She Perfumed the World
John 12:1-6, John 11:52-57
I: “They Made Him a Supper.” vs. 12
1. “6 days before the passover,” the time of his death.
2. “The house of simon the leper.” Mark 14:3
3. “Martha served.”
4. “Lazarus was 1 of them that sat at the table with him.” (other observers)
5. “Then took Mary a proud of ointment of spikenard, very costly.”
II: “Very Costly.”
1. Equivalent to 300 days of labor or enough to feed 5,000 men.
2. Probably the most precious thing she owned in this life.
3. The price astonished those present.
4. Judas started the murmur of discontent.
5. He judged her gift and suggested a better way to serve Christ.
6. His own heart was prepared to sell Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.
7. To him the gift of love was far too much.
8. Others were affected by his attitude.
9. John called Judas a thief.
10. Jesus said “leave her alone.” “Wherever the gospel is preached.” The perfume filled the house and still perfumes the preaching of the gospel.
III: “A Memorial for her.”
1. The wordily mind cannot understand the Christian sacrifice. The giving of time, talent, or tithe.
2. The Church could give all to the needy of our acquaintance, we could undergird the civic organizations with these gifts. The sweet smell of devoted love to Christ would disappear and man’s hope of Salvation would be sold for 30 pieces of silver.
3. Some sweet smelling spikenard that I have smelled. “The Model T, a widow woman give to George Loving.” The projector screen, bought in Belleville, Ark with egg money. The men of Santa Maria mortgaged homes and cars to pay the debt on their church. The mother in law Virgle Lundy, Mother Jackson. “Brother George, I’ve been thinking,” Brother Massey in a motel of Oregon.
IV: Beyond the Ordinary.
1. Times in our lives we must rise above the normal.
2. It is the need of our age to find Christians rising above the average and face the murmuring of some.
3. “The love of Christ constraints me.”
She Perfumed the World John 12:1-8, Mark 14:3-9
I: Jesus Arrives at Bethany.
1. Religious leaders planned his death.
2. Lazarus, Martha, and Mary, the leper Simon, and many friends made a supper.
3. Their hearts were light but his burdened.
II: The Alabaster Box of Spikenard.
1. The box contained 1,300 days labor or enough to feed 5,000 men and their families.
2. Her deed was mixed with sorrow, faith, and devotion which made it more precious.
3. The house was filled with the odor.
4. Her deed has caused such a sweet odor.
5. Judas hated more, more loved the more.
III: The Perfume of Christian Devotions.
1. Who has smelled the sweet devotion of Jonathan and David?
2. The sweet perfume of a captive daughter giving directions that healed Naaman.
3. The perfume of Peter hunting Andrew.
4. The Prayers of Stephen for Paul.
5. Of the multitude that have sacrificed, bled and died to bring the good news to us. The widow’s mite.
IV: What Kind of Perfume have We?
Shall we leave a sweet memory. Dare we sacrifice our precious ointment (Men of Santa Maria). Will we be known to clutch the money bag? Our world needs to smell the perfume of genuine sacrificial service.
The church built with rice, Mrs. Blaylock with titles and eggs.