A Passion for Jesus – Part 4

“Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her” – Mark 14:9

In the opening part of this series we defined passion as a driving force, a deep emotion in the heart, a fire in the belly, a heart aflame. People have a passion for many things, but how many have a passion for Jesus? We also said that passion for Jesus based on popularity, politics, provision, self-promotion, or pride will not stand the test of time; it will only be a Palm Sunday passion.

 In the second part of the series we saw that a passion for Jesus begins with falling at His feet in recognition of our depth and debt of sin and that through faith in Jesus we can be forgiven. In part 3 we saw a passion for Jesus falls at His feet aware of His living hope (power over death.)

In part 4 we will see that a passion for Jesus is rooted in an awareness of His atoning death on the cross. In this part we will look at the keystone segment of scripture in Mark 14:1-11. Again we will see a woman’s passion for Jesus. This is an incredible picture of a passion for Jesus. Here we will see something that is all too often lacking in our walk with God and in amongst His bride the church. Let’s look at this passage of passion.

After two days it was the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take Him by trickery and put Him to death. ² But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar of the people.”

 

This incident happens on Passover, hours before Jesus would go to the cross. The reason the chief priests and scribes are there is to find an opportunity to arrest Jesus.

³ And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper,

Bethany was like is a small town suburb  located a short distance from Jerusalem. It was at Simon the Leper’s house not the house of Lazarus that this incident took place. This incident is likely different from the one studied in part 3 of this series in John 12.

as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard.

Again it is a woman who comes to Jesus with a valuable anointing oil of spikenard.

Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head.

When you have a passion for Jesus there is always a breaking involved. God will do whatever it takes to bring you to Him. He will allow into your life whatever it takes to bring you home to Him and light a fire of passion in your heart. That involves breaking. Like a bucking bronco we have to be broken of our self-will, self-reliance, self-centeredness, anything that challenges Jesus rule and lordship in our lives. This is all illustrated in the broken flask.  Just as breaking the flask releases the costly oil; breaking us precedes the work of the Spirit in and through us.  

This woman poured the contents of the costly anointing oil on Jesus’ head. It was a picture of Jesus anointing in the Spirit for His redemptive mission to the cross.

⁴ But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? ⁵ For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply.

The critics posed as those more concerned with being good stewards with these resources. Jesus approves of costly, passionate acts of worship. 300 denarii was about a year’s wages. Costly! Lavish! Extravagant! When was the last time you worshipped Jesus like this? Have you ever been moved with passion for Jesus to this extent?

⁶ But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me.

“Let her alone” Jesus said just as He did before. “Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work or Me.” Worship is the work of the people. If you aren’t worshipping Jesus, you’re missing out on one of His most favorite works. Worship is not merely singing on Sunday. Worship is how you live your life. “Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness!” (Psalm 96:9). Are yo worshiping the LORD with the way you live?

 ⁷ For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always.

Jesus isn’t minimizing the importance of helping the poor. He is maximizing the value of worshipping Him.

 ⁸ She has done what she could.

Do all you can as often as you can for Jesus. She did what she could. That was acceptable to Jesus. Jesus only always asks us to do what we can do. If He asks us to do something, He will enable us to do it.

She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial.

Here Jesus gives us a key insight into the passion of this woman. “She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial.” This woman had the cross of Christ in view. While the disciples were slow to understand the mission of Jesus – the atoning death of Jesus on the cross – this woman apparently understood the redemptive path Jesus was about to take.

⁹ Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”

Her act of passion for Jesus is connected by Him with the gospel. Why? Because: She brought her valuables to Jesus – She gave something that cost her something. She gave her relationships to Jesus - This flask of spikenard was probably her dowry. In effect, with the poured out flask she was saying, “Here Jesus, I give for You all my hopes of marriage and happiness; it’s all on You.” She gave her life to Jesus - This oil may have also served as her own anointing oil should she die before marriage. Therefore she is also saying, “With this oil Jesus, I give You my life.” She gave her all to Jesus - She was giving her all to Jesus! That’s how people need to come to Jesus; giving their all! That’s the only right response to the gospel. “But know this: Nothing that is given to Jesus is wasted.” [1]

¹⁰ Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Him to them. ¹¹ And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. So he sought how he might conveniently betray Him.

Judas, self-centered sinful Judas, just couldn’t take this extravagant act of worship poured out on Jesus. This was what pushed him over the edge to betray Jesus. For him, it was just too much.

How much is too much for you? What would it take to get you to betray Jesus? When was the last time (if ever) you worshipped Jesus like this woman? Does that describe you? Or do you look at extravagant acts of worship as “a waste”? Have you given your all to Jesus? Do you have such a passion for Jesus and His cross?

John Newton (1725-1807), the author of Amazing Grace is known for another poem that is appropriate to quote here:

In Evil Long I Took Delight

In evil long I took delight,
Unawed by shame or fear,
Till a new object struck my sight,
And stopp'd my wild career:
I saw One hanging on a Tree
In agonies and blood,
Who fix'd His languid eyes on me.
As near His Cross I stood.

Sure never till my latest breath,
Can I forget that look:
It seem'd to charge me with His death,
Though not a word He spoke:
My conscience felt and own'd the guilt,
And plunged me in despair:
I saw my sins His Blood had spilt,
And help'd to nail Him there.

Alas! I knew not what I did!
But now my tears are vain:
Where shall my trembling soul be hid?
For I the Lord have slain!

A second look He gave, which said,
"I freely all forgive;
This blood is for thy ransom paid;
I die that thou may'st live."

Thus, while His death my sin displays
In all its blackest hue,
Such is the mystery of grace,
It seals my pardon too.
With pleasing grief, and mournful joy,
My spirit now if fill'd,
That I should such a life destroy,
Yet live by Him I kill'd!

Who or what do you have in view?

The passion we are speaking about has another name, Revival. Martyn Lloyd Jones described revival in the following way:

Revival, above everything else, is a glorification of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It is the restoration of him to the center of the life of the Church. . . . his atonement, his death upon the cross, his broken body and his shed blood. . . . You will find that in every period of revival, without exception, there has been a tremendous emphasis upon the blood of Christ. . . . But in periods of revival, she [the Church] glories in the cross, she makes her boast in the blood. Because as the author of the epistle to the Hebrews puts it, there is only one way in which we can enter with boldness into the holiest of all, and that is by the blood of Jesus (see Heb. 10:19). This is the thing the Holy Ghost honors.”^[2]

A passion for Jesus is a revival passion. That is what we need. Do you have a passion for Jesus?

---

[1] Chuck Smith WFT note – Mark 14:4.

 

[2] Martin Lloyd Jones, Revival, (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 1987) pgs. 47-48

Is the Lord Your Shepherd?

“The LORD is my Shepherd” – Psalm 23:1

 

Ever feel lost, vulnerable, or unprotected? Ever feel spiritually dry, directionless, or malnourished? It’s not uncommon to feel that way in our dark, skeptical, and fallen world. But there is help. The solution to these issues can be found in Psalm 23. The 23^rd Psalm is one of, if not the best known Psalm of the Bible. There’s good reason for that. It is well known because it is a psalm of great comfort. It is a psalm that speaks of intimacy with God.  Psalm 23 begins with the words, “The LORD is my Shepherd . . .” Is it worth it to have the LORD as my Shepherd? Who is this Shepherd? What does it mean to have the LORD as my Shepherd? Is the LORD your Shepherd?  

Is it worth having the LORD as your Shepherd?  I would think so. Look at the promises connected with having the LORD as our Shepherd. If the LORD is my Shepherd, “I shall not want” (23:1b). If we have the Shepherd, we have all we need. Our Shepherd promises to meet and fulfill all our needs. With Him we will want for nothing. This is a broad comforting promise.

“He makes me to lie down in green pastures” (23:2a). Green pastures are hard to find in the often barren Middle East. Sheep need a Shepherd who knows where the green pastures are. And the pastures He leads to are not crab grass and weedy; they are fertile and filling. Sheep need a Shepherd who will lead them. The Shepherd will guide us to a place where we can find nourishment. And as we “lie down” in these pastures with the Shepherd, no doubt we will get to know Him. It’s not always about serving the Shepherd. Sometimes we just have to sit at His feet and worship and take in (cf. Luke 10:40-41).  

“He leads me beside the still waters” (23:2b). Still waters run deep. Any deep experience with the Shepherd requires we spend time with Him. Water is a symbol of God’s word (Eph. 5:26). Notice, “He leads me beside still waters.” This Shepherd leads us with the refreshing water of His words. Laying down in green pastures and being led beside still waters speaks of serenity, peace, security. “He restores my soul” (23:3a). The Shepherd brings spiritual restoration to the soul that sorrows or is weak. This Shepherd is the source of revival, refreshment and spiritual awakening.

“He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake” (23:3b).  “Paths” here (Heb. Ma’gal) refer to ways clearly marked by wheeled traffic. The Shepherd leads in a clear path; He’s been through before; He leads us on a path He Himself has trod. He is holy. His path is a righteous holy path. Why will He lead you? “For His name’s sake” (23:3c). His reputation is on the line as He leads you. He will only lead you in a righteous way. That’s why it’s so important to follow Him. But even more than that, this Shepherd will lead you in the right way purely by grace, because He loves you.

There are dangers in the valleys of life. That’s when you really need a Shepherd. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For you are with me;” (23:4a). “Yea,” yes, you can be sure, there are valleys and the shadow of death in life. The shepherd travelling home from the fields with their flock sometimes went through dark ravines and valleys where predators might lay in wait. There are dangers in the world. The presence of the strong shepherd comforted the sheep and should comfort you and me. There is a Shepherd who has promised to never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). This Shepherd has conquered death (1 Cor. 15:53-58).

“Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” (23:4b). The “rod” (Heb. shebat) was a shepherding tool used to guide with a tap and a nudge. The “staff” (Heb. Mish’enet) was an instrument used to protect against enemies.  This Shepherd loves you enough to guide and correct you. “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;” (23:5a). No need to worry or scurry when the Shepherd is with you, even if there are enemies around. You can eat in peace. Your Shepherd has your back.

“You anoint my head with oil;” (23:5b). Shepherds used oil to rub into scratches on the sheep to help heal them. “Oil” is a type of the Spirit (Zech. 4). Oil speaks of the filling of the Holy Spirit at one’s spiritual birth or second birth (John. 3; 4:14; 14:16; 1 John 2:20). It also speaks of the Spirit’s anointing for service (Acts 1:4-5, 8; 2:17-18, 32-33). It says, “my cup runs over” (23:5c). The Shepherd isn’t stingy. He will give an abundant outpouring of the Spirit (John 7:37-39; 10:10).

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;” (23:6a).  “Surely” means NO DOUBT ABOUT IT! “Follow” (Heb. redap) means “to actively pursue.” Goodness and mercy will actively pursue those who have this Shepherd. The psalm ends with the words, “And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (23:6b). This speaks to the personal and intimate communion between the sheep and their Shepherd. These are all incredible blessings for the one who can say, “The LORD is my Shepherd.” But just who is this Shepherd? There have been some clues. Let’s answer this question.

Who is this Shepherd? “The LORD” here refers to the Tetragrammaton or YHWH which means “I am that I am” (Ex. 3-4). The sense of this name of God is that God is whatever He needs to be, according to His nature, without limit. In the New Testament Jesus identifies Himself as the Shepherd. He says, “I am the good Shepherd” (John 10:11, 14). Jesus is the One who fulfills Psalm 23!

What does it mean to have the LORD as your Shepherd? The words, “is my” are very personal. This is a very personal psalm. In fact 17 times personal pronouns are used to refer to the psalmist (“my, me, I”) and 10 times personal pronouns are used to refer to God (“He, His, You, Your”). But outside this psalm God has revealed a very personal problem – sin. Sin separates us from God our Shepherd (Isaiah 59:1-2; Psalm 66:18). Sin cannot be worked off or worked away. Sin can only be washed away with the blood of a sacrifice (Leviticus 17:11; Hebrews 9:22). The blood of Old Testament sacrifices served two purposes. First, they were an instrument for people to put their faith in God through obedience. Second, the Old Testament sacrifices pointed to the greater sacrifice, Jesus. “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4). God passed over sins (Rom. 3:25). But it wasn’t until Jesus shed His own blood on the cross that a viable, sufficient, and justly acceptable to God atonement for sin was made. “Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.” (Hebrews 9:12).

What does it mean to have Jesus as your Shepherd? It means you have sought and received by faith forgiveness for your sins based on the shed blood of Jesus and not any work of your own. It means having done this that you are in a personal saving relationship with Jesus.

Is the LORD my Shepherd? How do we know if Jesus is our Shepherd? Jesus calls and knows His sheep by name (John 10:3). He knows them and they know Him (John 10:14). His sheep hear His voice, know His voice, and follow Him (John 10:4). They by no means follow strangers (John 10:5). Others seek to destroy and abuse the sheep. Jesus comes to give the sheep abundant life (John 10:10). Jesus is the Good Shepherd; He laid down His life for the sheep (John 10:11). Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one” (John 10:27-30). Is Jesus your Shepherd? Do you hear His voice? Are you following Him? If you’re unsure perhaps you haven’t dealt sufficiently with sin in your life. Have you turned from your sin? Have you asked God to forgive your sin based on Jesus shed blood on the cross and not your own works? Have you received the forgiveness God offers through faith in Jesus? If not, do so. Then follow your Shepherd. He promises it will be an abundant life!

Do Not Be Afraid of Sudden Terror

“Do not be afraid of sudden terror, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; ²⁶ For the Lord will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught.” (Proverbs 3:25-26).

 

April 15^th is Patriots Day in Boston. And this year this holiday day was punctuated with an apparent act of terror as two bombs were detonated and two others were discovered and diffused before they could be detonated. The evidence and facts are still being accumulated and processed. Two are known dead with nearly 100 injured at this writing. It is being called an act of terror. This is the first of a crowd bombing like this on our turf. Experts in the field of terror will tell you they have been training for such a day for some time now. It was only a matter of time they say. That time of terror has arrived.

How can we cope with terror? How can we prepare for sudden unexpected vicious violence? Wisdom is the ability to solve problems. Biblical wisdom is solving problems from a biblical world view; from scripture. Proverbs is a wisdom book. In Proverbs it states, “Do not be afraid of sudden terror, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; ²⁶ For the Lord will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught.” (Proverbs 3:25-26). The solution to coping with the climate of terror is do not be afraid, have faith God will get you through.

“For the LORD . . . will keep your foot from being caught,” does not necessarily mean if you put your faith in God that you and your loved ones will suffer no physical harm or even death. God’s people are not exempt from harm. There have been many Todd Beamers who have stood up against evil with clarion calls of, “Let’s roll!”  They have given their lives. We should pray for their families who were left behind.

God can and often does protect us from physical harm, but not always. How do we deal with the fear of harm and death? The apostle Paul was one who faced the threat of death regularly. He was imprisoned with the threat of execution hanging over his head many a time. But imprisonment and the fear of death did not deter him. In fact he wrote four inspired letters from prison. In one of those letters Paul was inspired by God to write, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). Paul looked into the teeth of death and actually looked forward to it. How was he able to do that?  

Fear is the foe of faith. Fear and faith are diametrically opposed to each other. Either fear will conquer your faith or faith will conquer your fears. It is possible to turn the tables on fear. There is a way to use your fears to build your faith.  We can begin to find that way in our verses from the wisdom book of Proverbs. The phrase, “Do not be afraid of sudden terror, nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes,” tells us a few things. First it tells us some scary things. There is such a thing as “sudden terror,” of frightening things that will come upon us unexpectedly. It also tells us that “trouble from the wicked” will come. You might be thinking at this point, Okay, I thought you were going to help me overcome my fears and now I’m more frightened than before! Well hold on because it also says, “Do not be afraid” of those things. That is an exhortation, an urging to take a step of faith. We need to by faith not be afraid, or not allow our fears to overwhelm and overcome us. The next verse gives us the reason we should act in faith and not be afraid. Faith is not a blind leap into darkness; it is acting on God’s word.

We need to use our fears to drive us to God. The inspired writer goes on to say, “For the LORD will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught.” The word “LORD” is God’s most holy name. This name describes God as eternally existent and totally sufficient. God is always present and always able to do what He purposes to do. God is always all He needs to be to fulfill His will. And the LORD is on our side (Romans 8:31-32). It is the LORD who “will be your confidence.” The word “confidence” comes from a root word that in other contexts is translated “folly,” or “silliness.” Is it foolish and silly to trust in God? No. But when God is your confidence and overseeing you, there is a freedom and security to be happy, even silly, to have fun again. With God’s help we can overcome our fears and live on.

The word “confidence” can also be translated as “security.” The New Living Translation of the Bible translates these words, “for the LORD will be your security.” I have friends in Homeland Security and they are good at what they do. But whose security would you rather trust in Almighty God’s or puny mans’? I’m going with God’s security. When our confidence is in the LORD, we can move on, we can start to live again. We can overcome our fears by placing our confidence in the LORD’s security.

The last phrase to consider is, “And will keep your foot from being caught.” This is imagery of the hunted escaping the hunter. These words do not mean we never suffer physical harm or death.  They do mean we can find comfort and relief from our fears through faith in God

From a scary prison cell Paul wrote, “For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. ¹³ Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴ That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.” (2 Tim. 1:12-14). These are some of the last words written by Paul as he was approaching execution. They point us to the primary solution of overcoming fear. We overcome fear and terror through faith in God.

Paul acknowledges his suffering but says he has found a way to weather the fearsome terror of persecution. He was courageous in the face of fearful circumstances. Where did he find such courage? Paul had faith in God. He personally knew Jesus as Savior and Lord. He fought fear with the statement, “for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” That “Day” was either the return of Jesus or the day of his death. Either way he had faith in the ability of God to keep what he had committed to Him. That is the key; Paul was totally surrendered to and committed to Jesus who, “has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Tim. 1:11).  He knew Jesus well enough to trust Him with everything, even his loved ones (Acts 20:32). Paul was not caught up in fear; he was caught up in Jesus.

Timothy was likely a timid and prone to fear person (2 Tim. 1:7). Therefore Paul exhorted Timothy to “hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me.” Paul told Timothy to build his fear overcoming faith on the word of God. He told Timothy to hold the truths of God’s word tight, “in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.” Paul pointed Timothy to seek an ever-deepening relationship with Jesus. And Paul told Timothy to do all of this, “by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.” You can’t overcome your fears without the Holy Spirit in you. Without the Holy Spirit a person is spiritually dead and on their own (Romans 8:9-11). With the Holy Spirit you experience the presence of Jesus who promises His disciples “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5; John 14:16). With Jesus you can overcome any fear. You must be born again to have the Holy Spirit in you (John 3). It is the Holy Spirit within who manifest Jesus to a person (John 15:26).

Do you want to face your fears, the terrors of this world, on your own? If you do, you will inevitably be swallowed by fear. But there is a way of escape. Admit your sinfulness (Romans 3:10, 23), turn from your sins (Acts 3:19), confess them to God (1 John 1:9), and receive by trust in Jesus the free gift of forgiveness for sin and eternal life in Christ (Romans 6:23; John 1:12). Knowing Jesus is what eternal life is all about (John 17:3-4). Then, like Paul, you will know who you believe in. And that is what you need to overcome the fears connected with the threat of sudden terror.

There’s one additional part to overcoming fear. We pray through the fears and terror until the peace of God comes. In prison Paul was inspired to write,  “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6-7). Paul exhorts us take a step of faith away from fear and into the presence of the LORD through prayer. The prayer that overcomes fear is called supplication. Supplication is a fervent, heartfelt passionate plea to God for help. Cast your cares on God through supplication prayer (1 Peter 5:7). Martin Luther used to say, “Pray and let God worry.”

 

Paul also tells us to pray with thanksgiving. This thanksgiving is offered in the midst of our fears. This thanksgiving is offered to God in the confident hope that God will answer and meet our need.  We pray to God with thanksgiving before He answers. This too is an act of faith and trust. The promise then is that, “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” That is what we want, God’s peace to dissolve our fears.

Prayer is a valuable weapon against fear and terror. John Bunyan exhorted, “Pray often, for prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, a scourge for Satan.” Without prayer you are more susceptible to fears and terror. But prayerlessness may indicate a more serious problem. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.” Prayerlessness may be a symptom of lack of spiritual life. Without spiritual life we are destined for an eternity of fear and terror. Jesus said we ought to fear the One who holds our eternal destiny in His hands more than those who threaten our temporal lives (Matthew 10:28).

Faith in God and a declared dependence on Him in prayer is ultimately how we overcome our fears and the threat of terror of this age. “Do not be afraid of sudden terror.” Instead put your faith and trust in God and get on your knees in prayer. God’s fear defeating peace is only a prayer away.

 

A Passion for Jesus – Part 3

“Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her” – Mark 14:9

In the opening part of this series we defined passion as a driving force, a deep emotion in the heart, a fire in the belly, a heart aflame. People have a passion for many things, but how many have a passion for Jesus? We also said that passion for Jesus based on popularity, politics, provision, self-promotion, or pride will not stand the test of time; it will only be a Palm Sunday passion.

 

In the second part of the series we saw that a passion for Jesus begins with falling at His feet in recognition of our depth and debt of sin and that through faith in Jesus we can be forgiven. In our next part we will see that a passion for Jesus involves a passion for the hope we have in Jesus. The point of this part is that a passion for Jesus falls at His feet aware of His living hope (power over death.) Our passion for Jesus is based in part on the living hope we have in Him. To make this point we will be looking expositionally at John 12:1-11. Let’s dig in.

     Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead.

This event took place at the house of Lazarus who Jesus had raised from the dead (cf. John 11). Mary saw that with Jesus there is always hope. Peter came to refer to it as “living hope” (1 Peter1:3-4). Lazarus sitting at the table with Jesus was living proof of His living hope.

It was six days before the passion of Jesus on the cross.

² There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. ³ Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.

Again we see the passion of Jesus exemplified by a humble act of a woman toward Jesus. Mary knew the Lord and had a saving relationship with Him. She too brought valuable perfume and anointed Jesus feet. Our faithful devotion should not stop once we are saved and forgiven of our sins.

Mary followed suit with the previous notoriously sinful woman in Luke 7. She wiped Jesus feet with her hair and the costly spikenard. Her act of worship filled the house with a beautiful fragrance. In the old testament fragrant aroma is connected with sacrifice, worship (Exodus 29:18, 25, 41; Lev. 1:9, 13, 17)  and prayer (Exodus 30; Rev. 8:3-4) to God. God loves the aroma of a fellowship meal as well as the sweet smell of worshipful incense or perfume All of this was no doubt fueled in connection with Jesus’ raising Lazarus, Mary’s brother, from the dead. She had a passion for Jesus that was connected with His power over death.

Keith Green, a Christian musician and minister who died too soon once commented, “If your heart takes more pleasure in reading novels, or watching TV, or going to the movies, or talking to friends, rather than just sitting alone with God and embracing Him, sharing His cares and His burdens, weeping and rejoicing with Him, then how are you going to handle forever and ever in His presence...? You'd be bored to tears in heaven, if you're not ecstatic about God now!” 

Mary wanted more of Jesus. She wanted to do more, give more to Jesus. That’s the sign of the beginnings of revival. Someone has said, “And, here is something that you will find in the lives of all the great saints of God in the Church throughout the ages, and particularly in men on whom God lays his hand in this matter of revival and of intercession. The first thing that happens to them is that they themselves feel this desire for a deeper knowledge of God. Of course, they are good men, they are orthodox men. They believe in God, they know they are saved, they have assurance of salvation – they may have had it for years, - but now they begin to feel a hunger and a thirst for something bigger and something deeper. They read their Bibles, and they feel that here there is some deeper and some fuller knowledge of God, and God’s love, and that is what they want. They are no longer content with what I may call the ordinary condition of the Church. They want something extraordinary, something unusual.” ^[1] Do you want more of Jesus? Would you worship Jesus in such a way? What aroma does your worship of Jesus produce? How’s your passion for Jesus?

⁴ But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, ⁵ “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii 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 money box; and he used to take what was put in it.

There are enough differences between this incident and the one in Mark 14 to justify seeing them as two separate incidents. Judas was worried about losing out on some of the funds he was pilfering. Those who are concerned about enriching themselves always look down on deep extravagant worship. What is your opinion about what Mary did to Jesus?

⁷ But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. ⁸ For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.”

Remember what Jesus said, “Leave her alone.” The Lord will stick up for you in such situations too. Just remember nothing done for Jesus is ever a waste in any way. The Lord is looking for those whose hearts are loyal to Him (2 Chron. 16:9b). He is looking for those who will worship Him in Spirit and truth (John 4:23-24). Mary was in the Spirit. The Spirit was ministering to her heart as she ministered in worship to Jesus. That is a pattern in the New Testament (cf. Acts 13).

Notice too that Jesus connects this act of passion with His burial and future cross work. Apparently Mary had received insight from the Spirit about Jesus sacrifice; something the disciples had not yet understood. God often speaks to us as we worship Him.

⁹ Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. ¹⁰ But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, ¹¹ because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.

It may be that the other gospels omitted the names of those involved in this incident so as to not provide evidence to persecutors who would harm Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.

The point here is that with Jesus there is always hope. Lazarus was dead and entombed four days. But Jesus was able to raise Him from the dead. Remember that, nothing is ever hopeless with Jesus. Praise Him. Worship Him. Be attentive to the Spirit and let that truth enflame your passion for Him.

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[1] Martin Lloyd Jones, Revival, (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 1987) pgs. 177

 

A Passion for Jesus – Part 2

“Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her” – Mark 14:9

In the opening part of this series we defined passion as a driving force, a deep emotion in the heart, a fire in the belly, a heart aflame. People have a passion for many things, but how many have a passion for Jesus? We also said that passion for Jesus based on popularity, politics, provision, self-promotion, or pride will not stand the test of time; it will only be a Palm Sunday passion.

But where does a persevering passion for Jesus start? It starts when we fall at the feet of Jesus aware of our depth and debt of sin and receive His deeper forgiveness by faith. This is exemplified in the account of a notoriously sinful woman who came to Jesus one day. The account is given in Luke 7:36-50.  Let’s look at this passage verse by verse.

 ³⁶ Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat.

Jesus was willing to eat with just about anyone. He didn’t see it as an endorsement of that person’s lifestyle or doctrine. Something to note here (and that Jesus will bring to the Pharisee’s attention later) is that Jesus received none of the normal acts of hospitality to be expected by a guest. The Pharisee had no servant wash Jesus’ feet upon entering the home.  People wore sandals which opened the feet to the debris and refuse on the dirt roads. It was culturally acceptable and expected that a hose would make provisions to wash a guest’s feet. The Pharisee offered Jesus no kiss of welcome. It was customary for a host to kiss both checks of their guest as a sign of welcome. The Pharisee offered no anointing oil poured on his guests head to refresh his guest and welcome him. This was a rude host.

³⁷ And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner,

The woman’s identity is anonymous and unknown. In a later part of this series we will consider a possible identity for this woman of the night. She was well known though, and not for good.

The word “sinner” here implies this woman was a notorious sinner, one known for her sin in the community, likely a prostitute. Pastor Chuck Smith states in his note in the Word for Today Bible, “The Greek language indicates that this woman was a prostitute. The Pharisees were scandalized that Jesus would allow such a woman to even touch Him. But Jesus’ message to her was, ‘Your sins are forgiven . . . Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.’ And that is His message for any sinner who will come to Him, no matter how vile.”

when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil,

Here is the first evidence of her faith. She was more concerned with being in Jesus’ presence than what religious people thought of her. Second, she brought something to Jesus that was valuable. Recognize that this is God working in her heart and life. She could not come to Jesus without the Holy Spirit convicting her of her sin and drawing her (cp. John 6:44; 16:8-11).

³⁸ and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.

Further evidence of her faith is seen in her humility. She was humble and passionate enough about Jesus to weep at His feet, wipe His feet with her tear soaked hair, and kiss his feet while anointing them with the fragrant oil. This was an act of humble worship; an expression of her faith.  Would you worship Jesus like this?

I propose that this sinful woman was at a place where we all need to go. Oswald Chambers once wrote, “It is not a question of our equipment, but of our poverty; not what we bring with us, but what He puts in us; not our natural virtues, our strength of character, our knowledge, our experience; all that is of no avail. . . . God can do nothing with people who think they will be of use to him.”  Certainly this woman thought she was less than nothing. The missionary David Brainerd who literally burned himself out for the Lord at a very young age wrote in his diary, "It is sweet to be nothing and less than nothing that Christ may be all in all." That seems contrary to message from the church we often hear in our day. Charles Finney, the great revivalist of the 19^th century said, “Revival is a renewed conviction of sin and repentance, followed by an intense desire to live in obedience to God. It is giving up one's will to God in deep humility.” If we are ever to experience revival, we need some humility and heart conviction, brokenness like this woman had.

I would contend that the Spirit was moving in this house as the woman wept at Jesus feet. This brokenness of the woman is a product of the conviction of the Spirit. This is the stuff of revival. Martyn Lloyd Jones makes this connection when he writes, “What is the test of a Christian? It is the presence of a grief and a sorrow in the heart, because of the way in which men are not glorifying God. . . . To what extent do we feel a longing and a desire for the manifestation of God in his glory?  . . . Is it God-centered, is it grief for God’s sake, is it a desire that he may manifest his glory again? That is what always appears in times of revival. Not that the Church may be benefitted, not even that the people may come crowding into the Church. No, the primary thing is that God and his glory may be made known. That is the primary concern.”^[1] This woman cared more about the glory of Jesus than this religious Pharisee did!

³⁹ Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”

The religious Pharisee preferred to keep his distance from such a vile sinner. Under the law, to touch a sinner made one unclean; defiled. Religion distances the minister from the sinner. Jesus allowed the sinner to minister to Him and have contact with Him. How will sinners get saved if we fear touching them where they are? (cf. Romans 10:14-17).

⁴⁰ And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” So he said, “Teacher, say it.” ⁴¹ “There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. ⁴² And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?” ⁴³ Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.”

Jesus is teaching the righteously indignant Pharisee a lesson about himself. The point here is that this woman knows she is a sinner and has come to Jesus in humility. She will find forgiveness. The “righteous” Pharisee is too proud and hard to humble himself before Jesus and will find only rebuke. He was repulsed by this public display. He was t proud for anything like that. How about you? Are you too proud to even raise your hand in church to admit your sinfulness and need of a Savior?

And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” ⁴⁴ Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. ⁴⁵ You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. ⁴⁶ You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. ⁴⁷ Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”

A passion for Jesus begins in faith produced humility at the feet of Jesus. This is really the only way to come to Jesus – humbly. She humbled herself before Jesus and ministered to Him. The Pharisee did nothing for Jesus. This woman knew she was a sinner and was humbled by it. The Pharisee proudly thought he was better than her, had no true understanding of his own sinfulness, and gave nothing of significance to Jesus. In reality this religious prelate blasphemed God by rejecting the Spirit’s conviction of sin. The Pharisee was hardened against the Spirit. He was further from God than this woman was. She had great love because she was forgiven much. The Pharisee had no love because he didn’t experience the forgiveness of God. Which of these person’s best describes you? Are you passionate for Jesus? Or are you passionless toward Jesus?

⁴⁸ Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

The woman found forgiveness. The Pharisee was still in his sin.

⁴⁹ And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” ⁵⁰ Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

Here and in Luke 18:42 are the only places where we find the words, “Your faith has saved you.” There is something extremely important to understand here. We are not saved by passion or emotion. We are saved from and forgiven our sins BY FAITH. Luke was a companion of Paul who emphasized the importance of salvation as a gift of God’s grace received by faith (e.g. Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:4-7). Now I mention that not to insinuate that Luke inserted something into Jesus’ mouth that He did not actually say, but to show that Luke would have been particularly tuned into such words of Jesus and their significance. “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” We receive forgiveness for our sins by faith. And that places us in a peaceful relationship with God in Christ (cf. Romans 5:1ff.).

The woman’s faith was the driving force in all her humility and coming to Jesus. What was the nature of her faith that saved her?

Her faith was in Jesus alone. Her entire focus was on Jesus. She came to see Him. She wept behind Him, at His feet. She washed His feet with her tear soaked hair. She anointed His feet with oil. She looked for Jesus and Jesus only.

Her faith brought her close to Jesus. She came up behind Jesus; close to Him.

Her faith was humble with a sense of unworthiness. She stood behind Jesus; unworthy to come face to face with Him. She came on His terms, not her own.

Her faith was courageous, overcoming opposition. She had to know, that as a notorious sinner (a prostitute) that she was unwelcome in the Pharisee’s home. But she came to Jesus anyway.

Her faith was demonstrated in a loving act of devotion to Him. Washing His feet with her tears and anointing Jesus with costly oil were expressions of her faith produce loving devotion to Jesus. She was laying her life down before Him. She was making a life altering decision.

Her faith spoke not a word. Actions speak louder than words. There are some who verbally claim Jesus as their Savior and Lord but their life actions speak otherwise; there is no spiritual fruit.  Sometimes we insist a person say the “Four Spiritual Laws,” or the ABCs of salvation in a prayer. But salvation takes place in the heart (Rom. 10:9-10). Sometimes what goes on in the heart defies verbal expression. Don’t fear or resist this.  What counts and is most important is that a person surrenders in heart to Jesus and receive God’s gospel of grace. This woman didn’t have to say a word; her actions spoke for her. Her actions revealed her heart toward Jesus.

Her faith in Jesus saved her. Jesus told her she was saved by faith. His words “Go in peace” were a promise of a new life. This woman left with forgiveness of her sins and peace. The Pharisee was left with nothing.

This woman had a faith-full passion for Jesus that exalted Him at all costs. She didn’t care about anything except Jesus. Jesus was first and foremost to her. She cared more about Jesus than what others thought about her. She was humbled in His presence. All she wanted was to pour herself out at Jesus’ feet. That is what having a passion for Jesus is all about. That is where a passion for Jesus begins. Does that describe your passion for Jesus?

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[1] Martin Lloyd Jones, Revival, (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 1987) p. 89

A Passion for Jesus – Part 1

“Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her” – Mark 14:9

 

Passion, what is it? The kind of passion we are talking about here is, “an intense, driving, or overmastering feeling or conviction; a strong desire for or devotion to some activity, object, or concept.”  Passion is a driving force. Passion is a deep emotion in the heart. Passion is a fire in the belly; a heart aflame.

 

Some people express their passion as a fan of some school, sport or team. Some are passionate about their job or career. Some are passionate about a hobby or activity. And some are passionate about people and the things related to people. We are all passionate about something. But how many people have a passion for Jesus?

 

In Mark 14:9 Jesus says, “Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.” That’s a pretty powerful statement. What was it that led Jesus to say this? What did this woman do that could and would be connected with the gospel? She responded to Jesus with a passion. There is something about the passion of this woman toward Jesus that is linked to the gospel.

 

Adam Clarke, a 19^th century theologian stated, “He who has a religion that costs him nothing, has a religion that is worth nothing: nor will any man esteem the ordinances of God, if those ordinances cost him nothing."

 

Vance Havner, a past Senate chaplain, once said, “We are not going to move this world by criticism of it, nor conformity to it, but only by the combustion within it of lives ignited by the Spirit of God.”  He’s right about that. What we need is a heart aflame with a passion for Jesus in the power of the Spirit.

Andrew A. Bonar stated, “Revivals begin with God's own people; the Holy Spirit touches their heart anew, and gives them new fervor and compassion, and zeal, new light and life, and when He has thus come to you, He next goes forth to the valley of dry bones…Oh, what responsibility this lays on the Church of God! If you grieve Him away from yourselves, or hinder His visit, then the poor perishing world suffers sorely!” 

Do you have a passion for Jesus? How do you know? What about Jesus sets your heart aflame with passion? That is what we will look at this Holy Week. There are four particular incidents when people, (interestingly they were particularly women), fell at the feet of Jesus in an expression of devotion to Him.

 

When was the last time you fell at Jesus’ feet to express your passion to Him? Are you too reserved for anything like that? When was the last time you shed a tear in connection with Jesus? We aren’t to let our emotions run wild. But we aren’t to be emotionless either. God gave us emotions. Emotion is part of our human makeup. Passion involves emotion.

 

But passion is not only emotion. It is also full surrender. It is worship. It is clinging to the Lord.

 

There are four incidents in scripture that we will consider this Holy Week which give us insight into having A Passion for Jesus. My prayer is that the Spirit would use these passages to fan to a flame a passion for Jesus. Join me in that prayer.

 

Does Your Passion for Jesus have Staying Power? Passion week in Jesus life, as we celebrate it, begins with the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. This itself is a fulfillment of Daniel’s 483 year old prophecy to the day, of when Messiah would come to the Holy City of Jerusalem (cf. Daniel 9:24-27). This is where we see the height of public passion for Jesus.

 

Mark 11:7-11 - ⁷ Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it. ⁸ And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road. ⁹ Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:  “Hosanna!  ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ¹⁰     Blessed is the kingdom of our father David That comes in the name of the Lord!  Hosanna in the highest!” ¹¹ And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve.

 

“Hosanna” means “save now.” These verses depict the fame and popularity Jesus was met with upon entering Jerusalem this Passover Week. People were throwing their clothes on the donkey for Jesus to sit on. People were spreading their clothes out on the road for Jesus. Others cut palms branches and laid them out in front of Jesus so that their “King” would not soil his feet on the bare ground. (Hence the title of the day Palm Sunday.)

 

During the Triumphal Entry, it was obvious these people had a passion for Jesus. They were cheering and shouting praises toward Him. And yet, a few short days from this day, they would be shouting something quite different than Hosanna toward Jesus. They would be shouting, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” (Mark 15:13-14). Their passion for Jesus had no staying power, how come? Does your passion for Jesus have staying power? Will it last? Is it waning? Why did the people go so quickly from shouts of “Hosanna!” to shouts of “Crucify!”

 

First, their passion for Jesus was based on popularity. Many were simply going along with the crowd. They had no personal relationship with Jesus. They simply went along with the crowd, with the popular flavor of the day in popular figures. A passion built on prestige and popularity will never last. Humanity is fickle; the crowd changes its mind frequently and easily. Is your passion for Jesus based on how popular He is or you are in association with Him?

 

Second, their passion for Jesus was based on political deliverance. They were looking for someone to save them from the oppression of the Romans, not someone to save them from their sins and bring them closer to God. When Jesus was under arrest and headed toward crucifixion it was clear He was not going to save them from the Romans. So they turned on Him in anger and bitter resentment for not meeting their needs. Is your passion for Jesus based on what He might free you from politically?

 

Third, their passion for Jesus was based on material provision. They were attracted to the power of Jesus to meet their needs (e.g. feed 4 and 5,000 of them). At one point in His ministry Jesus commented, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled” (John 6:26). Is your passion for Jesus based only on what you might get from Him?

 

Fourth, their passion for Jesus was based on self-promotion. The disciples frequently argued with each other about their position in Jesus kingdom (e.g. Mark 9:33-34; Luke 9:46-50). The path of Jesus leads to the cross. If your passion for Jesus is based on how you might be promoted, your passion will go up in smoke. Is your passion for Jesus based on how it might promote you?

 

Fifth, their passion for Jesus was based on pride. It must have been pretty nice to be in the inner circle of followers for a Person as popular as Jesus was at that time. He was the Miracle worker, the great Teacher, the Amazing One who could walk on water. Think of what it must have been like to be a follower of Jesus at first. Think of what it must have felt like to be the inner 12, the inner three! James and John, accompanied by their Mom, asked to sit on either side of Jesus in His kingdom. He responded that they didn’t know what they were asking for. They didn’t understand that authority came through selfless service; through the cross (Mark 10:35-45; Mat. 20:20-28). They wanted the position without the passion.

 

Is your passion for Jesus based only on the me-myself-and I of pride? So I ask again, does your passion for Jesus have staying power? Or is your passion for Jesus only a Palm Sunday passion?

What is your passion for Jesus based on? None of these reasons for having a passion for Jesus will give you a passion that will last and stand the test. If our passion is going to last there are four ingredients we must include. That is what we will look at in this series, A Passion for Jesus.