Extravagant Devotion: A Heartfelt Encounter with Jesus
Summary
In today's reflection, we delve into the profound encounter between Mary, Judas, and Jesus, as depicted in John 12. This narrative challenges us to examine our own hearts and motivations in our relationship with Jesus. Mary’s act of anointing Jesus with expensive ointment is a powerful symbol of devotion and sacrifice. It is an act that transcends social norms and expectations, demonstrating a love that is both extravagant and prophetic. Mary’s actions foreshadow Jesus’ impending death and burial, highlighting the sacredness of her gift and the depth of her understanding, even if she herself may not fully grasp its significance.
In contrast, Judas represents a more calculated and self-serving approach. His criticism of Mary’s actions under the guise of concern for the poor reveals a heart that is more interested in personal gain than genuine devotion. Judas’ perspective is one of scarcity and control, unable to comprehend the abundance and extravagance of God’s grace. This juxtaposition between Mary and Judas invites us to reflect on our own lives: Are we living with a heart of reckless devotion like Mary, or are we calculating and cautious like Judas?
The story also invites us to consider the nature of Jesus’ kingdom, which is characterized by death and resurrection. Jesus’ response to Judas underscores the transformative power of His impending sacrifice, which will ultimately bring about the restoration of the world, including the poor and marginalized. This narrative challenges us to live in the tension of the now and not yet, embracing the uncertainty and risk that come with following Jesus.
Ultimately, the question posed to us is, "Who is Jesus to you?" This question is central to understanding our place in this story and in the broader narrative of God’s redemptive work. As we ponder this question, we are invited to receive the extravagant love of God, to live lives marked by risk and devotion, and to be the aroma of Christ in a world that desperately needs His grace.
Key Takeaways:
1. Extravagant Devotion: Mary's act of anointing Jesus with costly ointment is a profound expression of love and devotion. It challenges us to consider what we are willing to sacrifice for Jesus and whether our love for Him is marked by extravagance and risk. This act is a reminder that true devotion often defies social norms and expectations. [14:53]
2. The Heart of Judas: Judas' criticism of Mary's actions reveals a heart that is more concerned with personal gain than genuine devotion. His perspective is one of scarcity and control, unable to comprehend the abundance of God's grace. This invites us to examine our own motivations and whether we are using Jesus as a means to an end. [19:21]
3. The Kingdom of Jesus: Jesus' response to Judas highlights the transformative power of His impending death and resurrection. It is a reminder that the kingdom of Jesus is characterized by sacrifice and restoration, and it challenges us to live in the tension of the now and not yet, embracing the uncertainty and risk that come with following Him. [13:51]
4. Who is Jesus to You?: The central question of this narrative is, "Who is Jesus to you?" This question invites us to reflect on our relationship with Jesus and whether we are living with a heart of reckless devotion like Mary or a calculating and cautious heart like Judas. It is a call to receive the extravagant love of God and to live lives marked by risk and devotion. [22:48]
5. The Aroma of Christ: Mary's actions fill the room with a fragrance that symbolizes the presence of Christ. This invites us to be the aroma of Christ in the world, living lives that reflect His love and grace. It is a reminder that our actions and devotion can have a profound impact on those around us, pointing them to the transformative power of Jesus. [26:54]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [03:30] - Judas' Criticism
- [07:29] - The Tension at the Table
- [10:27] - Mary's Extravagant Gift
- [13:51] - Jesus' Response to Judas
- [14:53] - The Question of Devotion
- [16:55] - Judas' Perspective
- [19:21] - The Heart of Judas
- [20:26] - Cheap Grace vs. Extravagant Love
- [22:48] - Who is Jesus to You?
- [25:44] - The Reckless Love of God
- [26:54] - The Aroma of Christ
- [30:58] - Living with Risk
- [31:16] - Receiving Extravagant Love
- [34:29] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- John 12:1-8
- Romans 8:31-32
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Observation Questions:
1. What was the significance of Mary's act of anointing Jesus with expensive ointment, and how did it defy social norms? [07:29]
2. How did Judas react to Mary's actions, and what does this reveal about his character and motivations? [03:30]
3. What does Jesus' response to Judas' criticism tell us about His understanding of His mission and the nature of His kingdom? [13:51]
4. How does the aroma of the ointment symbolize the presence of Christ in the room, and what impact did it have on those present? [26:54]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. In what ways does Mary's act of devotion challenge the conventional understanding of sacrifice and love in the context of following Jesus? [10:27]
2. How does Judas' perspective of scarcity and control contrast with the abundance of God's grace as demonstrated by Mary's actions? [19:21]
3. What does the narrative suggest about the tension between living in the "now and not yet" of Jesus' kingdom, and how should this influence a believer's life? [13:51]
4. How does the question "Who is Jesus to you?" serve as a central theme in understanding one's relationship with Jesus and the broader narrative of God's redemptive work? [22:48]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt called to make a sacrifice for your faith. How did you respond, and what can you learn from Mary's example of extravagant devotion? [07:29]
2. Consider your motivations in your relationship with Jesus. Are there areas where you might be using Jesus as a means to an end, similar to Judas? How can you shift towards genuine devotion? [19:21]
3. How can you embrace the uncertainty and risk that come with following Jesus, as demonstrated by Mary's actions? What practical steps can you take to live with a heart of reckless devotion? [13:51]
4. In what ways can you be the "aroma of Christ" in your community, reflecting His love and grace to those around you? Identify one specific action you can take this week to embody this. [26:54]
5. The sermon challenges us to live in the tension of the "now and not yet" of Jesus' kingdom. How can you practically live out this tension in your daily life, especially in areas of uncertainty? [13:51]
6. Reflect on the question, "Who is Jesus to you?" How does your answer influence your daily decisions and interactions with others? What changes might you need to make to align more closely with the example of Mary? [22:48]
7. Identify a specific area in your life where you can take a risk for the sake of your faith. What steps will you take to move forward in this area, trusting in God's extravagant love and grace? [26:54]
Devotional
Day 1: Extravagant Devotion
Mary’s act of anointing Jesus with costly ointment is a profound expression of love and devotion. Her actions challenge us to consider what we are willing to sacrifice for Jesus and whether our love for Him is marked by extravagance and risk. This act is a reminder that true devotion often defies social norms and expectations. Mary’s understanding of Jesus’ impending death and burial, even if not fully grasped, highlights the sacredness of her gift. Her actions invite us to reflect on the depth of our own devotion and the ways we express our love for Jesus. [14:53]
Mark 14:3-4 (ESV): "And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. There were some who said to themselves indignantly, 'Why was the ointment wasted like that?'"
Reflection: What is one specific way you can show extravagant love and devotion to Jesus this week, even if it defies social norms or expectations?
Day 2: The Heart of Judas
Judas' criticism of Mary's actions reveals a heart that is more concerned with personal gain than genuine devotion. His perspective is one of scarcity and control, unable to comprehend the abundance of God's grace. This invites us to examine our own motivations and whether we are using Jesus as a means to an end. Judas’ approach contrasts sharply with Mary’s, highlighting the danger of a self-serving attitude in our spiritual lives. We are called to reflect on our own hearts and motivations, ensuring that our devotion to Jesus is genuine and not driven by ulterior motives. [19:21]
James 4:3 (ESV): "You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions."
Reflection: Identify an area in your life where your motivations might be more self-serving than genuinely devoted to Jesus. How can you realign your heart with God’s abundant grace today?
Day 3: The Kingdom of Jesus
Jesus' response to Judas highlights the transformative power of His impending death and resurrection. It is a reminder that the kingdom of Jesus is characterized by sacrifice and restoration, challenging us to live in the tension of the now and not yet. Embracing the uncertainty and risk that come with following Him is part of our journey as believers. Jesus’ kingdom is not about immediate gratification but about the ultimate restoration of the world, including the poor and marginalized. This perspective invites us to live with hope and courage, trusting in the transformative power of Jesus’ sacrifice. [13:51]
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (ESV): "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."
Reflection: In what area of your life are you struggling to embrace the uncertainty and risk of following Jesus? How can you trust in His transformative power today?
Day 4: Who is Jesus to You?
The central question of this narrative is, "Who is Jesus to you?" This question invites us to reflect on our relationship with Jesus and whether we are living with a heart of reckless devotion like Mary or a calculating and cautious heart like Judas. It is a call to receive the extravagant love of God and to live lives marked by risk and devotion. Understanding who Jesus is to us personally shapes our actions and decisions, influencing how we live out our faith in the world. This reflection is crucial for deepening our relationship with Jesus and aligning our lives with His purposes. [22:48]
Matthew 16:15-16 (ESV): "He said to them, 'But who do you say that I am?' Simon Peter replied, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.'"
Reflection: Reflect on your personal relationship with Jesus. Who is He to you, and how does this understanding influence your daily life and decisions?
Day 5: The Aroma of Christ
Mary's actions fill the room with a fragrance that symbolizes the presence of Christ. This invites us to be the aroma of Christ in the world, living lives that reflect His love and grace. Our actions and devotion can have a profound impact on those around us, pointing them to the transformative power of Jesus. Being the aroma of Christ means embodying His love, grace, and truth in our interactions with others, serving as a testament to His presence in our lives. This call challenges us to consider how our lives can be a fragrant offering to God and a blessing to those around us. [26:54]
2 Corinthians 2:15 (ESV): "For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing."
Reflection: How can you be the aroma of Christ in your community this week? What specific actions can you take to reflect His love and grace to those around you?
Quotes
But the result is Mary's defended by Jesus. Jesus speaks for her. He says, leave her alone. And then connects what Mary is doing to preparing Jesus for his burial. It is an anointing. I don't know how many of you have been anointed in your life. There is something sacred about that experience of being anointed, of having oil poured on your head. [00:12:15] (32 seconds)
Jesus believed that his coming death would be the action through which the whole world, including the world of the poor and impoverished, hear this, would be put to rights. The way of death and resurrection is the pattern of Jesus's kingdom, and this is a foreshadowing of that future event. [00:13:51] (21 seconds)
Are you Judas or are you Mary? And to answer that question, who is Jesus to you? Now, Judas, we, John gives us the background. Now, his concern was not sincere. He was on the take. I was reading something from a guy named Grayson Quay. He says, essentially, even if Judas was being sincere, that his exclamation suggests what? [00:14:59] (34 seconds)
Judas likes things he can understand, quantify, control. He likes to see a tangible return on investment. He has no patience for such these other realities. He prefers his idea of God to God himself. Now, let's stop there. Redeemer, are you post-scarcity? Are you uncomfortable with extravagance? [00:17:49] (31 seconds)
Judas thinks and talks about the poor at a distance. And so I think another question if we consider if we're Judas is, are we on the take? And the only way to answer that question is, who is Jesus to you? Do you see Jesus as a means to an end? Are you using Jesus for whatever those ends might be? [00:19:49] (29 seconds)
Mary, like this woman, has been given much, and so she risked it all and gives. It sounds like the prodigal son a little, the wayward son and the righteous son, both on the take. The wayward son sees his ways, repents, throws himself on the mercy of his father, but the elder brother, the true son, cannot see the gift of his prodigal father. [00:23:47] (27 seconds)
Paul says it like this in Romans 8, What shall we then say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Now what I want you to hear is that our God is recklessly spendthrift in his love for us. [00:25:20] (23 seconds)
and so who are you Mary or Judas and the only way to answer that question is who is Jesus to you if you see Jesus in this way recklessly spendthrift for you in his life, in his death, in his resurrection and in his ascension in the giving of his spirit which we'll talk about next week on Palm Sunday then risk is right a risky faith one that lives on the edge like Mary is so much more right than a secure and comfortable and cozy following of Jesus [00:26:05] (48 seconds)
She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. She's seen Lazarus die and live, so she knows a little bit of something about how the presence of Jesus meddles with the breath that sifts through our lungs. It seems she knows any day could be the day we die. Any day could be the day we live, and every day is worth anointing. [00:28:22] (25 seconds)
God's strength is a strength given to us to face the reality of being alive, but it's the strength that looks less like flexed muscle and more like a woman leaning over her ankles, wiping feet with her hair. I love that. The other result of this is her story is to be told. [00:29:34] (30 seconds)
In the previous chapter, John 11, too, it was Mary who anointed the Lord with the ointment and wiped his feet with her hair. The other gospels, Matthew 26 says, truly I say to you, whenever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her. The aroma fills the room. The aroma of Jesus fills the room. [00:30:04] (27 seconds)
No matter how we show up this morning, whether we're Judas or Mary, let us this morning as we come to the table be receivers of your extravagant grace over us. Let us follow Jesus in reception of your reckless giving. We ask this in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. [00:36:13] (25 seconds)
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