Sermon Notes, March 17, 2013
Pastor Jan Sinozich
Pastor
Jan’s message was titled Journey to the Cross: Giving Back Extravagantly. It was based on Luke 12:1-8, the story of
Mary anointing Jesus’ feet.
It happened in Bethany , which was on the road from Jericho
to Jerusalem Bethany ,
for the sick and poor who couldn’t take care of themselves: the name Bethany
The characters
in this story are Jesus, on his way to the cross; Lazarus who was a celebrity—a
miracle—practically a billboard for Jesus; Martha serving the meal, using her gift of
hospitality, doing what she does so Mary
can do what she does; and Judas, one of the twelve disciples and keeper of the
cash.
Mary turns the
dinner party upside down when she breaks a bottle of expensive nard, pouring it
over the feet of Jesus. The fragrance of
the perfume spreads throughout the house. Judas questions Mary’s “wasting” such an
expensive bottle of perfume, on the pretense that it could have been sold and
given to the poor. She bridges what was
with what will be. She sees who Jesus
is—the Messiah, her savior. She values
her relationship with him: the expensive perfume doesn’t compare to this
relationship. Her faith becomes
works. She puts herself in the place of
a servant. Jesus tells Judas that the
poor will always be with them—he can be charitable to them any time. But he, Jesus, will not always be with them,
and Mary’s actions will be repeated wherever his story is told.
In this story,
Lazarus gives his testimony. Martha
gives her service. Judas gives his expert opinion. Mary gives her best. And Jesus gives himself. (John 3:16).
Do we see our
community as an alms house, taking care of the sick and poor? Are we building relationships with the
community? Do we serve the community,
spreading the fragrance of God? Let’s break open our “bottles of nard” and let
the fragrance of God’s love linger as we give our gifts back to Him through our
relationships and service to others.
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