing at the foot of Jesus (Mary Worshiped). WHAT A CELEBRATION!
Three People each with a different skill, but all equal, all important. Could the family and celebration been done without one of the three? Which one?
Can we as a church do without one of the three? All have a special place.
Paul talked about this:
Ephesians 4:11-16 (verse 11 “He gave some”, there are four “and somes”)
Verse 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
1. Servers
John 12:2a
There they made him a supper; and Martha served:… (Martha cooked, I bet it was good!)
Every Church needs Martha’s. Martha’s are not appreciated until they are gone. They are the “Energizer Bunnies” of the church. They clean, setup, buy supplies, they see something undone they do it, they see something broke they fix it.
But we all have weaknesses, so do Martha’s, they can make the serving more important then the people God loves (Example: Microphones).
Martha did that, remember.
Luke 10:39-41
39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
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.
41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
Martha loved to serve; she wanted others to be just like her. She went from serving Jesus, to demand of Jesus.
She let service steal the one she served.
2. Worshipers
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.
She brought her best for Jesus. All churches need Mary’s. Mary’s are gifted at praise. They don’t just sing they worship. They don’t talk Christ, they radiate Christ. Do you know a Mary; they take us to sit in heavenly places. We need Mary’s because we forget how much God loves worship. Mary’s don’t forget. Mary’s know that Jesus likes it when His children sit and learn at His feet.
Mary’s need to remember that things also need to get done.
3. Testifiers
John 12:2b
…but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
John 12:9-11
9 Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.
10 But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;
11 Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.
Wow, because of Lazarus’ story many believed, he had a story and he told it well. He would say, “I heard Jesus call, Lazarus come forth and I came out of the tomb”.
4. Hinderers
John 12:4-5
4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,
5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
Judas objected. But some refuse to be a Martha (server), Mary (worshiper) or Lazarus (testifier).
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.
Judas was a thief; he stole from other church members. For every Martha, Mary and Lazarus, there is a Judas, who take, take, take and never give. Judas was close to Jesus physically, but not spiritually. Judas took and benefited from the gifts of others, yet seldom, if ever gave of his own. Only criticized.
What a sad ending to a great story.
What is your place around Jesus?
Conclusion
If a Martha, God sees your service.
If a Mary, God receives your worship.
If a Lazarus, God hears your testimony.
But if a Judas, be warned, God sees your selfishness. |
