November 20, 2005

 

Twelve Ordinary Men

The Devil’s Disciple

John 12:1-11

Opening Words: They were not saints. They were not scholars. They were not even religious sages. Among them there were fishermen. There was a hated tax collector and a political zealot. Let me say this clearly. They were common men with an uncommon calling. They were hopelessly human and that is exactly why they speak to us! Today, you are going to hear the last sermon in a ten part sermon series I have called Twelve Ordinary Men. Let me call this sermon The Devil’s Disciple.

Judas Iscariot was a young, zealous, patriotic Jew who did not want the Romans to rule his land. In many ways he was unlike the other disciples. He chose to follow Jesus and Jesus chose him to become one of his elite group. Judas Iscariot saw the miracles, heard the messages and experienced the power of Jesus. In his heart of hearts Judas Iscariot knew Jesus was the long awaited Messiah. But, what kind of a Messiah? That is where the problem began. Judas Iscariot was looking for a political messiah to expel the Romans and establish the Jews as a world power. Judas Iscariot knew Jesus had that kind of power at his fingertips. However, Jesus didn’t want to be a political messiah. Jesus was a spiritual messiah who came to establish the Kingdom of God. Jesus did not come to be served but to serve. This is my question for you today. What is our most valuable possession?

Introduction

It is said that Cyrus, the founder of the Persian Empire, once had captured a prince and his family. When they came before him, the monarch asked the prisoner, "What will you give me if I release you?" "The half of my wealth," was his reply. "And if I release your children?" "Everything I possess." "And if I release your wife?" "Your Majesty, I will give myself."

What is your most valuable possession? Is your most valuable possession your spouse? Are your most valuable possessions your children or your grandchildren? Is your most valuable possession your home or your citizenship? Is your most valuable possession your good health or your retirement plan? Is your most valuable possession your reputation or your standing within the community? Is your most valuable possession your education or that secret that you carry everyday?  If you ask Mary, “What is your most valuable possession?” she would say proudly, “Jesus!” If you asked Judas Iscariot, what would he say? What is our most valuable possession?

Body

We are in the twelfth chapter of the gospel of John. It is truly an amazing story. It is one of the few stories that is found in all four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. So if you lay those four versions side by side, you get a complete picture of what really happened. It is near the end of Jesus’ public ministry, six days before the final Passover. Jesus is at a farewell meal in Bethany, a suburb of Jerusalem. According to Matthew he is at the home of Simon the Leper. His closest friends have gathered. Along with Judas Iscariot, the devil’s disciple, and the other eleven disciples are two noteworthy guests. One is the homeowner, Simon. He owed Jesus a great deal because Jesus healed him at some point. He had surrendered to a life of isolation but Jesus made it possible for him to re-enter society. The other noteworthy guest is Lazarus. Jesus had resurrected him from the dead. On the lips of everyone present is Jesus. People just could not say enough nice things about Jesus! But, people also say talk is cheap.

It is at this point in the story that something truly remarkable happens. Without saying a recorded word Mary suddenly appears with a pint of nard, expensive perfume that came from India. It is Judas Iscariot, the devil’s disciple, who tells us it is worth one year’s wages. Mary anoints the Master by pouring it on his feet and wiping it with her hair. The fact that she anointed his feet is interesting. The fact that she wiped it with her hair is shocking to her culture but the fact that she used such an expensive perfume speaks to our world. Without saying a word no one could question her devotion to Jesus. Actions do speak louder than words.  Anyone can say they love Jesus but to spend a year’s wages on him is different. What do your actions say about you? What is so valuable to you that you would spend a full year’s wages for a few minutes of pleasure? What is our most valuable possession?

Most Bible scholars are not surprised by her extravagance. No one questions her love for Jesus. Did you know that Mary is mentioned three times in the Gospels? Each time she is at the feet of Jesus. In Luke 10, her sister Mary is working hard getting everything ready for Jesus but where is Mary? She is at the feet of Jesus. In the previous chapter, John 11, Mary and Martha’s brother, Lazarus has died. Where is Mary? She is at the feet of Jesus. In this story, where is Mary at the feet of Jesus. You cannot anoint someone’s feet when standing up. Why is Mary always at the feet of Jesus? The answer is simple. She is at the feet of Jesus because she loved and respected him. She anointed Jesus with expensive perfume because she loved and respected him. She knew if you had Jesus then you had it all. Jesus was her most valuable possession.  What is our most valuable possession?

I have a friend who served on a conference committee to start a new church. The group met several times and looked at a variety of communities. They had all the demographic material in front of them. They knew how fast those communities were growing. They knew the average age of the people. They knew the education level of the community and the average income level of those communities. They knew how much rain fall those communities received and the chances of an earthquake in the next thousand years. Over the period of twelve months they met to look at those figures but the group could not reach a conclusion, where to start their new church. My friend got frustrated with the process and resigned. In a moment of frustration he looked at the committee and said, “Just send someone to any of these places who loves Jesus, who can preach the Gospel!” Nothing else really matters but Jesus! What is our most valuable possession?

In the church today there is a shortage of people like Mary and a surplus of people like Judas Iscariot, the devil’s disciple. Mary loved Jesus but Judas Iscariot missed the point. He should not have missed the point. He was with Jesus for three years. He saw the miracles. He heard the lessons. He experienced the power of the Master. The potential that was in his heart was lost for one reason. He made other things more important than Jesus. It can happen to anyone. Judas Iscariot sends a warning. Our top priority must be Jesus! Augustine once said, “Jesus Christ is not valued at all until He is valued above all.”

I hate to ask you this but what is our most valuable possession as a church? Judas Iscariot was with Jesus for three years and missed it. Could we be missing it? In the life of the church we can sing the songs, say the prayers, recite the creed, read the scripture and listen to the sermon and we can still miss the point. We dare not miss it because the only thing we really need is Jesus! And all of God’s people said, “Amen!” What is our most valuable possession? Your answer better be Jesus! Let me end with a quick story.

Conclusion

A minister stood at the back door at the conclusion of a Sunday morning worship service. Everyone walked by and told her what an outstanding service it was, even those who were sleeping. However, one woman came up and was clearly upset. She said, “I am going to quit this church and I am going to tell you why. All we hear about is Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. Don’t you know anything else? Doesn’t anything really matter more than Jesus? And the minister answered, “No!” What is our most valuable possession? And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”