Old Llantrisant Hill
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