I. SERMON NOTES​

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Overview

 

This sermon addresses three interrelated lessons drawn from John 11:45–12:11 regarding what it means to live a life of sacrifice:

 

1. Good done can be rejected: Jesus' ministry of giving life was received negatively by some rather than positively.

2. Actual personal sacrifice needed: Jesus' ministry involved the sacrifice of Himself as part of God's plan.

3. Following Jesus will cost us: Mary personally offered a costly sacrifice to Jesus despite severe criticism.

 

1. Good Done Can Be Rejected

 

It is a sad reality when something good and beneficial is unappreciated, devalued, or rejected. For example, in Singapore, we often grumble about MRT train breakdowns and expect them to always be on time, forgetting that we have one of the best systems in the world.

 

In John 11, the raising of Lazarus was "a supreme demonstration of the power of eternal life that triumphed over death... and hopelessness". Yet, Jesus' ministry received two opposing reactions:

 

• Positive Responses:

  • Many Jews were led to faith in Him (John 11:45).

  • Martha and Mary showed growing and deepening devotion as they served Him at Lazarus' home (John 12:1–9).

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• Negative Responses:

  • The Jewish leaders (Pharisees, Sadducees, and chief priests) in the Sanhedrin/council completely misunderstood Jesus' motives. Operating under Roman authorities, they viewed Jesus strictly as a political threat.

  • As one commentator summarised: "They anticipated that the miracles of Jesus would bring such a wave of popular support that the Romans, fearing a revolution, would intervene by seizing complete authority, thus displacing the Jewish government and destroying the national identity."

  • The leaders felt personally threatened regarding "our holy place and our nation" (John 11:48) and worried about losing their status, power, and privilege.  

 

Though they acknowledged His miracles were real (John 11:47), they missed the opportunity to discover if Jesus was truly from God. Instead, guided by the high priest Caiaphas—who stated, "You know nothing at all! You do not understand that it is better for you to have one man die for the people than to have the whole nation destroyed" (John 11:49–50)—they plotted to murder Jesus to safeguard their positions (John 11:53, 57). In their wickedness, they later planned to kill Lazarus as well, because many were believing in Jesus on his account (John 12:10–11).

 

Jesus withdrew to Ephraim near the wilderness (John 11:54) because, according to God's plan, His death was meant to occur later during the Passover. The Passover was when Jews remembered God liberating them from slavery in Egypt by sacrificing a lamb. Jesus was later understood as "God's own true Lamb" sacrificed as an atonement for the sins of the world.

 

2. Actual Personal Sacrifice Needed

 

The fruit or effect of Jesus' ministry was fully realised through His personal suffering sacrifice—no sacrifice personally, no benefits for others; no pain personally, no gain for all. Jesus did not talk about sacrifice or suffering purely on an intellectual or hypothetical basis; He actually suffered personally. To fulfil God's will, we must expect and be willing to suffer and sacrifice personally so that benefit comes to others.

 

When Caiaphas said it was better for one man to die for the people (John 11:50), he did not understand the true spiritual impact of his statement. Unwittingly, he prophesied God's purpose: that Jesus' sacrificial death would "gather into one the dispersed children of God" (John 11:51–52).

 

3. Following Jesus Will Cost Us

 

Six days before the Passover in Bethany, Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair (John 12:1–3).

 

• The Cost of Mary's Offering: Judas noted the perfume was worth 300 denarii (John 12:5), which scholars state is nearly a year's wages for a labourer. It likely cost Mary her entire life's savings. She did not count the cost, but acted out "of love and gratitude, prompted by Jesus' restoration of her brother (and her) wiping his feet with her hair was a gesture of utmost devotion and reverence".

• Judas' Reaction: Judas devalued her sacrifice as a waste of money. John 12:6 clarifies that Judas said this not out of concern for the poor, but because he was a liar and a thief who stole from the common purse. He later betrayed Jesus for a few pieces of silver.

• Jesus' Response: Jesus defended Mary, commanding, "Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial" (John 12:7). Mary was blessing Jesus as the Saviour who would be crucified for the sins of all. When Jesus said, "You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me" (John 12:8), He was not condoning poverty or discounting duty to the poor, but recognising Mary's priority to express love and devotion at that crucial moment.

 

Application for Daily Living

 

When we live out our faith, our efforts may not always be welcomed, especially when God's values challenge the status quo or those in power.

 

As Charles Swindoll notes in Living above the Level of Mediocrity, the world system is committed to four major objectives that oppose God:

1. Fortune: Materialism and money for self-benefit above others.

2. Fame: Popularity and the longing to be somebody in others' eyes.

3. Power: Influence and control over others for one’s own benefit and preservation.

4. Pleasure: Fulfilling sensual desires under the mindset of "if it feels good, do it".

 

When our good works are rejected, we must not be discouraged, but continue doing good.

 

Galatians 6:9–10: "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

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"Do It Anyway" by Mother Teresa
 

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered; forgive them anyway.

 If you do good, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; succeed anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable; be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building; someone could destroy overnight; build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, there may be jealousy; be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; give the world the best you’ve got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God; it was never between you and them anyway.