Refer Luke 8:2; John 8:3-11; Luke 7:36-50;
John 12:1-8 and Desire of ages chapter 50 by E.G. White
From the gospels of Luke and John we see
the story of Lazarus and her two sisters Mary and Martha who lived together in Bethany.
In this family is where Jesus used to visit time to time and teaching them the
word of God.
We are going to see the story of Mary who recognized
what Jesus have done to her life and then she decided to give it all to Jesus.
Mary had her uncle called Simon who was the Pharisee. Mary fell into the sin of
adultery and become a prostitute due to poor living condition. It was said that
Simon also had sexual relationship with Mary secretly. Then, Mary left to live
in the city called Magdala where she continued to engage in prostitution.
We see in John 8:3-11; Mary was caught committing
adultery and Pharisees brought her to Jesus telling him to judge Mary according
to the Moses’ laws. Their agenda was not Mary, but they wanted to tempt Jesus Christ.
You may ask yourself this question why they didn’t bring the man who committed
adultery with Mary. Jesus knew their will and then he stooped down, writing on
the ground with his finger and each one of those people saw his sins on the
ground. Then Jesus stood up and said to them, “anyone with no sin among you,
let him be the first to cast stone at her”. But those people left one by one
and only Mary remained, then Jesus talked to her saying that go and sin no
more. This event changed the life of Mary by knowing Jesus saved her life from
death. Then, she returned to Bethany city.
In John 12:2-8 and Luke 7:36-50, we see Simon
invited Jesus to attend a supper. Mary was not invited but she intended to come
to Jesus to bring him thanks and show that Jesus has been important person to
save and change her life. Mary come in with bottle of ointment of spikenard
which was very costly and then she braked the bottle and started anointing the
feet of Jesus and wiping with her hair and the house was filled with the fragrance of ointment. But this issue was not good for Simon and Judah as they commented differently
against Jesus and Mary.
Through this event we learn three different kinds of giving religions.
This is the religion of questioning how the offering will be used. You may have good reason of not to give anything to Jesus like Judah because you don’t know what Jesus have done to your life. You are supposed to break the bottle of selfishness in your life and let ointment of your prospering to bless others.
You have blessed a lot but you give few or small to the Lord. Jesus started to help Simon to understand his sins, and we have to know that when Jesus wants to handle the sin, he does not embarrass the sinner, but he uses the restoration language so that the sinner can repent like he used to teach Simon helping him to identify his sin because he was the one who also caused Mary to be the whore.
3.Religion of Mary (John 12:3), which is
to give and surrender all to Jesus starting first with our minds. This is the
religion of those people forgiven their sins and recognize the value of Jesus
in their life. Mary knew that Jesus saved his life, she was supposed to be
stoned to death due to this she surrendered all to Jesus. We see in Luke 8:2,3 Mary
(called Magdalene) that from her went out seven devils. This shows how Jesus
fought several times to change and save her life and other women who recognized
the value of Jesus in their life, and then they ministered him with their
properties.
Therefore, this sermon wants us to
recognize what Jesus have done to our life, he has given us life and health and
we always fall into sins, but he forgives and have mercy to us. So, we should
surrender it all to Jesus, sit under his feet, give him our minds and be fully
committed for his work by giving our time and properties to serve him. Let us
enter in his temple saying that he has been a faithful God.
May God bless you. Amen!
@Martine Daniel.
very good sermon may God bless you
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