Preparing for the Cross… vs. 1-11

• Jesus prepares for the cross in 3 ways…
  • Jesus prepares His disciples – the Passover  – vs. 1-2
  • Jesus prepares for His burial – vs. 3-9
  • Jesus prepares for His betrayal – vs. 10-11
    
• 1^st – Preparing the Disciples… vs. 1-2
  • After Jesus finished his teaching on End Times events…
  • He told His disciples – in two days he would be crucified – Matthew 26:2
    • That Jesus was going to die should not have been a surprise to the Disciples
    • This is the 3^rd time we read He had told them this was going to occur
    • Mark 9:31, Mark 10:33 – Jerusalem/Betrayal/Crucifixion/Resurrection
    • This the first time Jesus tells them exactly when He would be crucified – Passover
  • History of the Jewish feast of “Passover”– (Holy Friday – the Last Supper)
    • The nation of Israel had been in captivity to Egypt – slaves for 400 years- Exodus 12
      • God sent Moses to deliver them from the Pharaoh – bring them out of bondage
      • God sent 10 plagues on the Egyptians – ending with the ‘Death Angel’ (1^st born)
      • The Jews were spared – IF – they put the blood of a lamb on their doors
      • Then the Death Angel would “Pass-over” them and they would be saved
      • It was through the “Passover” God brought his people our of slavery / bondage
      • The feast of Passover has been required every year since (3000 years)…
      • To remember – but not only to remember – it looked forward to…
    • Jesus – THE Lamb of God – who came to take the sin of the world
      • John 1:29–“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’”
      • Jesus is THE Passover Lamb – it is through his death sin “passes over” us
      • We are freed from the bondage of sin – slavery to king of this world (satan)
      • Jesus being crucified on Passover was no accident – it was prophecy fulfilled!
  • “Then” the chief priests & scribes  gathered at the palace of Caiaphas (High Priest)
    • The puzzled over how – NOT IF – to kill Jesus…
      • The Triumphal Entry (Palm Sunday) the crowds had worshiped Jesus…
      • Jesus had overthrown the money changers in the Temple (den of thieves)…
      • Parable of the Vineyard – Jesus attacked the leaders – and they knew it…
      • Jesus silenced the Herodians, Sadducees, & Pharisees when the sought to trap Him…
      • And openly declared to the people to beware of these religious leaders!
      • They had been embarrassed – shamed – shown for who they really were
      • The leaders had enough – it was time to silence Jesus – He had to die
    • But they wanted to wait until after the Passover…
      • They feared the huge crowds in Jerusalem for the feast (over 1 million)
        • It was much wiser to wait until they had all gone home
        • Then they could take Jesus quietly without making a HUGE scene…
      • But in spite of what they wanted – Jesus WAS crucified on Passover
        • The reason – they were not in control – Jesus was!
        • John 10:18– “No one takes [my life] from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.”
        • No matter how dark our circumstances might seem – God is in control
        • Men make their plans – they may have nothing but evil intentions
        • They will say what they want – and do what they want
        • But in the end – God is in control – and He uses all things for His purpose
        • Meaning we get to rest and trust – since God is for us who can be against us!
          
• 2^nd – Preparing for His burial… vs. 6-13
  • Parallel passages – Matthew 26:5-13, John 12:3-8
  • Jesus came to Bethany – to the house of Simon the Leper
    • Bethany – small village on the east side of Mt. of Olives – 2 miles from Jerusalem…
    • We do not know who Simon was – we can assume Jesus healed him of leprosy…
    • Presumably Simon was giving Jesus a feast to thank Him for the healing…
    • We also know Mary, Martha, & Lazarus (raised from the dead) were there
  • A woman took an Alabaster bottle – full of very costly oil (4 things)…
  • 1^st –  the woman – Mary of Bethany – sister of Martha
    • This is the same Mary who sat at Jesus feet – Luke 10:38-42
    • Jesus had come to Bethany to the house of Mary & Martha 
    • Martha was busy doing many things – and demanded to Jesus Mary help
    • Jesus answered – Martha you are worried and troubled about many things…
    • But Mary has chosen the good part – and it will not be taken away
    • Mary knew that more important than anything else – was to sit at Jesus’ feet
    • When you do – you realize He is in control and you don’t need to worry!
    • Are we worried and troubled about MANY things today…
    • Rushing around – busy – no time to spare – no time to sit at Jesus feet…
    • That is why we are worried and troubled – we did not find time for Jesus!
    • When we take the time 1^st to sit at Jesus feet – everything else falls in place
    • So take the time today – sit at Jesus feet – in His Word and in Prayer
  • 2^nd – The Alabaster box of spikenard – (fragrant & VERY expensive oil from India)
    • Alabaster (named after a town in Egypt where it was made)
    • A glass flask that had to be cracked to open – made to hold expensive oil 
    • The oil – spikenard – was worth 300 days wages (300 denari)
    • If the average income is P150 a day – the oil was worth P45,000!
    • This was a gift literally meant for a King – it represented a life’s savings!
  • 3^rd – Poured onto Jesus head & feet – John 12:3
    • Not only did Mary pour her life savings on the head of Jesus
      • As it covered the Lord – she used her hair and wiped his feet
      • Mary was willing to give all to Jesus – content to worship at His feet
    • The Disciples were very unhappy (one in particular)…
      • Judas said – the oil could have been sold & given to the poor – John 12:5-6
      • He said this because he kept the “money box” and would steal from it…
      • Judas true motive for not liking Mary’s gift – he wanted it for himself!
  • 4^th – Jesus rebuked the disciples…
    • Why do you trouble (beat) this women – she has done a beautiful thing
      • The poor you have always – and whenever you wish you can help them…
      • But Jesus was going to the cross – then heaven – He would not always be there…
      • Mary understood what everyone else seemed to miss – Jesus’ Word
      • She understood that in 2 days Jesus would face the cross!
      • Mary had anointed Jesus for His burial…
    • Why did Mary get what everyone else missed…
      • Mary was not caught up in the desire for money (300 days wages…)
      • She was more concerned about the eternal than the things of this world…
      • She understood that nothing was more important than knowing Jesus…
      • When we truly understand nothing is more important than Jesus
      • Not position – the respect of men –fleeing/lasting only for a moment…
      • Not money – no matter what we have – never seems to be enough
      • But simply to know Jesus – sit at his feet and worship Him
      • That is when we truly understand – His Word – and His purpose for our life!
    • Wherever this Gospel is preached in the whole world…
      • Many people try to leave their ‘mark’ – their name on memorials to be remembered
      • But memorials crumble – names fade away – things are forgotten…
      • But not what Mary did – we still talk about her ‘deed’ 2000 years later!
      • The things we do for ourselves – the glory of men – are all forgotten…
      • It is the things we do for the Lord that last forever – Matthew 6:20
        
• 3^rd – Preparing for betryal… vs. 10-11
  • Judas Iscariot – went to the chief priests – what are you willing to give…
    • Perhaps Judas was frustrated – by the ‘waste’ of Mary’s gift to Jesus…
    • When he saw that he could not profit from Jesus – he went looking elsewhere
    • His motive had never been to know God – serve the Lord – only self-seeking!
    • What is our motive for going to church – why do we want to follow Jesus
    • Are we only hanging around to see what we can get from the Lord
    • Thinking that we can profit from God – what happens when we find we can’t…
    • The message of the Gospel of Jesus is not about what we can get in this life
    • God does not promise us wealth in this world – He promises us eternal wealth
  • 30 pieces of silver…
    • Though Judas was a disciple of Jesus – was willing to give Jesus over – for a price
      • The cost – 30 pieces of silver – about P1,500
      • Considering Mary had just offered ointment worth P45,000 to Jesus
      • Judas and the chief priest did not give much value to the life of Jesus… 
      • It was the price for a dead slave – Exodus 21:32 
    • In the end Judas sold out his inheritance of Eternal riches – being a disciple of Jesus
      • For just P1,500 (even that he did not keep – in guilt he gave it back)
      • What do we think is worth more than Jesus – living for Jesus – being His disciple
      • 10 million pesos – President of the Philippines – Movie star/singer…
      • If only – but even those are nothing compared to what we would give up…
      • The best this world has to offer – only last only a few years…
      • What Jesus has in store for us is eternal!  Why do we sell ourselves short
    • From then on Judas sought a convenient opportunity to betray Jesus…
      • The chance would only be a few days away – on the night of Passover…
      • Satan would enter him and God would be sent to the cross to die
    • Fulfillment of prophecy – Zechariah 11:12-13 – 30 pieces silver – princely price
      • The betrayal of Judas was not a surprise – Jesus knew it when he chose him
      • The betrayal – down to 30 pieces of silver – was all prophesied
      • So why did Jesus keep Judas around – why allow him to betray Him
      • To give him the chance to change – the chance to become like Mary…
      • If we are like Judas this morning – the Lord knows our hearts…
      • If we are caught up in the cares of this world – only looking for what we can get…
      • Jesus patiently waits for us to see – life is far more than food or money…
      • Desiring us – like Mary – to just sit at his feet and worship – because…
      • Life – true life – eternal life – is simply knowing Jesus – John 17:3