Three Responses To The Presence of Jesus
Dave Riddle - 2/5/2023
Key Passage: John 12:1-11
The authorities want to arrest Jesus
- John 11:49-57 - Jesus is wanted 
- He retreats to the wilderness 
- As Passover arrives, everyone is looking for Jesus to arrest him. 
 
A Feast in Jesus’ Honor
- John 12:1-3 - Mary, Martha, and Lazarus are there. 
 
Martha - Practical Service
- John 12:2 
- Martha is serving, as always. - This time she is serving without complaining. The serving wasn’t the problem. Her heart was. 
 
Lazarus - Practicing His Presence
- John 12:2 
- Lazarus is reclining at the table, enjoying the presence of Jesus. - Brother Lawrence: Practicing the presence of God. 
- Speechless and awed to just be alive. 
 
Mary - Extravagant Acts of Humility and Devotion
- John 12:3 
- Mary shows complete and total devotion and humility. - It would be typical to anoint someone’s head. Incredibly unique and extraordinary to anoint someone’s feet with such an expensive product 
- Highly remarkable for a Jewish woman to let her hair down in public. 
 
Each of these reactions are appropriate and good
- At different times in our lives we are called to respond to Jesus in different ways. - We are called to respond to Jesus in each of these three ways. 
 

