Tabor Baptist Church

• This woman's gift was very costly - it was extravagant love
• Lord help me to show such devotion (Not just in word but deed)

What is our devotion really like to the Lord?

• In the new Testament:
• Sinner who came into Simon the Pharisee's house
• She wept on Jesus feet
• She loves much because she has been given much
• Mary who sits at the feet of the Lord Jesus
• She was devoted to the word of God, to listen to the words of Jesus
• The poor widow who gave two mites
• She gave everything that she ever had
• Another lady mentioned (but not named)
• Mark 14, Matt 26
• John 12: She is Mary the sister of Martha, the sister of Lazarus
• Not just with words, but with position, with action
• Many of these women are mis-understood:
• The sinner in Simon the Pharisee's house
• He criticized her in his heart
• Martha criticized Mary
• The lady who gave the two mites would have been unnoticed or maybe despised if she had been seen
• Mary is criticized sharply for wasting money
• The money could have been given to the poor
• Their devotion was criticized and mis-understood
• How often does this happen today?
• Jesus sees this devotion and accepts it
• Jesus speaks up for her (v6 and v9)
• This situation takes place in the house of Simon the Leper - He must have healed him
• It occurs 6 days before the Passover (John 12)
• Lazarus was here
• Martha was serving
• Mary's heart was so thankful to Jesus: for raising Lazarus from the dead, for forgiving sinners, for forgiving her sins
• There are some differences between the accounts
• John - anoints his feet
• Matthew & Mark - anoints his head
• They give us more light and understand on what was happening in the house
• Some think the 'two' passages are speaking about two different anointings, though this is almost certainly not the case
• These so-called discrepancies can be easily explained

Mainly looking at Mark 14:3-9

It was an act of worship

• It was an act of worship, an act of love
• There were no words, it was from her heart
• Mary often did not speak
• Her actions speak louder than her words
• She had a submissive, quiet spirit
• She is a woman full of thankfulness and gratitude
• A pound worth (12oz) of pure nard
• She wanted to show how much she loved Him
• No sacrifice was too much
• Maybe this was the most precious thing she had
• It was worth nearly a year's wage
• Have you met people like this, who are overflowing with love for the Lord Jesus?
• You can see it in them
• Example of the couple who gave $3'500 to the church from their house

It was an extravagant act

• It was a year's worth - about 300 days if they didn't work on Sabbath's
• How much do you earn in a year?
• The oil was costly
• The alabaster jar was a type of marble
• The perfume filled the whole room
• Many are criticized for giving too little or giving too much
• It is very easy to criticize people
• Couldn't this have benefited others?
• We forget that God owns everything - can He not supply to others?
• How are we to judge if someone devotes something to the Lord?
• What would people say about CT Studd when he gave his fortune to God?
• Do we see extravagant love in the Bible?
• Barnabas
• The people of Macedonia give beyond what the have - 2 Cor 8

It was a criticized act

• v4
• In John's gospel there was one person who started the criticism - Judas
• He was the treasure, he looked after the money
• He was stealing from it
• He had not intention of giving it to the poor but wanted to steal from it
• Judas' initial criticism sparked others to criticise
• Is this not how criticism spreads?
• Should we not be slow to accept criticism when it occurs?
• We need to be careful not to have a critical or negative spirit
• Mary says nothing but Jesus defends her (v6)
• "Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her?"
• Jesus always wanted to help the poor
• The early church always wanted to help the poor
• Paul wanted to help the poor
• The poor will always be here but Jesus would not
• Isn't it wonderful that we have a Saviour who speaks for us?
• We can receive criticism from so many areas: friends, family, non-Christians, the devil
• "If God is for us, who can be against us?"
• "Who can bring a charge against God's elect?"
• Jesus is our advocate and He defends us
• We shouldn't overly worry when people criticise us

It was a symbolic/prophetic act

• Her act had a greater significance
• She was anointing Jesus for His burial
• Jesus body would not see decay
• He was not like Lazarus who was dead for 4 days and his body stank
• Jesus was being prepared for His death, burial and ascension
• Jesus wanted those to understand that what Mary had done was a good work
• Jesus wanted this to be spoken about wherever the gospel was preached

It was an honoured act

• v9
• She would never have thought that people would have written down this event
• She would never have thought that people of all different languages would have been reading about this
• It is an example for us: of heart love
• It is there to test our devotion to the Lord
• Example of the little girl collecting pennies
• Is our devotion like the couple who gave their home?
• Is our devotion like Mary's?
• What are we prepared to give away - what is precious to us?
• If Jesus gave His life for us, then nothing should be too great for us to give to Him