Making Today Count

Making Today Count

John 12:1-11 NLT… Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead. 2 A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with him. 3 Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.

4 But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, 5 “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” 6 Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.

7 Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

9 When all the people heard of Jesus’ arrival, they flocked to see him and also to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead. 10 Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too, 11 for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them and believed in Jesus.

Introduction: This story is one of four stories that are included in all four gospels. Matthew 26:1-13, Mark 14:1-9, Luke 7:36-50, and our text in John 12:1-11 (the most detailed account) all record the anointing of Jesus prior to his death. 

Overwhelming Observations: Judas lets us know that you cannot make today count when…

–you’re counting someone else’s coins.

–you’re critical instead of constructive. 

–you’re conspiring instead of contributing. 

Exposition: We can make today count when we offer our most sincere sacrifice to Christ, not for what we can ascertain but solely for adoration. I like to call this sacrifice foot work. Mary’s life is a feature trilogy of the investment of time around the feet of Jesus. Foot work requires humility (Acts 20:19).

 Foot work involves…

–Studying (Luke 10:39) sitting

–Surrendering (John 11:32) falling

–Submitting (John 12:3) kneeling

Conclusion: Mary made today count without saying a word. She was silent because your actions speak louder than words.