Dr. Hugh Hamilton
Trinity Presbyterian Church – Pensacola, FL 
April 7, 2019   5th Sunday of Lent, Cycle C

JESUS ON THE MOVE. 4. Jesus Moves Us to Empty Ourselves
John 12:1-8   Philippians 3:8-14 

What was Mary thinking, anointing Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume and wiping them with her hair?  What a waste of money! She could have sold the oil and given the money to the poor! Plus, she violated the customs of the day!  A woman would not sit at a man’s feet in public, much less let down her hair in public; and certainly not wipe his feet with her hair. This whole incident was a very private act that others were permitted to see. Mary’s reckless, extravagant, behavior shocked the dinner crowd, and immediately she was criticized for what she did. 

Mary didn’t let her critics stop her from doing what she did. She knew what was about to happen when Jesus entered Jerusalem, and even if she didn’t know the details, she knew was going to be crucified.  She prepared a gift that shocked the disciples and the dinner guests; but Jesus loved it.  Jesus welcomed her gift and defended her against her critics. 

What was Mary’s motive for her extravagant gift?
•	Was it an act of worship, an act of adoration?
•	Was she thanking Jesus for raising her bother, Lazarus, from the dead?
•	Was she aware that she was anointing his body for burial ahead of time?
•	 Whatever her motive, Mary seized the opportunity and Jesus welcomed it.
Mary pours out her vial of precious oil and wipes his feet, 
   pours out her heart and soul to honor him and comfort him.  
      In the next few days Jesus in turn will wash the feet of his disciples before 
        pouring out his life for them…and us.
           Such love doesn’t count the costs, it just sacrifices for the ones you love. 

The other dinner guests think Jesus is celebrating a moment of triumph; he’d raised Jesus from the dead and people are proclaiming him the Messiah!   The crowds are pushing in on Jesus and begging him to perform miracles and healings, to meet their needs!  
      Mary sees the toll it is taking on Jesus and she wants to meet HIS need!
The crowd thinks Jesus is celebrating his triumphs; but Jesus is preoccupied with Jerusalem, with the cross that awaits him there and is looming larger every day. While the dinner guests celebrate the resurrection of Lazarus, Jesus is thinking of his upcoming death and burial.  
     Mary sensed that Jesus was troubled.  Mary intuited Jesus’ inner turmoil; she read what was on Jesus’ mind and sensed what was on his heart. She saw what Judas and the others did not see, and she did what Judas and the others did not do; she made herself available to his struggles and contributed to his emotional needs. 

When Jesus raised her brother Lazarus from the dead, Mary realized that Jesus was more than a teacher or a prophet. She knew he had power and authority that could only come from God.  To Mary, this precious oil was not extravagant, but rather a gift fitting for a king, her king, her Lord and Savior!  In the Old Testament four groups were anointed: kings, prophets, priests, and the dead.  Jesus fits the first three groups. In a few days he will join the fourth. Mary understands Jesus better than his own disciples did.

In the gospels, three times Mary sits at Jesus’ feet.
In Luke 10 she wants to hear the words of the Lord as he teaches.
In John 11 she wants to experience the works of the Lord and he raises Lazarus.
In John 12 she wants to declare the worth of the Lord.
Mary came to this dinner party, but 
•	She did not come to eat the meal.
•	She did not come to fellowship with the others.
•	She did not come to ask a question.
•	She did not come to listen.
•	She came to give her best to Jesus to honor and thank him.
She breaks the alabaster vial and pours out the expensive oil
   anointing Jesus, soothing Jesus, acknowledging Jesus as Lord and Savior…
     she humbles herself and worships and honors Jesus, 
          thanking him for what he is about to do, thanking him for his gift to us – 
             his life poured out for our salvation. 
The fragrance of her sacrifice…is set free until it fills the whole house.
Mary’s gift and Jesus’ sacrifice will not be confined – their fragrance will spread among the people, until it fills the house of God’s creation.  

Judas objects to Mary’s anointing of Jesus’ feet with the expensive perfume; Jesus rebukes Judas, explaining that she has anointed his body burial. That comment would not have made much sense at that moment. The disciples wouldn’t understand it until after the crucifixion.

Mary did what could be done, needed to be done, while it could be done. 
When they took Jesus’ body down from the Cross, there was not time to anoint it before the Sabbath began, and when the women came to anoint his body in the tomb on Easter morning,
it was too late!  He was a risen!
Mary knew she might not have this chance again, so with extravagant devotion – she acted, no matter what others might think or say!

How often do we have a chance to do or say something helpful, and we fail to do it?
We fail to say a kind word or write a simple note of thanks or encouragement.
We fail to visit and simply “sit at their feet” listening to them, seeking to understand and to share what they are experiencing.
We’re too quick to deliver the meal and depart without sitting at their feet and understanding what they are going through.
We often make them meet us on our ground, on our terms, at our agenda.
    We make them do as we do, think as we think, believe as we believe. 
How wonderful it can be when we put aside our own cares and listen, listen, listen…
   Meet them at their point of need before we offer our love and care and advice.
      How tragic to go through life with our love and care bottled up in unbroken jars, 
            unable to share love and care and our witness to God!

Some folks are self-conscious about being a Christian – concerned what others will think or say. 
  So, they hide their religion, don’t let anyone know they love and serve God.
     Not Mary!  She loved Jesus so much that she didn’t care what others thought!
Jesus said that Mary is the one whose contribution to the dinner banquet would be forever remembered and favored:
      Mark 14:9 - “Wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, that which this woman 	has done shall be spoken in memory of her.”	
The meal may be forgotten; the clothes, the house, the music, the party itself, 
    but Mary’s care and loving sacrifice would not be forgotten.  
      Her fragrant offering will linger forever. 

Do you love Jesus? Good! 
Don’t be afraid to let the world know and don’t worry if others don’t understand.
Don't let anyone tell you to back off your love for Jesus
Don’t let anyone talk you into being “reasonable” in your joy. 
Don’t let anyone talk you into playing it safe.
Love God, love people, witness your faith and strength in Jesus!
Mary loved so extravagantly that she scandalized the disciples and dinner guests.
But that’s why we’re still talking about her 2000 years later.

Love So Amazing, So Divine
Love is hard to explain, but you know it when you feel it. 
Joy is hard to define, but you know it; joy in the air is the aroma of heaven.  
Is anything too extravagant to show God our love; can you love Jesus too much?
   There’s no such thing!  Love Jesus and lavish your love and devotion upon him! 
       Don’t worry about what anyone else thinks – love and serve your God!

The words of Isaac Watts seem to fit this text:
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

In that spirit, here’s a prayer I hope you will pray right now:  Lord, May I not ever be ashamed to show how much I love you. Fill me with the aroma of heaven, that my life may show others my love and joy in you!  Amen.

Sources

Hamilton, Hugh. “An Extravagant Gift.”   October 8, 1989. First Presbyterian Church-Covington, TN.
LaGrone, Jessica. “Lenten Series: God on the Move.”  In A Preacher’s Guide to lectionary Sermon Series: 	Thematic Plans for Years A, B, and C.  Louisville: Westminster/John Knox, 2016, 200 
Pritchard, Ray. How Much is Too Much?  Keep Believing Ministry. March 17, 2016. 
	http://www.keepbelieving.com/sermon/how-much-is-too-much/

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