SERIES: The Gospel of John
Unbounded Love
SPEAKER: Michael P. Andrus
Introduction: One of America’s finest short stories, written by one of the great masters of the art, O Henry, was a moving story called, “The Gift of the Magi.” A young couple, Della and Jim, were very poor, but very much in love. Each had one unique possession. Della’s was her hair, which served almost as a robe when she let it down. Jim, on the other hand, had a pocket watch, given to him by his father, which was his pride and joy.
It was the day before Christmas and Della had exactly $1.87 to buy Jim a present. So, she went out and sold her hair for $20 and with the proceeds bought a platinum chain for Jim’s precious watch. When Jim came home that night and saw Della’s short hair he was stupefied. It was not that he didn’t like it, or that he loved her any less, for she was lovelier than ever. Slowly he handed her his gift—It was a set of expensive tortoise-shell combs with jeweled edges for her lovely hair—he had sold his gold watch to buy them. Each had given to the other all there was to give. Real love knows no other way.[i]
What is just a story in the “Gift of the Magi” becomes a profound truth in John chapter 12. We are fast closing in on the last days of Jesus’ life on earth. Barely halfway through this Gospel we have already come to the last Saturday night of Jesus’ life on earth. The next morning the Triumphal Entry will take place, and by Friday Jesus will be judged guilty by three kangaroo courts and crucified, only to rise from the dead the following Sunday.
But on this Saturday evening Jesus returns to Bethany after several weeks in the desert around Ephraim. He had gone there with His disciples to escape the murderous intent of the Jewish religious leaders following His raising of Lazarus from the dead. His dearest friends on earth live in Bethany, and He desires to spend a few hours of peace and quiet with them before His passion. We are informed that at least five individuals are present at this supper: Jesus, Lazarus, Martha, Mary, and Judas. The Gospels of Matthew and Mark tell us, in addition, that the supper is held in the house of Simon the Leper and that Jesus’ other disciples are present also. It appears, then, that there are perhaps as many as 17 people at this meal. I see four themes developed by the Apostle John, the author, starting with …
The unbounded love of Mary (13)
Mary of Bethany appears prominently in three NT scenes, and every time she is at the feet of Jesus. Here we find her in the familiar posture of worship while her sister Martha serves the dinner. There seems to be no point in mentioning the fact that Martha is serving, except to draw a contrast with what Mary is doing. This is not the first time the difference between these two sisters is highlighted. Back in Luke 10 an incident is discussed which happened much earlier in Jesus’ ministry. If you’d like to turn there with me I want to read a few verses (38-42):
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Martha is not chided here in John 12 as she was in Luke 10, which makes me think that perhaps she has learned a lesson from the earlier experience. She hasn’t quit serving, for she has the gift of service, but at least she is no longer fretting and stewing and complaining, as before. Nevertheless, there is clearly a special commendation for the spirit and attitude of Mary in this story. She has struck a spiritual chord in Jesus’ heart, and it would behoove each of us to seek to imitate her. One thing we note above all else is …
Her unselfishness. Verse three says, “Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet.” (Matthew and Mark add that she also poured it over His head). The value of this vial of perfume is difficult to determine accurately, but it was enormous. Judas gives us a hint when he says in verse 5 that it could have been sold for a year’s wages (300 denarii in Greek). A denarius was a common laborer’s wage for one day. If that translates into a wage of $8-10 an hour today, the value of this perfume was perhaps $15-20,000. Why so expensive? Because nard was an herb grown in the high pasture and of the Himalayas. The difficult cultivation and distant transportation made it more expensive than any synthetic perfume on the market today.
By the way, there was a most interesting tradition in the early church that I came across while reading the NT apocrypha, a series of religious books, which for a short time vied for a place in the canon of Scripture (eventually rejected by the early church because they were not of apostolic origin). In one of these apocryphal books entitled, “The First Gospel of the Infancy of Jesus Christ,” chapter 2, verse 1 we read:
“And when the time of his circumcision was come, namely the eighth day, on which the law commanded the child to be circumcised, they circumcised him in the cave. And the old Hebrew woman took the foreskin and preserved it in an alabaster-box of old oil of spikenard. And she had a son who was a druggist, to whom she said, ‘Take heed thou sell not this alabaster-box of spikenard-ointment, although thou shouldst be offered 300 denarii for it.’ Now this is that alabaster-box which Mary the sinner procured, and poured forth the ointment out of it upon the head and the feet of our Lord Jesus Christ, and wiped it off with the hairs of her head.”
Now I hasten to say that no scholar takes this legend seriously, but it does demonstrate the concern some early Christians had to justify Mary’s choice to pour the perfume upon Jesus instead of selling it.
Personally, I think the only legitimate way to explain this extravagant act of unselfishness is the deep and abiding love which Mary had for her Savior. She did not look at the price tag; she did not examine other less-expensive alternatives; she did not consider her own future. She loved Jesus, so she gave Him the most precious possession she had on earth.
May I take a moment aside to encourage all of us to evaluate the level of sacrifice we are making for Christ? Let’s not talk just about our giving; let’s talk about the use of our time. When is the last time we engaged in a genuinely sacrificial act of love toward Jesus Christ? When is the last time we gave from our assets instead of our income? When is the last time we sacrificed a real important personal prerogative, like a week of vacation, in order to serve God?
A second characteristic I see in Mary that enabled her to express her unbounded love is …
Her humility. Verse 3 indicates that Mary not only pours the perfume on Jesus’ feet but also wipes His feet with her hair. This is an act of great humility, all the more striking in that a Jewish lady never unbound her hair in public. To do so was viewed as a mark of loose morals. Mary, on the other hand, refuses to calculate public opinion. Her heart goes out to the Lord, and she cares not what anyone thinks of her action. It is enough that she knows her own heart to be right.
In contrast to Mary there are many who come to worship with far more time and attention devoted to getting their hair ready for church than to getting the heart ready; there are many whose clothes are of far greater value than their offerings. Mary of Bethany’s humility enables her to set one of the finest examples in all of Scripture of unbounded love.
One other note is made at the end of verse 3: “And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” John’s habit throughout this Gospel is to note the agreement of the physical with the spiritual, and this note is suggestive of the fact that what is done in the worship of the Lord Jesus not only benefits the one doing it, but also brings a fragrance to those around.
The scene shifts in verse 4.
The unmitigated hypocrisy of Judas (4-6)
Judas is an awful enigma in Scripture. Right here in verse 4 two facts are offered that stand in stark contrast. Judas is “one of Jesus’ disciples,” but he is also described as the one who was “later to betray him.” Think about that for a moment. Judas wasn’t a bum off the streets, he wasn’t from the ranks of the cynical scribes and Pharisees; nor was he ignorant of who Jesus was or what He stood for. No, he was one of the chosen Twelve, who walked with Him for 3 1/2 years, saw Him perform mighty deeds of mercy, and heard His great discourses! And still he would betray Him! The lesson in this seems to be that one may be very close to the Lord and to other Christians, yet far from Him spiritually.
One looks in vain for clues as to when Judas went bad. Was he always a phony, or was there a time when his intentions were honorable? I don’t know, but verse 6 tells us that Judas’ downfall was not sudden but rather gradual. It says he was a habitual thief, and this information helps us understand his contention in regard to Mary’s unbounded love.
His contention. “Why wasn’t this perfume sold,” he asks, “and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” Klass Schilder writes perceptively, “One can begin to smell Hell’s foulest vapors mingling with the incense of the perfume.” [ii] But setting aside for a moment the fact that Judas is the one uttering these words, how would you evaluate his reasoning? Be honest now! Actually it sounds pretty good, doesn’t it? Looking at it objectively, $15-20,000 would feed quite a few people or provide housing for 3 or 4 families for a year. Frankly, I think Judas’ contention in the abstract has much to commend it. In fact, I think we as Christians should be constantly evaluating our expenditures, not just on the basis of whether we can afford them, but rather on the basis of whether that money might be better used in another way.
And this problem faces us not only regarding our individual spending but also in regard to church’s spending. Should we spend money to build buildings and parking lots and hire new staff here in West County, St. Louis, when there are Christians who don’t even have enough food to eat in east Africa or eastern Europe, and where there may be one trained pastor for 50,000 people? Maybe; maybe not. A lot depends on motives. If our goal is to selfishly make life easier and more comfortable for ourselves, then perhaps not. But if our goal is to more effectively reach out to the people who live in West County, where God has called us to serve, perhaps so.
A case in point may illustrate. The church I pastored in Wichita, Kansas, reached a crisis in 1965, some ten years before I went there. They had a little white frame building on a quarter acre lot and about 100 people in attendance. Some in the congregation wanted to move out to the northeast edge of town, buy 3 acres, and build a facility that would allow for growth. Others said, “No, we can’t consider that in view of the enormous needs on the mission field.” The church voted to move and several of the families who were opposed left the church.
The new location proved to be strategic as the city moved in that direction, and God eventually enabled the church to expand to about ten acres. Today it is a church of 1200, has five daughter churches in Wichita, and has helped plant churches in at least 15 other cities in Kansas. The mission budget of the mother church alone is over a quarter of a million dollars per year, and there are dozens of missionaries and pastors in the ministry today who grew up in that church. Now tell me, was their expenditure on three acres and a new building blessed of God, or was it an act of foolishness?
Of course, we must be careful, because there are many stories of extravagant expenditures in the name of God that have been everlasting boondoggles—witness hundreds of cathedrals in Europe, built on the backs of poverty-stricken masses and standing all but vacant today. I just read in Tuesday’s paper that 10,000 churches—many of them cathedrals by our standards—are for sale in Italy alone, because they are no longer needed. You can see Protestant counterparts in the Central West End of St. Louis.
Well then, what was wrong with Judas’ contention about the poor? We can see what was wrong when we look at verse 6 and note what his real concern was.
His concern. Judas, you see, was the treasurer of the Twelve Apostles and he habitually pilfered from the money box. Greed was the temptation which led to Judas’ criticism of Mary and eventually to his betrayal of Christ. We see here one of the laws of temptation, namely: “Temptation commonly comes through that for which we are naturally fitted.” If a man is fitted to handle money, as Judas apparently was, his temptation may be to regard money as the most important thing in the world. Judas saw in Mary’s deed only the loss of a fantastic opportunity to steal.
A spirit of greed and materialism is very often the first step toward betrayal. It is not without reason that Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Judas was an unmitigated hypocrite.
So far we have seen a confrontation break the peace of this intimate supper. Mary has performed an incredible deed of love while Judas has criticized her openly. It is most important that we see thirdly…
The unconditional vindication of Mary by Jesus (7-8)
His rebuke of Judas. Jesus speaks directly to Judas, “Leave her alone.” Judas, mind your own business! Butt out! Actually, this rebuke was delivered to all of the disciples, for Matthew and Mark tell us that the rest of the disciples agreed with Judas regarding the wastefulness of Mary’s deed, and they shared his indignation toward Mary, so Jesus’ words apply to them all. Dr. S. Lewis Johnson said, “A great deal has been made through the years over the question of apostolic succession by certain churches, but I would rather be in Mary’s succession than in the succession of the whole crowd of the apostles on this occasion.” [iii]
His recognition of the true significance of Mary’s act. “Leave her alone. It was intended that she should save this perfume for, or in anticipation of, the day of my burial.” If His enemies come and seize Him and put Him to death, there might not be an opportunity to anoint His body. So, Mary is taking the only opportunity she might have.
Having rebuked Judas and having recognized the real significance of Mary’s deed, Jesus gives …
His justification for her act. “You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” To some, Jesus’ words have seemed harsh and lacking in compassion. But rightly understood they are not that at all. Jesus is not saying that the poor are unimportant nor that the Church has no responsibility to them. His whole life was spent reaching out to the poor, the lepers, and the demon possessed. Rather He is refuting any socialistic dreams that poverty may be eliminated in this age. Such notions are a sad misunderstanding of human nature.
And at the same time, He is stressing the primacy of the spiritual over the material and social. Right now worshiping Him and anointing Him in anticipation of His burial is more important than the care of the poor, for the time for acts of devotion to Him is much shorter than those at the table realize.
In other words, I am suggesting that Jesus’ words are very restrictive in their application and certainly were not meant to be used by us today to justify a lack of concern for the poor. But we can glean from this passage the truth that devotion to Christ is our highest priority also. And we can learn the important lesson that the opportunity to serve God and to show love and kindness to others does not always wait until we get ready to exercise it.
At times we are seized with the desire to do something fine and generous. But we put it off—we will do it tomorrow. And the fine impulse goes away and the thing is never done. How many times have I heard a person say at a funeral, “But I was intending to visit him.” Mary seized the opportunity and Jesus vindicated her for it. Our passage concludes with a glimpse at
The unscrupulous jealousy of the religious leaders (9-11)
“Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.”
The problem the Chief priests face here is that Jesus is attracting incredible attention. A great multitude is on its way to Bethany (just 2 miles from Jerusalem’s city walls) and Lazarus seems to be the drawing card. While this formerly dead man is around, they will be unable to eliminate the influence of Jesus from the minds of the people.
Their solution is to get rid of the evidence. They plot to put Lazarus to death (again!), for he is a double embarrassment to the chief priests mentioned in verse 10. Not only is he a witness to the power of Jesus, but he is also a living contradiction of the doctrine of the Sadducees. The chief priests, you understand, were all Sadducees, as opposed to being Pharisees, and the Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection of the dead.
Have you thought it a bit strange that these religious leaders want to put Lazarus to death, especially because death could not hold him the first? But don’t miss the little word “also” in verse 10. This is a double murder they are planning. If they kill Jesus too, then He won’t be able to raise Lazarus again.
Their rationalization is that on account of Lazarus, many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in Him. There’s something unique about Lazarus in the NT—he never speaks. No words are attributed to him, yet he has been called “Christ’s most unanswerable witness,” and many came to faith in Jesus because of him. Why? Obviously because he was once dead and was now alive. I believe there is a spiritual application to that for our lives. We too were once dead in trespasses and sins, but Jesus made us alive together with Him. When our friends see that the walking dead person they used to know has come alive spiritually, they will come to Jesus as well—the world can’t stop it; persecution can’t contain it.
In conclusion I want to share with you three principles from this passage which deserve application to our lives today.
Principles to Ponder:
1. Love considers no sacrifice too great to contemplate. Love is not love if it nicely calculates the cost. It gives its all and its only regret is that it has not still more to give. Would you like to have your love for Jesus Christ measured by the degree to which you have sacrificed for Him?
2. Hypocrisy considers no quality too honorable to imitate. Are you surprised when you find hypocrites in the church or even in the pulpit? You shouldn’t be, for the worst hypocrite of all was one of the Twelve! Judas hypocritically expressed concern for the poor when his only real concern was for himself. Perhaps instead of looking for hypocrites in the next pew we should each ask as the disciples asked, “Is it I, Lord? Is it I?”
3. Jealousy considers no rival too sacred to eliminate. The enemies of Jesus were willing to put Lazarus and Jesus both to death because of intense jealousy. Are you surprised when the Lord’s enemies oppose you personally and persecute you? You shouldn’t be, for Satan is jealous of your commitment to Christ, and the better witness you are, the harder he will try to eliminate you.
Friends, it matters not what anyone else thinks of our devotion to the Lord. The only thing that counts is to one day hear Jesus say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Prayer: Lord, help us to see that we are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needful—to sit at your feet and pour out our love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Communion: In Mark 14:9, immediately following the anointing of Jesus by Mary of Bethany, Jesus added something not found in John’s account: “I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the whole world, that which this woman has done shall be spoken of for a memorial to her.”
We have the opportunity this morning to participate in a memorial that is closely related to this one of which Jesus speaks. Mary took her vase and emptied it in anticipation of the death and burial of her Savior. We take the cup of communion and empty it, looking back at His death which He suffered for us. Jesus Himself commanded us to remember Him in this way.
Mary’s deed was an act of unbounded love in response to His unbounded grace. Ours should be an act of unbounded gratitude for the salvation Jesus purchased on Calvary.
DATE: April 4, 1993
Tags:
Love
Humility
Hypocrisy
Jealousy
[i] Story borrowed from William Barclay, The Gospel of John, Vol. 2, 109, 110.
[ii] Citation lost.
[iii] Seminary class notes from Dr. S. Lewis Johnson.