The Price of Passion

Pericope: Mark 14:3-9 - 3 And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. 4 There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? 5 For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. 6 But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. 8 She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. 9 And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”

Sermon Text:  Mark 14:3 - 3 And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head.

Sermon Title:  Passion 365 Pt 4: The Price of Passion

Point 1:  The place where Jesus was.  Vs. 3 And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper.

John 12:9-11 - 9 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.

. James 4:8 - 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you…Mary’s purpose was to anoint Jesus for his burial ignited her passion. When your passion connects to your purpose you are set ablaze and people won’t be able to stop you or put your fire out.

Point 2: Mary poured out the oil.  Vs. 3…she broke the flask and poured it over his head. 

Mark 14:4- 5 - 4 There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? 5 For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii[a] and given to the poor.” And they scolded her.

John 12:4-5 - 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?”

Whenever you give to Jesus and extraordinary amount of your time talent and treasure there would be pushback from people.

John 12:3 says - 3 Mary therefore took a pound[a] 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.

The room will be filled with a poverty spirit and a prosperous spirit. 

·      Poverty spirit fragrance = I can get… Give to the poor… Who’s getting all that money…

·      Prosperous spirit equals 3 John 2 - Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.

Point 3: Jesus speaks up for the passionate people and memorializes the moment Vs. 6 - 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 9 And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”

Mary doesn’t say one word. She doesn’t have to. Mary doesn’t try to defend herself or explain why she would give I am happy to Jesus. She doesn’t have to. Jesus does

Mark 14:7 - 7 For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me.

Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 15: 11 For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’

He says three very important things

1.   He quoted a familiar passage about the poor because it is at this time of the year when alms would be given to the poor.

2.   Vs. 8 - 8 but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be.

3.   Jesus memorializes Mary just like he did another woman who gave her all.  Mark 12:41-44 - 41 And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. 43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

Conclusion:  This morning let’s 

·      Passionately give our lives to Christ if we don’t know him in the pardon of our sins.

·      Passionately give our time to him by serving or joining a LifeGroup.

·      Passionately give our first fruit…