Series Beholding the LAMB 24 “HOW WILL YOU BE REMEMBERED?” John 12:1-11Mark 14:8-9

Intro- Have you ever stopped to think about how you will be remembered? I mean, when you are gone and folks stop by your grave or sit around in the house and talk about you, what will they say? Ill-A son was sitting beside his father's bedside; the father is near death. "Is that you, my son?" the father asked. "Yes, father, it is I," replied the son. "What is that smell? Is mother making my favorite apple pie?" "Yes, father," said the son. "Ah, to have one more piece before I leave. Would you please bring me a piece?" asked the weakened father. After a few minutes, the son returns and sits down next to his father. "Is that you, my son?" "Yes, father." "Did you bring me some pie?" "No father," mother said, "The pie is for after the funeral."
Hopefully, our life will have amounted to more than a piece of apple pie. How will people remember you? What kind of an impression are you making on others! Because that is How they will remember you!

In verses 1-2 we note The DATE of the Lord’s visit to Bethany- it was 6 days before Passover. This is important because it indicates to us Jesus is 6 days before being crucified on the Cross. We have now entered into the final week of our Lord’s Life on earth before he would go to the cross. This week is called the week of His Passion.

Verse 3a- we note The DETAILS of the Lord’s visit to Bethany- “There they made him a supper.” It is interesting to note that he began His ministry at a supper. It was at the wedding in Cana of Galilee. Here at Bethany, He is wrapping up His ministry at a supper.

Notice how the Bible gives us a snap shot of 4 lives and how they will be remembered! I. MARTHA IS REMEMBERED FOR HER SERVICE- (vs.1-2) “There they made him a supper; and Martha served” A. MARTHA IS A WORKING CHRISTIAN 1. Martha is Remembered as a WORKER- Every time you hear of Martha she is busy doing something. Martha is a worker. Usually when you hear of Martha, she is busy in the kitchen whipping up something to eat for Jesus and the disciples! Praise God for these ladies that Serve in the kitchen. No doubt Martha loved Jesus, but it was not her nature to sit at His feet and drink in His teaching!I can see Martha bringing out the best dishes and serving Jesus first!

Every Christian ought to be a Worker! If I count correctly there are at least 15-16 people here at this supper!

B. Martha is Remembered as a WORRIER- inLuke 10:40-4240But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.41And Jesus answered and said unto her,Martha, Martha,(do you know WHY Jesus said her name twice? Because she was probably just like every other woman, saying Jesus, everytime I turn around, I’m always the one stuck in this hot kitchen while MY SISTER is sitting in the living room listening to you, cutting up with all the disciples, leaving ME to do all this work- and another thing! And Jesus says, Martha! MARTHA!)thou art careful and troubled about many things:42But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

How many of us would be described as a MARTHA or a MARY?

II. MARY IS REMEMBERED FOR HER SACRIFICE- (vs.3) 3Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. (John 12:3) A. MARY IS A WORSHIPING CHRISTIAN- Three times in the Bible Mary is mentioned, and if you will look at those three times you will find every time Mary is mentioned she is at the feet of Jesus. In Luke chapter 10she is at the feet of Jesus hearing His word. In John chapter 11she is at the feet of Jesus with a broken heart because her brother, Lazarus, is dead, and Jesus said, I'm the resurrection and the life. Now in John chapter 12she is again at the feet of Jesus and she is worshipping as she feet she pours out her consecration and her devotion to Him.

1. Her Sacrifice was COSTLY-the Bible says,” then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly” The word “spikenard” indicates that it was a genuine perfume! This was not the cheap stuff! To buy a whole pound of this one would have to work nearly a whole year and save every penny just to buy it! I want you to see True Worship Cost you something! True Worship is Compelled by Love! When you Love someone you want to Give them something! Tradition tells us that young virgins would by this spikenard and save it till the day of her wedding! And would give it to her beloved! Ill- I read the story of a young couple who were married. They began with very little. As Christmas approached they both realized they didn’t have the money to buy each other a gift. The young lady had beautiful long hair. It was without a doubt her most dearest possession. She decided to go and have her hair cut off to help cancer patience. So she took the money and went and bought her husband a case to store his watch. He had a gold watch that was his most dear possession. He in turn had thought about the delima of not having money to buy his bride a gift. So he took his most valuable possession and sold it buy for her some beautiful jeweled combs to keep her hair in place. Upon her arrival home he saw that her hair was all cut off and when he enquired why she replied I did so because I love you and wanted to give you a gift! (What is so near and dear to us that we would be willing to part with in order that we may truly bring a sacrificial gift unto our Lord?) Mary broke her alabaster box and poured a pound of perfume on his feet! A Towel and a basin of water would have been sufficient! But in Mary’s heart, she wanted to GIVE her most valued possession. 2. Her Sacrifice was LOWLY- “and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair” It was an honor to anoint the head of a person. Yet she anointed his feet. She bowed herself down low and humble herself therefore exalting her Lord. Is that not what we are to do! John said “He must increase and I must decrease”.

3. Her Sacrifice was LOVELY-”and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment”. Mary’s act of worship filled the Whole House! You could smell her sacrifice all over the Whole House! Her individual act of worship spilled over and Others were blessed. What you do for the Lord will spill over and bless others! I know some saints that heard from the Lord that His church needed a Bus to bring in kids to hear the Gospel. Their act of giving to the Lord has been a sweet smell to not just the Lord, but the whole church house! Mary’s worship not only filled the Whole House- but it filled the Whole WORLD. Jesus said what she has done shall be a memorial for her all over the world! WHEREVER THIS GOSPEL IS PREACHED! Mary is Remembered for her Sacrifice!Wouldn’t it be great if we could stop right here? You know someone’s got to come along and spoil it…

III. JUDAS IS REMEMBERED FOR HIS SINNING (vs.4-6) Martha was known as a Worker! Mary was known for her Worship. A. JUDAS IS KNOWN FOR HIS WICKEDNESS! Notice his attitude: 1. Judas was CRITICAL- (Mind you, these are the first recorded words of Judas. And what he says Reveals what he is. Because what you say Reveals WHAT you are!)“Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence and given to the poor?” Judas did not care about her selfless act of worship! Neither did he care for the poor!

2. Judas was HYPOCRITICAL- “this he said, NOT that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put in therein.”Judas controlled what went into the bag. He according to this verse being a thief was STEALING FROM GOD!I received the news just last week of a woman I knew that worked in a church in our area. She was CAUGHT stealing from the offering. She was stealing from GOD. That is dirty. It’s Low down and it’s just as bad as members who will spend their money on a lottery ticket. Go out and eat 15 times a week. And then say we don’t have the money to tithe! Hello! Judas will be Remembered as a Thief! As Someone who was dishonest! Judas will be Remembered for his SINNING!

IV. LAZARUS IS REMEMBERED FOR HIS SOUL WINNING (verses 9-11) A. Lazarus was a WITNESS for The Lord 1. Lazarus was a LIVING TESTIMONY-“they came not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.” Here at this house was a man that was back from the dead. He went from the Tomb to the Table! Can you imagine the news: Look whose coming to dinner? I got to see this!

2. Lazarus was a LIVELY TESTIMONY-vs.10-11 “because by REASON of him MANY of the Jews went away, and believed on JESUS. (Lazarus I believe was a Passionate Witness for our Lord! I’m convinced he Testified at the Supper! He testified out in the front yard! He testified all over the place! I was dead- But Jesus came and Called me OUT of that Tomb…) Conclusion- How Do You Want to be Remembered?
In 1858, there was a man in Chicago Illinois that had a burden for lost boys and girls. He started traveling around town riding a mule picking up boys and girls and taking them to Sunday School. He grew a Sunday School of over 800 boys and girls riding around on that donkey every Sunday morning to get them. You know what they called him in the papers in Chicago? Crazy Moody. D.L. Moody started the Great Moody Church that still lives on today! Mr. Moody will be remembered for his Love for the Lord and getting souls to Christ! I was read again about a young Charles H. Spurgeon who preached in a building that seated 5,000 people. He had to hand out tickets on Sunday night. You had to have a ticket to get in, and he begged his members not to come on Sunday night so lost people could get a seat on Sunday night. And you know what? They put cartoons in the papers of London making fun of the young buffoon, Spurgeon. This world will always makes fun. Let’s be remembered for Getting the Gospel Out here @ Anchor of Hope…

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James Moffatt wrote, “Death is never the final word in life. When a man leaves this world, be he righteous or unrighteous, he leaves something behing. He may leave something that will grow and spread like a cancer or a poison, OR he may leave something like the fragrance of perfume or a blossom of beauty that permeates the atmosphere with blessing.” QUOTE: Someone once said, "When you were born, everyone else was smiling and you were crying. Live so that when you die, everyone else is crying and you are smiling."1