Old Llantrisant Hill
Introduction
- Looking at questions
- A question from Judas Ischariot
- On the fact of it - a reasonable question
- Overview:
- One Worthier
- Christianity is more than doing good to the poor
- Our attitude is more important that our deeds
- Perhaps Christians do extravagant acts that others do not understand
- Why not give to the poor?
One Worthier
- 6 days before the Passover (v1)
- The people were told to be on the look out for Jesus Christ (John 11:57)
- Jesus withdraws to Bethany
- He often spent time with Martha, Mary and Lazarus
- On this occasion, Jesus is in the house of Simon the Leper (Matt 26:6)
- Perhaps because this is a safer place
- A meal
- Perhaps a celebration meal
- Perhaps a final celebration meal - example
- Not just Martha, Mary and Lazarus but Simon too (an ex-leper)
- Martha served (v2)
- She is a woman who often gets a bad rap from preachers
- A gentle rebuke from Jesus (Luke 10:38-42)
- Martha has a servant spirit
- Doing things quietly in the background - cooking, maybe cleaning
- Jesus is one that Serves
- He is the greatest example of Service
- Mark 10:45
- Service is not just confined to a church building
- Examples - looking after your family and neighbours
- Mary has prepared something
- Very costly spikenard / very expensive perfume
- One pound - worth 300 denarii - nearly a years a worth wage, a lot of money
- She had clearly thought about this
- She anoints Jesus first on the head - speaking of His Kingship/Royal Priesthood
- She anoints Jesus feet and wipes them with her hair
- The whole place is filled with fragrance
- Everyone must have stood back and reflected - except Judas
- Later the others complained too
- Jesus had said wonderful things to the women
- They had great confidence in Jesus
- What is our confidence in life and death?
- We are living post death and resurrection of Jesus - do you believe and what difference does it make?
- What Mary did was great but what Jesus did was far greater
- The good news of the gospel - we can have peace with God, certainty of heaven with Christ
- Lyrics from song 'When I Survey the Wondrous Cross'
- Mary could not see the cross but she loved Jesus
- That we would give our life completely to Jesus
Christianity is more than doing good to the poor
- As a Church we want to help the poor - examples
- Religion is not just to help the poor
- Christianity has made a significant impact upon the UK - examples
- Christians have fought for justice
- Our chief aim is to preach the gospel and turn people away from sin
- The source of all social problems is sin - examples
- Jesus has come to give us a new heart
- It is not possible for humans to eradicate poverty (v8)
- There will aways be greed
- There will always be war
- There will always be exploitation
- Yet as Christians we want to help the poor - examples
- Church is not first and foremost about helping the poor
Our attitude is more important that our deeds
- If Judas had a better attitude - he would still be wrong as he was judging someone with a pure heart
- Yet Jesus could judge the heart and saw his impure motives
- The other disciples could not see this - they did not even realise who would betray Jesus
- His attitudes were all wrong
- He loved money rather than loyalty to Jesus ... and the other eleven disciples
- He loved money so much he is prepared to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver
- His heart is corrupt
- What about our heart attitudes?
- Do we use Christianity to give ourselves an air of superiority ... as insurance?
- Judas was using Christianity for his own ends
- There have been many Judas' in history
- Jesus knows if we love Him or other things
- Do you love Jesus Christ?
- Mary did not understand the significant of her act - she was anointing Jesus for His burial
- Jesus said it would be spoken about throughout all the world
- Wouldn't it be wonderful if we left a legacy about Jesus?
- Example of the widow's mite, Abraham
- Example of Mother's Day
- The best way to honour God is to give our all to Him
- Respond in love