That You May Believe // It's Not Your Party!

Pastor Travis Fox preaches from John 11:55-12:11. [55] Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. [56] They were looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, “What do you think? That he will not come to the feast at all?” [57] Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should let them know, so that they might arrest him. John 11:55–57 (ESV) "There is probably significance in the fact that he joins the detail that many went up to Jerusalem to purify themselves with the detail that “they were looking for Jesus” (v 56). What Jesus will do at this Passover purifies those who seek him." -Brian Vickers [1] Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. [2] So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. John 12:1-2 (ESV) [38] Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. [39] And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. [40] But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” [41] But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, [42] but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42 (ESV) "She understood that Jesus was saying that her harried, depressed, unhappy attitude was separating her from him. She knew that service can be worship, if it is done with the right attitude." -Kent Hughes [3] Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. John 12:3 (ESV) "Mary is giving up her rights before the Lord. There is nothing He cannot ask of her. Touching his feet becomes her pledge of unconditional service." -Skip Ryan [4] But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, [5] “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” John 12:4-5 (ESV) [6] He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. John 12:6 (ESV) “The example of Judas show us how near a man may come to Christ and yet be lost.” -A. W. Pink [7] Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. [8] For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.” John 12:7-8 (ESV) [9] When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. [10] So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, [11] because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus. John 12:9-11 (ESV) [1] And you were dead in the trespasses and sins. Ephesians 2:1 (ESV) [5] even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved. Ephesians 2:5 (ESV) [8] For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, [9] not a result of works, so that no one may boast. [10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8–10 (ESV)