Sermon 03-07-2010

Luke 10:38-42                                                                         John 12:1-10&17 “Friendship”

Have you done “Dine with Nine” yet? It is a great experience and opportunity to show off our culinary qualities, hospitality and friendship. I got the best salad presentation of the night at our dinner. In my culture salads are presented in a flat platter, all the ingredients are placed in layers for everyone to see. Now what they don’t know is that make a salad is very easy, where I can’t compete with in this group is in making the main meal, they are all very skilled as we talked about food and hobbies. Let me tell you something about me my passion is not in the kitchen.

PRAYER

Today I want to share a story of friendship. I want to introduce you to Jesus’ friends Martha, Mary and Lazarus. We find three different stories in the gospels about these siblings, their generosity, hospitality and friendship.

 “Mary and Martha were two unmarried sisters and they lived with their brother, Lazarus. This means that the house has been their father’s, in first century Jewish inheritance laws required the home to pass to the son, not the daughters. We know that they were relatively well off and frequently hosted Jesus and his disciples when they came (through Bethany) to Jerusalem.”        (Sue and Larry Richards. “Every Woman in the Bible.” Pg. 158)

Mary and Martha even though sisters, the two women were close but different. Martha took the duties assigned to her gender seriously. She took pride in caring for the home and preparing meals. Mary was far more of a free spirit, which irritated Martha at times. We can assume that Martha was older, for she lead in welcoming Jesus at the door and inviting him in.

At one of Jesus’ visit, Martha was upset with Mary exploding into exasperation, as she worked in the kitchen to prepare a meal for the guest and his friends. Mary settled at Jesus’ feet to listen to His dialog with the disciples.                                                       It was hot in the kitchen, and Martha was harried as she struggled to do everything herself. Finally she burst into the room where Jesus was seated, and insisted that he send Mary to the kitchen to help her. Jesus refused, gently telling Martha that Mary “…has chosen the better part.” (Luke 10:42).

“Food for the body was important but food for the soul was more important… Martha’s worry over preparing a special meal showed that her priorities were, misplaced.”                                                                              (Idem, 192)

Jesus said to her: Martha you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing…” take time to grow in your personal faith as you deepen your relationship with God. Is not that Martha had no faith, she was too busy to spend time with her guest.

The gospel of John introduces Lazarus as Martha and Mary’s brother. “Martha and Mary were women of faith. When their brother fell sick the sisters immediately sent a messenger to Jesus, completely confident that Jesus could heal him. Each expressed their faith when Jesus finally showed up, some four days after Lazarus had died and been buried. When Lazarus died and Martha learned that Jesus was coming, she hurried to meet Him, while Mary stayed in the house. Martha expressed great faith in Christ, saying that “even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” (John 11:22). While Martha did not think that Jesus was about to restore her brother’s life, she was certain that whatever He asked, God would surely do. She was sure that Jesus was Lord of Life and would raise their brother in the final resurrection, but never imagined that Jesus could exercise His power that day to restore their brother’s earthly life.”  When Jesus called for the stone that blocked the entrance of Lazarus’ tomb to be taken away, Martha objected. She reminded Jesus that her brother’s body had started to decay. “And Jesus said to her, Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” (John 11:40)

How like Martha most of us are. We have faith in Jesus – even great faith. Yet when we are called on to exercise that faith in impossible situations we focus on the obstacles rather than on God’s unlimited ability to act.”                                                                                                                          (idem, pg.192-193)

Jesus prayed and called Lazarus to come out, from the tomb!

Lazarus was restored, he was resurrected! And many believed in Jesus.

Let’s remember that it was coming very near to the end of Jesus’ ministry. To come to Jerusalem for the Passover was an act (of high risk and courage), for the Jewish authorities had made him in effect an outlaw. “Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who knew where Jesus was should let them know, so they might arrest him.” (John 11:57)

Jesus and his disciples stayed in the wilderness for a few days. “Six days before the Passover Jesus came again to Bethany to visit the home of his friends, with his disciples. They were all invited for dinner. Lazarus was sitting at the table with his guests. Martha was serving the table, as always. She loved Jesus, she was a practical woman, and though the only way which she could show her love was by the work of her hands, she was in the kitchen cooking a delicious meal.

On this occasion Mary showed her love’s extravagance for Jesus by taking the most precious thing she possessed and spent it all on Jesus.”(Barclay. John, vol.2. pg.109) Mary’s gift was an “especially valuable kind of perfume made of pure nard. (worth a year’s wages) Mary used the perfume to anoint Jesus’ feet.” (John 12:3)

To anoint is to consecrate, to set apart, to dedicate, or sanctify a person… for a sacred purpose related to the service and worship of God, and so often gives the person… a character of holiness.”                                  (Interpreter’s Bible Dictionary, A-D)

Anointing on the head was for Kings, and a sign of honor.

Why did she choose his feet?

“Mary never thought to confer an honor upon Jesus, she never dreamed she was good enough for that. By choosing anointing his feet she was on her knees showing her love through humility.”                                    (Barclay, John, vol.2. pg. 110)

 “Mary took a pound of the costly perfume made of pure nard (worth a year’s wages), as she was anointing Jesus’ feet, and wiping them with her hair, the house was filled with the fragrance…” (John 12:3)

“and Judas complained that the ointment should have been sold and the money given to the poor. Jesus rebuked him: Leave her alone, she has kept this gift for the day of my burial. “You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”    (John 12:4-7)

I find it very interesting to see that: “Mary apparently was the only one that sensed the imminent suffering and death of her Lord, while others remained unaware. She displayed a unique spiritual sensitivity. Mary’s gift showed a love and an appreciation for Jesus that we might well imitate. For Mary nothing too good for Jesus, and nothing was so precious that it should be withheld from him.”                                                                                                                 (Sue and Larry Richards. Pg. 194)

Are we like Martha so worried with all the things we have to do, we forget to have time for Jesus?

Are we like Judas worried about money and the values of things and forget about Jesus?

Are we like Mary bringing our all to Jesus, spending our time with him and honoring him?

Are we as generous with Jesus and our friends as Lazarus?

BENEDICTION

Go now into the world.

Be faithful witnesses of God’s unfailing love…

and may the blessing of Jesus Christ,

and the sustaining of the Holy Spirit be with you. Amen!