Sermons on John 12:1-11
The various sermons below interpret John 12:1-11 by focusing on the different postures and expressions of faith demonstrated by the characters in the story. A common theme is the contrast between complacency and active worship, with several sermons urging believers to move beyond passive faith and engage in heartfelt worship. The analogy of physical posture in sports is used to illustrate how spiritual posture affects one's relationship with God, emphasizing the need for believers to adjust their spiritual stance. Another shared theme is the concept of "extravagant love," where Mary's act of anointing Jesus is seen as a lavish and selfless expression of devotion that transcends societal norms. This act is highlighted as a testament to the value of Jesus, challenging believers to consider what Jesus is worth to them and to respond with bold, generous love. Additionally, the sermons explore the idea of worship as a personal and sacrificial act, breaking away from societal and religious expectations to focus solely on devotion to God.
While the sermons share common themes, they also offer unique perspectives on the passage. One sermon emphasizes the cultural and religious inappropriateness of Mary's actions, drawing a parallel between her devotion and the Shekinah glory of God, suggesting that true worship transcends religious rituals and norms. Another sermon focuses on the different expressions of faith demonstrated by the siblings Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, using the analogy of family dynamics to illustrate how each sibling's actions represent different facets of faith. This sermon highlights the importance of using one's gifts in service to God, presenting faith as a communal experience. In contrast, other sermons focus more on the financial and social costs of Mary's actions, using the term "kingdomnomics" to explain that while her act doesn't make economic sense, it aligns perfectly with the values of the kingdom of God.
John 12:1-11 Interpretation:
Postures of Faith: From Complacency to Worship (Anchor Church McKinney) interprets John 12:1-11 by focusing on the different postures of the heart represented by the characters in the story. The sermon uses the analogy of physical posture in sports, particularly golf, to illustrate how spiritual posture affects one's relationship with God. The preacher emphasizes that just as a golfer must adjust their physical posture for a better swing, believers must adjust their spiritual posture to move from complacency to worship.
True Worship: Devotion Beyond Rituals and Norms (Kelly Crenshaw) offers a unique interpretation by highlighting the cultural and religious inappropriateness of Mary's actions. The sermon suggests that Mary's act of anointing Jesus' feet was a radical, selfless act of worship that broke societal norms. The preacher draws a parallel between Mary's devotion and the Shekinah glory of God, emphasizing that true worship transcends religious rituals and norms.
Extravagant Love: A Testament to Devotion (PromiseLand Church San Marcos) interprets John 12:1-11 as a demonstration of "extravagant love" through Mary's actions. The sermon emphasizes the lavishness and selflessness of Mary's act, describing it as a grand gesture that goes beyond societal norms. The pastor uses the term "kingdomnomics" to explain that while Mary's act doesn't make economic sense, it makes perfect sense in the kingdom of God. The sermon highlights the financial and social costs of Mary's actions, noting that her love for Jesus was worth everything to her.
Extravagant Love: A Heartfelt Response to Christ (PromiseLand Church San Marcos) offers a similar interpretation, focusing on the concept of "extravagant love" as characterized by lavishness and selflessness. The sermon underscores the financial and social costs of Mary's actions, emphasizing that her love for Jesus was worth everything. The pastor uses the term "kingdomnomics" to explain that while Mary's act doesn't make economic sense, it makes perfect sense in the kingdom of God. The sermon also highlights the prophetic aspect of Mary's actions, as she anoints Jesus in preparation for his burial.
Family Faith: Serving, Sacrificing, and Growing Together (Ryan Thurmon Official YouTube Channel) interprets John 12:1-11 by focusing on the different expressions of faith demonstrated by the siblings Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. The sermon highlights Martha's faith through her diligent service, Lazarus's faith through his devotion and proximity to Jesus, and Mary's faith through her sacrificial act of anointing Jesus with expensive perfume. The sermon uses the analogy of family dynamics to illustrate how each sibling's actions represent different facets of faith, emphasizing the importance of using one's gifts in service to God.
John 12:1-11 Theological Themes:
Postures of Faith: From Complacency to Worship (Anchor Church McKinney) presents the theme of complacency versus active worship. The sermon challenges believers to move beyond a passive faith that is content with minimal engagement, urging them to actively participate in worship and service. The preacher warns against the comfort of complacency, which can lead to a stagnant spiritual life.
True Worship: Devotion Beyond Rituals and Norms (Kelly Crenshaw) explores the theme of worship as a personal and sacrificial act. The sermon emphasizes that true worship involves breaking away from societal and religious expectations to focus solely on devotion to God. The preacher highlights the importance of personal sacrifice and vulnerability in worship, as demonstrated by Mary's actions.
Extravagant Love: A Testament to Devotion (PromiseLand Church San Marcos) presents the theme of "extravagant love" as a response to Jesus' ultimate sacrifice. The sermon emphasizes that true worship requires a costly and wholehearted expression of love, mirroring Jesus' love for humanity. The pastor challenges the congregation to consider what Jesus is worth to them and to respond with a love that is bold, generous, and transformative.
Extravagant Love: A Heartfelt Response to Christ (PromiseLand Church San Marcos) explores the theme of "extravagant love" as a response to Jesus' profound love and sacrifice. The sermon emphasizes that true worship requires a costly and wholehearted expression of love, mirroring Jesus' love for humanity. The pastor challenges the congregation to consider what Jesus is worth to them and to respond with a love that is bold, generous, and transformative.
Family Faith: Serving, Sacrificing, and Growing Together (Ryan Thurmon Official YouTube Channel) presents the theme of faith being expressed through service, devotion, and sacrifice. The sermon emphasizes that faith is not just about belief but is demonstrated through actions that reflect one's relationship with Jesus. It also introduces the idea that faith can be a communal experience, as seen in the family of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, who each express their faith in unique ways that contribute to a collective testimony of belief in Jesus.
John 12:1-11 Historical and Contextual Insights:
Postures of Faith: From Complacency to Worship (Anchor Church McKinney) provides insight into the cultural practice of reclining at the table during meals in Biblical times. The preacher explains that this was a common custom, contrasting it with modern dining practices to help the audience visualize the setting of the story.
True Worship: Devotion Beyond Rituals and Norms (Kelly Crenshaw) discusses the cultural norms of gender roles and religious propriety in the time of Jesus. The sermon highlights how Mary's actions were considered inappropriate for a woman in that society, emphasizing the radical nature of her worship.
Extravagant Love: A Testament to Devotion (PromiseLand Church San Marcos) provides insight into the cultural norms of the time, explaining that women did not let their hair down in public, as it was considered a violation of social customs. The sermon highlights the scandalous nature of Mary's actions, as she anoints Jesus with expensive perfume and wipes his feet with her hair.
Extravagant Love: A Heartfelt Response to Christ (PromiseLand Church San Marcos) offers similar insights into the cultural norms of the time, explaining that women did not let their hair down in public. The sermon highlights the scandalous nature of Mary's actions, as she anoints Jesus with expensive perfume and wipes his feet with her hair.
Family Faith: Serving, Sacrificing, and Growing Together (Ryan Thurmon Official YouTube Channel) provides historical context by explaining the significance of the Passover and the cultural norms of hospitality during Jesus' time. The sermon notes that the act of anointing with perfume was a significant gesture, especially given the cultural context where women typically did not let down their hair in public. The sermon also highlights the importance of the Passover as a high and holy Jewish festival, which adds urgency to the events leading up to Jesus' crucifixion.
John 12:1-11 Cross-References in the Bible:
True Worship: Devotion Beyond Rituals and Norms (Kelly Crenshaw) references the story of Jesus feeding the multitudes and the subsequent teaching about eating his flesh and drinking his blood. This reference is used to illustrate how Jesus' teachings often challenged societal norms and expectations, similar to how Mary's act of worship challenged cultural norms.
Extravagant Love: A Testament to Devotion (PromiseLand Church San Marcos) references the accounts in Matthew and Mark that retell the story of Mary anointing Jesus. The sermon notes that these accounts emphasize the generous nature of Mary's actions, as she anoints Jesus' head and body with the entire bottle of perfume.
Extravagant Love: A Heartfelt Response to Christ (PromiseLand Church San Marcos) also references the accounts in Matthew and Mark, highlighting the generous nature of Mary's actions. The sermon notes that these accounts emphasize the prophetic aspect of Mary's actions, as she anoints Jesus in preparation for his burial.
Family Faith: Serving, Sacrificing, and Growing Together (Ryan Thurmon Official YouTube Channel) references several other Bible passages to support its interpretation of John 12:1-11. It mentions Hebrews 11:1 to define faith as the substance of things hoped for and Romans 10:17 to emphasize that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. The sermon also references Romans 12:1-7 to discuss the use of spiritual gifts in service to God, and Psalm 23 to illustrate God's provision and protection.
John 12:1-11 Christian References outside the Bible:
Postures of Faith: From Complacency to Worship (Anchor Church McKinney) references a conversation with Pastor Jeff, who provides insight into Judas' character. Pastor Jeff suggests that Judas was not inherently a bad person but struggled with fear and control, which ultimately led to his betrayal of Jesus. This perspective adds depth to the understanding of Judas' actions in the passage.
John 12:1-11 Illustrations from Secular Sources:
Postures of Faith: From Complacency to Worship (Anchor Church McKinney) uses the analogy of playing golf to illustrate the importance of spiritual posture. The preacher describes how adjusting one's physical posture in golf can lead to a better swing, drawing a parallel to how adjusting one's spiritual posture can lead to a deeper relationship with God. The sermon also humorously references the phenomenon of fainting goats to illustrate how fear can paralyze believers, preventing them from responding in worship.
Extravagant Love: A Testament to Devotion (PromiseLand Church San Marcos) uses the analogy of a boy showering a girl with gifts and spending time with her to illustrate the concept of extravagant love. The pastor explains that love sees a worth in things that defies simple accounting, similar to how Mary saw Jesus as worthy of her most valuable possession.
Extravagant Love: A Heartfelt Response to Christ (PromiseLand Church San Marcos) uses a similar analogy, explaining that love sees a worth in things that defies simple accounting. The pastor emphasizes that Mary's act of anointing Jesus was an expression of love that went beyond economic sense, similar to how people express love in extravagant ways.