Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• What will we remember about todays St David's day service?
• What will we remember about Jesus' trip to Bethany and Mary's costly gift?
• She anointed the body of Jesus for burial
• This story will be remembered throughout many nations
• Background - v1: six days before the passover, Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead
• This was no optical illusion, he was not a ghost
• Jesus knowing He was going to the cross wanted to spend time with His family
• He went to the home of Simon the Leper (where the family was)
• Others around the table: Peter, John, Nathaniel, Lazarus, Simon
• Martha serves
• Mary is utterly devoted to the Lord Jesus
• Overview:
• Devotion
• Darkness
• Divinity

Devotion

• The story of St. David
• People want to remember St David
• The devotion of Mary will always be remembered, all over the world
• She poured perfume/oil over His head and feet
• It cost 300 denarii - almost a complete years wage
• Her devotion was very costly
• It was spontaneous love (but also prepared)
• Mary loved Jesus so much
• She loved Him because she knew that she was a sinner
• She knew forgiveness of sins and joy
• She knew the Saviour personally
• She had given her life to Him
• What do you think about religions?
• Examples
• Do you recognise that you are a sinner in the sight of a Holy God?
• It is hard for us to contemplate the holiness of God
• Mary had come to see Jesus as no other man?
• Do we love God with all our heart?
• Examples of Barnabas, Paul, Abraham, the Church of Macedonia, Dorcas
• Mary is captivated by Jesus
• What about you?

Darkness

• There is much light here but there is darkness too
• Judas Iscariot
• He cannot see love in the heart of Mary
• He criticizes her motives
• He sounds righteous - but was a thief (v6)
• He didn't care for the poor but only for himself
• Think of the contrast between Mary and Judas
• Judas is in absolute darkness
• Religion had not helped him - his heart was not transformed
• Where there is true devotion to Jesus there will be detractors
• Examples: David, lady in Luke 7

Divinity

• Jesus response v7-8
• Jesus says that she has done it for His death and burial
• This is the heart of the gospel
• Jesus cleanses us from all our vileness
• Jesus takes our sin
• Jesus was raised from the dead
• His mind was on the cross - resolute to go there for you and for e
• May it be that as God's people we go to the foot of the cross
• May we worship Him