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Remarkable Devotion
Daniel Ottoson // The Gospel of John
“Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 3 Mary therefore took a pound 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. 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?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”
— John 12:1-8
Sermon OutlineI. A Remarkable Act of Devotion (12:3)
“O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. 2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. 3 Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. 4 So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.”
— Psalm 63:1-4
“Until people feel that they owe everything to God, that they are protected by his fatherly care and that he is the Author of all their blessings, so that nothing should be sought apart from him, they will never submit to him voluntarily. Indeed, unless they put their complete happiness in his hands, they will never truly have their lives under his control.”
— John Calvin
II. An Unremarkable Act of Devotion [or A Remarkable Lack of Devotion] (12:4-6)
“16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.”
— Galatians 5:16-17
“19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?”
21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?”
— Romans 7:19-24
III. Remarkable Devotion is the work of the Holy Spirit (12:7)
“9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
— Luke 11:9-13
small group studyGetting Started (5 min)
What are some of the specific situations in your life tend to really reveal what is in your heart?
Understand the Text (25 min)In what ways had Mary, Martha and Lazarus’ lives been impacted by their interaction with Jesus? What had they learned about Him? (see John 11:3 & 5 also Luke 10:38-42)
What have we learned so far in the Gospel of John about who Jesus is? (take 1 or 2 minutes and write down a few thoughts then see for example John 4:26, 6:35, 8:12, 8:58, 10:7, 10:11, 10:36, 11:25)
What factors would have been at play in creating the environment of this party? (see 11:45-57, 12:1, 2, 9, 10) Note also that Matthew 26 and Mark 14 place this party in the house of Simon the Leper who, as they were meeting in his house, we presume had been healed, likely by Jesus.
Verse 3. What do Mary’s actions tell us about how she felt for Jesus?
Verse 4-6. What do Judas’ response and John’s editorial comments tell us about how Judas felt for Jesus?
Verse 7. What do you think: Did Mary know Jesus was about to be buried? What difference would it make to the meaning of the passage if she did?
How would you sum up the meaning of this passage?
In what ways does this passage challenge (or confirm) your understanding?
In moments of trial, pressure, frustration, anger or temptation: how can the teaching of this text help you to respond/live in a Christlike way?
What does this passage teach you about being a disciple of Jesus? (see also Matthew 6:19-24)
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By United Community ChurchDaniel Ottoson // The Gospel of John
“Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 3 Mary therefore took a pound 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. 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?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”
— John 12:1-8
Sermon OutlineI. A Remarkable Act of Devotion (12:3)
“O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. 2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. 3 Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. 4 So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.”
— Psalm 63:1-4
“Until people feel that they owe everything to God, that they are protected by his fatherly care and that he is the Author of all their blessings, so that nothing should be sought apart from him, they will never submit to him voluntarily. Indeed, unless they put their complete happiness in his hands, they will never truly have their lives under his control.”
— John Calvin
II. An Unremarkable Act of Devotion [or A Remarkable Lack of Devotion] (12:4-6)
“16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.”
— Galatians 5:16-17
“19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?”
21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?”
— Romans 7:19-24
III. Remarkable Devotion is the work of the Holy Spirit (12:7)
“9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
— Luke 11:9-13
small group studyGetting Started (5 min)
What are some of the specific situations in your life tend to really reveal what is in your heart?
Understand the Text (25 min)In what ways had Mary, Martha and Lazarus’ lives been impacted by their interaction with Jesus? What had they learned about Him? (see John 11:3 & 5 also Luke 10:38-42)
What have we learned so far in the Gospel of John about who Jesus is? (take 1 or 2 minutes and write down a few thoughts then see for example John 4:26, 6:35, 8:12, 8:58, 10:7, 10:11, 10:36, 11:25)
What factors would have been at play in creating the environment of this party? (see 11:45-57, 12:1, 2, 9, 10) Note also that Matthew 26 and Mark 14 place this party in the house of Simon the Leper who, as they were meeting in his house, we presume had been healed, likely by Jesus.
Verse 3. What do Mary’s actions tell us about how she felt for Jesus?
Verse 4-6. What do Judas’ response and John’s editorial comments tell us about how Judas felt for Jesus?
Verse 7. What do you think: Did Mary know Jesus was about to be buried? What difference would it make to the meaning of the passage if she did?
How would you sum up the meaning of this passage?
In what ways does this passage challenge (or confirm) your understanding?
In moments of trial, pressure, frustration, anger or temptation: how can the teaching of this text help you to respond/live in a Christlike way?
What does this passage teach you about being a disciple of Jesus? (see also Matthew 6:19-24)
Back to Bulletin