– JOHN 12:12-15
12 The next day, when the large crowd who had come to the Passover feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 they took branches of palm trees [in homage to Him as King] and went out to meet Him, and they began shouting and kept shouting “Hosanna! Blessed (celebrated, praised) is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” 14 And Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; just as it is written [in Scripture], 15 “Do not fear, Daughter of Zion; Behold, Your King is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.”
- WE TRY AND KEEP FULL WHAT GOD WANTS TO FILL
1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus went to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom He had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a supper for Him there. Martha was serving, and Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him.
– JOHN 12:1-2
3 Then Mary took a pound of very expensive perfume of pure nard, and she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped His feet with her hair;
– JOHN 12:3
24 But the king (DAVID) said to Araunah, “No, but I will certainly buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God which cost me nothing.” So David purchased the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
– 2 SAMUEL24:24
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.
– MATTHEW 16:24
3 While He was in Bethany [as a guest] at the home of Simon the leper, and reclining at the table, a woman came with an alabaster vial of very costly and precious perfume of pure nard; and she broke the vial and poured the perfume over His head.
– MARK 14:3
3 and she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped His feet with her hair; and the HOUSE WAS FILLED with the fragrance of the perfume.
– JOHN 12:3
2. WHAT SEEMS LIKE A WASTE IS OUR ONLY WAY FORWARD
4 But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, the one who was going to betray Him, said, 5 “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and [the money] given to the poor?” 6 Now he said this, not because he cared about the poor [for he had never cared about them], but because he was a thief; and since he had the money box [serving as treasurer for the twelve disciples], he used to pilfer what was put into it.
JOHN 12:4-6
4 But there were some who were indignantly remarking to one another, “Why has this perfume been wasted? 5 For this perfume might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii [a laborer’s wages for almost a year], and the money given to the poor.” And they scolded her.
– MARK 14:4-5
7 So Jesus said, “Let her alone, so that she may keep [the rest of] it for the day of My burial. 8 You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.”
– JOHN 12:7-8
THIS WEEK’S ACTIVATION:
LIVING ON EMPTY
READ: JOHN 12
- WE TRY AND KEEP FULL WHAT GOD WANTS TO FILL
READ: JOHN 12:1-3; 2 SAMUEL24:24; MATTHEW 16:24
ASK:
Are you offering all of myself to Jesus or what is convenient?
- WHAT SEEMS LIKE A WASTE IS OUR ONLY WAY FORWARD
READ: JOHN 12:4-6; MARK 14:4-5
ASK:
What is stopping me from offering ALL of myself to Jesus? Doing what is expected as the religious bare minimum or entitlement?
PRAY:
God, thank you pouring yourself out for my life to bring me a peace beyond my understanding. Forgive me for holding onto my life and thinking it was my assurance of being fulfilled. Today, I am committing to pour myself out at your feet, Jesus. I know this will require sacrifice for me to offer all of my honor, humility and devotion to you. There is no other person worthy my worship.
Amen!