Jan Sinozich continued the Lenten Chorus of Voices with her sermon titled “Beyond the Surface: Is What You See, What you Get?” The scripture reference is John 12: 1-11, where we see Jesus as guest of honor at a party celebrating the resurrection of Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha.
It was a small party, to celebrate his physical healing, but lots of people crashed the party in order to see not only Jesus, but also Lazarus, the man raised from the dead. It was a small party that became a huge ministry opportunity. Lazarus had a testimony. Jesus had healed him physically and spiritually, inside and out. He knew Jesus was the Messiah. This upset the Sanhedrin, and they wanted to kill him as well as Jesus. We see a party. We get a testimony that celebrates Jesus as Messiah.
At the party, we see an extravagant present, with significant cost. Mary’s pure nard was the purest form of perfume and could have been diluted with oil and still retained its scent. Judas tells us a pint of pure nard was worth a year’s salary. We wonder why Mary did what she did. But her extravagant gift was accepted by Jesus. He saw it for what it was; her spiritual worship through the act of anointing. Only four classes of people were anointed: kings, priests, prophets, and the dead. Mary knew that He was all of these things and more. Her public anointing of Jesus had as much impact on the crowd as Lazarus ’testimony. At His feet, she acknowledged Jesus’ physical authority and His spiritual authority. She praised Him for who He was and what He had done for her. She gave Him all that she was. Judas, however, didn’t understand the extravagant spiritual gift of Mary. He’d never allowed Jesus to do anything for him—there was no testimony. He only understood what he saw. We see a significant cost, but we get a demonstration of significant sacrifice.
In John 11:47-50 we see the plan of the chief priests and Pharisees, a physical plan to kill a physical king. They thought His popularity would overthrow their earthly kingdom and put them out of power. They saw Him as a threat. By killing one man, they were going to save their authority and their nation; they thought death would be an end to their problems. Instead, we understand that the death of Jesus was the beginning of a testimony to God’s divine plan. Jesus died not only for the nation of the Jews, but for everyone. The scattered children of God are one through the sacrifice He made out of love for us. We get a spiritual plan of sacrifice that leads to eternal life; not just a physical king but a spiritual Messiah.
There really isn’t any other plan than God’s Plan. Judas’ plan didn’t succeed. Neither did the Sanhedrin’s plan. God’s plan prevailed over all. He sacrificed the most valuable thing He had so that we can get the pattern of worship. His plan is the only plan that gives us eternal life. His divine Plan is all over the Bible, and it’s here in John 12. When we begin to understand the extravagance of what Jesus has done for us, we will desire to give Him all that we are. That’s what Jesus wants. Are we telling a story, or do we have a testimony? Are we giving Jesus presents, or are we worshipping Him? Are we making our own plan, or are we a part of God’s divine plan?
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