A God-Honoring Life

What constitutes a God-Honoring Life?  I think we will see our answer in today’s text. 

 

John’s Gospel is an interesting read.  John used 11 chapters to talk about 3 years of Jesus’ life.  Chapters 12-20 cover just over 1 week.  Needless to say, he is going to slow things down a lot.

 

Today’s story is also found in Matthew 26 and Mark 14.  A similar story is found in Luke 7, but it is not the same.

 

 

1. Scene One: A Party with Friends, 12:1-3

1 Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. 2 There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. 3 Then 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. 

 

The setting was a few days before Golgotha in a private home in Bethany.  Jesus probably got to Bethany on Friday night.  Perhaps He was staying with His close friends: Lazarus, Mary, and Martha.

 

On Saturday, there was a supper in Jesus’ honor.  Mark’s Gospel tells us it was at Simon the leper’s house.  It seems that this party was honor Jesus and celebrated Lazarus and Simon.  Can you even imagine them sharing healing stories?

 

Martha was doing her thing…serving others while verse 2 says that Lazarus was at the table with Jesus.  Because Matthew’s Gospel says that all of the Twelve were there, this is a party with friends that included at least 17 people.

 

The Lord Jesus was reclining at the table with His disciples and Lazarus.  Then Mary entered the room and brought to Him a pound of very costly oil of spikenard. 

 

This was about 11 ounces of perfume that had been imported from India.  She knelt at Jesus’ feet, broke open the flask, and poured it out upon His feet.  She then wiped His feet with her hair. 

 

Think about this act.  A Jewish woman touches another person’s feet.  This other person was a man that was not her husband.  She undid her hair in public and did the unthinkable.  Why?  Because of her love and appreciation for Jesus. 

 

This nard was used to anoint kings.  Jesus was Mary’s King of Kings.

 

Picture them reclining at a center table that was maybe 18 inches off the floor.  They would have been leaning on one elbow while eating with the other hand, and their legs and feet would have been extended away from the table.

 

The fragrance filled the whole house not just the room where they were.  Everyone was touched by the smell.  Sooner or later, everyone in the house would know what Mary had done because of the pleasing smell. 

 

 

2. Scene Two: A Perturbed Foe, 12:4-6

4 But 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?” 6 This 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.

 

From Judas’ perspective, he couldn’t understand why this perfume was not sold.  In Matthew 26:8, he called it “a waste.”  By the way, Judas is always described in Scripture as a foe, the one who would betray Jesus. 

 

He gave the perception that he was concerned about the poor, but in reality, he had other plans for the money that the oil would have received. 

 

300 denarii was considered to be a year’s wages.  In thinking about this, you might see this perfume as being worthy $20-$25-$30,000. 

 

By the way, Judas was thinking with his pocketbook rather than his heart.  In 2023, don’t be a Judas.  Be more like Mary who acted on her heart and not her pocketbook. 

 

 

3. Scene Three: A Prediction about the Future, 12:7-8

7 But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. 8 For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.”

 

In Matthew’s Gospel (26:10), Jesus said, “For she has done a good work for Me.”  Of all those in the home that night, Jesus offered the lone compliment or praise.  His was the one that counted.

 

Notice that this offering was “for Me.”  It wasn’t for the giver or the audience.  It was for Christ. 

 

However, we can’t help but think about the future as Jesus said she had kept this for the day of burial.  Little did they know that in a week’s time, Jesus would be dead and buried.

 

Verse 8 isn’t a derogatory remark about the poor.  Jesus simply stated the facts.  He wouldn’t always be with them, but the poor would.

 

 

Conclusion

So what can we take away from this story from three of the four gospels?

 

First, a God-Honoring Life will be pleasant to many.  Undoubtedly, what Mary did inspired many.  Her offering filled the entire house.  Listen to Matthew 26:13.

 

Matthew 26:13, “Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”  She is remembered forever because of the offering she gave.

 

If you’re living a God-Honoring Life, you will inspire many.  I look back and think about people like Bill Beasley and Dave Craddock.  They inspired me.

 

I think about Phyllis Friday and Carolyn Potts.  They inspired me.  Will you live a God-Honoring Life in 2023 that will be pleasant to many?

 

Second, a God-Honoring Life will perturb others.  Mary didn’t mean to perturb Judas, but God convicted Judas with Mary’s act.

 

That happens today as well.  When you live a life that is honoring of the Lord, you will irritate others.  Why?  Because they aren’t living a life that is honoring the Lord. 

 

You didn’t mean to do that.  However, that is how the Holy Spirit sometimes works to convict others of their sins.

 

Third, above else, let me challenge you to live a life that pleasing to One.  That is Jesus.  Mary’s act wasn’t for her.  It wasn’t for the audience.  It was for Jesus, and that is all that matters.

 

Today’s story ends with some Jews believing in Jesus because of the miraculous sign of Lazarus being resurrected from the dead.  Others continued to reject Jesus.  What will you do with Him today and in 2023?