Mary’s gift to Jesus...
* was precious - worth a year’s wage
* was personal - she washed the Savior’s feet, and then wiped them with her hair
* was potent - the aroma filled the house, drawing attention to the Savior. We make our gifts potent through prayer!
* brought persecution - wicked Judas questioned Mary’s motive and attempted to shame her to cover his own thefts
* was preemptive - she could not anoint him later; he was heading to the cross. We have windows of opportunity that will not always be open.
John 12:1-8 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. 2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. 3 Then 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. 4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him, 5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? 6 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 therein. 7 Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. 8 For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.
The Gift from a Pure Heart
Mary Honors Her Savior
April 18, 2021 • Bro. Walter Clark
Peace
April 21, 2024 • Bro. Lucas Scott • Romans 8:6, Acts 16:20–33
What is peace and where it can be found 1. We must allow Christ to transform our minds! 2. We must accept Christ’s forgiveness (not letting our past bring us into self-condemnation) and forgive others 3. Prayer! We must ask for and then depend upon God to give us the gift of peace. 4. Praise and thankfulness
Won't You Be My Neighbor?
April 10, 2024 • Bro. Derek Oman • Luke 10:25–29
Luke 10:25-29 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? 27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. 28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. 29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? 30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. 36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? 37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.