THE ANOINTED BIRTH AND DEATH OF OUR LORD
Matthew 1:18-21, John 12:1-8
In between
birth and death was the mission of Jesus
A VISIT
FROM THE LORD
V:18 This is
how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be
married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with
child through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous
man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to
divorce her quietly.
A. People interpret the Word of God differently.
1. Mary Accepted the charge as a
blessing.
Joseph initially saw Mary’s pregnancy as a liability or a curse.
2. Mary saw the Glory of God.
Joseph saw the law and tradition.
3. Mary experienced the power of the Holy Spirit.
Joseph experienced the shame of
the community.
4. Mary trusted the Word of God.
Joseph didn’t trust the word of Mary.
5. Mary didn’t worry about her
reputation.
Joseph was concerned for his
standing in the community.
6. The righteousness of Mary sought
comfort in the Lord.
The righteousness of Joseph judged
Mary as unworthy to be his wife.
7. Mary knew her pregnancy was by the
Holy Spirit.
Joseph was convinced that Mary’s pregnancy was by adultery.
B. When you don’t know the whole story,
you make conclusions
Based on your opinions.
1. Joseph made a decision based on his
ignorance.
2. Joseph saw Mary as a cursed woman.
Leviticus 20:10
If a man commits adultery with another man's
wife — with the wife of his neighbor — both the adulterer and the adulteress
must be put to death.
3. We should never be too quick to
judge.
4. Before we conclude anything, we
should consult the Lord.
God’s plan
is a joy to some and an inconvenience to others.
Luke 1:46-48
And Mary
said: "My soul glorifies the Lord
47 and my
spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he
has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.
From now on
all generations will call me blessed,
Mary’s
pregnancy was the fulfillment of the prophecy of His birth
Isaiah 7:14
Therefore
the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give
birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
GOD SENDS
MESSENGERS TO CORRECT OUR THINKING
V:20 But
after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream
and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your
wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will
give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus because he will
save his people from their sins."
A. Never make any important decision
without talking to God.
1. When you meditate on the Word, God
will give you the right
Answer.
2. Sometimes God’s answer goes against
history and tradition.
3. We should be willing to listen to
others with love and compassion.
4. Some things in life will be above
common sense.
B. God provides the mission for our
lives
1. Joseph had plans for His life.
2. God changes our plans and redirects us
on a path of His righteousness.
3. The purpose of Joseph’s birth and
choosing of Mary as his wife was God’s
Plan before the
foundation of the earth.
C. God plans our circumstances to position
us for His glory.
1. At some point in our lives, God will
reveal to us the mission
He prepared for us.
2. Each day when we wake, we should look
to God for what He
He has prepared for us.
Philippians 1:5
From the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that
he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of
Christ Jesus.
D. Each of us play a part in the mission
of Jesus.
1. The work He has for us is to proclaim
the Gospel of Jesus Christ,
Who came to save all who
believe from their sins.
2. Joseph’s job was to be the stepfather
of Jesus Christ.
3. Our job as brothers and sisters of
Christ is to proclaim His
Glory.
PREPARATION
FOR HIS DEATH
John 12:1-8
HONOR THE
LORD WITH YOUR BEST
V:12 Six
days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom
Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor.
Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3
Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it
on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with
the fragrance of the perfume.
A. Jesus deserves our best.
1. The evidence of our love is what we
are willing to sacrifice for our friends.
2. We honor the Lord with our service.
3. Martha and Mary’s brother had been
raised from the dead.
4. Mary showed her appreciation with the
anointing of the Lord with
Expensive perfume.
a. What Mary did was extraordinary and
humbling.
b. Mary let down her hair which was not
done in public by
Jewish women.
She ignored the scorn of
looseness by men.
She did it to show her love
and devotion for Jesus.
c. She got on her knees to wipe Jesus
feet with her hair,
A job normally done by a
servant of the host.
Humbling yourself before
Jesus exalts you in His eyes
d. She washed his feet with the
expensive perfume.
We can never spend too much on Jesus.
c. She took center stage because all eyes were
on the spectacle
she made of herself
kneeling at the feet of Jesus.
There is nothing too degrading
for us to do for Jesus.
5. Martha showed her appreciation with
the preparation of the meal.
6. When we serve the Lord, it perfumes our
lives and the lives of those
Around us.
B. Each of us shows our appreciation
with praise and worship.
1. We show our appreciation with our tithes
and offering.
2. We show our appreciation with our
service.
3. We show our appreciation with
obedience.
4. We show our appreciation by loving
others as God loves us.
5. We can show our appreciation in the church
by supporting our
Pastor and first lady.
THE LOVE
OF MONEY SPOILS TRUE LOVE
V:4 But one
of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5
"Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was
worth a year's wages." 6 He did not
say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper
of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
A. Theft may be disguised as charity.
1. Jealousy takes many forms.
2. Judas was jealous of the honor given
Jesus, so he described the anointing
Of Jesus as a waste of
money.
3. Judas kept the donation bag. He was
the accountant of the group,
so he knew what perfumed
cost.
4. Judas regularly took money out of the
donation for himself.
5. The use of the perfume was a lost
opportunity for his personal gain.
6. Judas knew the difference between
cheap perfume and expensive perfume.
7. Judas knew the average wage of man
and how many days of the
An average wage was needed
to purchase the perfume used.
8. He probably didn’t know that Jesus
knew he was a thief.
9. Jesus knows the heart of man.
10. Just because we hang with Jesus, doesn’t
mean we are clean.
11. Judas was selected by Christ to play
in the hands of Satan.
Psalms 41:9
Even my close friend,
whom I trusted,
he who shared my bread,
has lifted up his heel
against me.
COME TO
THE DEFENCE OF JESUS
V:7
"Leave her alone," Jesus replied. "[It was intended] that she
should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the
poor among you, but you will not always have me."
A. The Lord
has a purpose for what we save for Him.
1. Mary may not have known the full
reason she purchased the perfume
And set it aside for
Jesus.
2. The Lord put on her heart to set it
aside for Himself.
3. Lord provided the right moment for
Mary to glorify Him.
4. The anointing was a sign of events to
come.
B. We should give flowers to those we
love before they die.
1. The argument that Judas made for the
use of the perfume was
Invalidated by Jesus.
2. Special occasions require special events
and preparations.
3. Jesus death was the special event.
C. The poor among us are common occurrences
and require our
Service of love.
1. Judas neither honored Jesus nor the
poor.
2. Judas was all about Judas.
3. Judas was in the midst of the
greatest revival of man by God the Father
And couldn’t recognize it
because of his jealously.
WHY DO WE
NEED A JUDAS?
A. Judas was selected by Jesus to walk
with Him for 3 ½ years. WHY?
1. He was a thief. Why?
2. He was a complainer. Why?
3. He betrayed Jesus. Why?
4. He was the son of perdition. Why?
B. We need a Judas to remind us, that we
need an argument for
Why we believe in Jesus.
1. We need a Judas to force us to study
the Word.
2. We need a Judas to force us to come
to the rescue of someone
attacked for doing good.
3. We need a Judas to point us to those
who serve out of love
And get little credit.
4. We need a Judas to keep us on our
knees in prayer.
5. We need a Judas to remind us that
everybody that walks with
You Are not your friend.
6. We need a Judas to teach us to be
tolerant.
7. We need a Judas to keep us stirred up
for Jesus.
8. We need a Judas because God has a
plan for him to
Affect your life.
BLESS THE
LORD AT ALL TIMES
Rev. M.
Mitchell
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