The Costliest Gift
John 12:1 - 8 (NKJV) 1Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. 2There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. 3Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. 4But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, 5“Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. 7But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. 8For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.”
Her name is Mary
ILL: They made Him a supper and Martha served Him, Lazarus sat before Him but Mary had been at His feet. What does it mean to be at His feet?
Learning
Leaning
Adoring
Martha served Him – How good it is to be His servant, but it is not enough!
Lazarus was His friend – How good it is to be His friend, but it is not enough!
Mary bowed before Him – He is more than man and therefore should be worshiped!
She gave Him her costliest gift – true love is always extravagant!
Mark 14:3 - 5 (NKJV) 3And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head. 4But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? 5For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply.
At the house of “Simon the leper”
ILL: How extravagant is this? Jesus, Lazarus, Martha, Mary, and Christ’s disciples in the house – a neighbor of Lazarus’ home – and he is a leper, one who was ceremonially unclean! How extravagant is Jesus and the Holy Spirit that they would come into your heart?
Very costly oil of spikenard.
ILL; Perfume in Egypt is kept in an oil base so that the smell can remain in a house a year or more – those who were indignant of the gift knew is value – an entire years wage for a family!
Love is extravagant! But the true lover never calculates the cost.
ILL: Love gives it all and only regrets that it hasn’t more to give!
ILL: O. Henry wrote “The Gift of the Magi” here in Greensboro NC. It is the story of Della and Jim. Della had her hair which was her glory, Jim had his gold watch. Neither had enough to buy the other a present for Christmas, Della sold her hair for twenty dollars and Jim sold him watch to buy Della a comb!
ILL; I’ll never forget the Christmas that my father said I could have one present – I chose a ladies watch to give to Mary – don’t tell me that it you give you will not receive!
True giving love has humility – she wiped His feet with her hair!
True love is entirely unselfconscious!
ILL: It was unseeingly for a woman to let her hair down in the presence of a man she was not married to.
ILL: How conscious are you of your public witness to Jesus?
There is a time in giving – giving out of time misses the mark of love
Mark 16:1 - 8 (NKJV) 1Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. 2Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3And they said among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?” 4But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large. 5And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. 7But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.” 8So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
ILL: They brought spices to anoint Him but He was raised – to little to late!
Iv. Judas’ attitude toward the gift
John 12:4 - 6 (NKJV) 4But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, 5“Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.
Judas had a concern as to how the money was used because he was a thief.
It was not his money
It was not his gift
It was not any of his business
ILL; I cannot tell you how many times I have seen Judas and his attitude in the Church.
ILL: “ G. Campbell Morgan writes, “The calculating prudence, which is more occupied with the gift than with the Lord, ever borders upon that treachery which may at last sell him for thirty pieces of silver, or even less.”
Handling money tells how you are on the inside
Do you refuse to tithe – you are a thief!
Do you count your tithe to the penny – you are a miser!
When your heart and the Holy Spirit tell you to give – do you wait for a more convenient time – you are missing your opportunity for blessing!
ILL: I am reminded of the story of the man who saved all his money to purchase a gold plated automobile and to be buried in it. At his funeral, as they were lowering the car in the ground with the corpse sitting behind the steering wheel someone remarked, “Now that is really living!”
