Amen so in mark 14 we're gonna continue on through the book of Mark as we've been doing last many months now
Going not necessarily chapter by chapter, but more passage by passage sometimes first by verse and this morning
I just want to look at verses 1 through 9. I know that's a very long chapter. There's a lot to cover in
Mark chapter 14
but I want to just focus in on verses 1 through 9 where you have Jesus coming into Bethany and he's sitting down to eat he's
having this dinner and
You have Mary coming as we'll see here in a minute and breaking open the alabaster box of ointment and
Anointing Jesus and of course some of those that stand by are upset about this
They're angry that this you know waste has been made this precious ointment has been poured upon the Lord
Of course the Lord rebukes them and says, you know, she has done this against my death against the bit my burial
So again just to review because I know we might have lost track of that in all of the reading that just took place
Let's read again
At the beginning here versus 1 through 7
It says after two days was the Feast of the Passover and of unleavened bread and the chief priests the scribe saw they might
Take him by craft to put him to death. So they're plotting they're using craft, you know craftiness. They're trying to
Find a way to catch Jesus and actually have him put to death
but they said not on the feast day lest there be an uproar of the people and
Being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper he sat at meet
There came a woman having alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious and she break the box and poured it on his head
So, of course, this is a you know
some kind of an ointment of perfume because we know that the aroma fills the whole house and you have to imagine that this is
A time where you know, you just didn't go to you know, your local retailer and go buy the perfume area
I don't know what you call that area because I never go there, but I know it's there
Okay, where they sell the perfumes and the colognes and all those things
You just shouldn't go pick up a bottle of whatever, you know, I think the fanciest I ever got was Old Spice
You know the aftershave we throw a little Old Spice on but you know
this was a time when that stuff wasn't you just didn't go to Walmart and go down the
You know cosmetic section or whatever and just pick up a bottle and anoint yourself and go around smelling good
You know, this is a very precious ointment. This is something that would have made been made by the Apocatary
There were people this is their craft is what they did and they would actually be gathering, you know, the raw ingredients
They'd be melt, you know grinding these things together
However, you go about that process to make these precious as it says there these precious ointments
And of course, they're putting in a box and it appears it's a it's a box
It has to be broken and I think that's an important element that once this brought this box is broken
There's kind of no putting it back together. It kind of appears like maybe it's a it's a one-time thing
Maybe you know, I don't know a lot about the customs and things that they practice back then
but perhaps this box had to be sealed in order for the ointment to keep its its
Smell, you know, maybe it would kind of run out but in either case, you know what she's pouring out
Here is not something that's just commonplace. It's something that's very special as the Bible says here
It's something that is a spikenard very precious and she break the box and poured it on his head
Notice the reaction of those that are standing around Jesus not Jesus's reaction
but those that saw this took place and there were some that had indignation within themselves and
Of course that indignation or that anger, you know
That's just another word for anger indignation that they're feeling is because of what has just happened this precious box of ointment of spikenard
Has been broken open and Jesus has been anointed and they're seeing this and it's actually making them mad
It's actually upsetting them and why is what's so upsetting about it?
It says they said they had an ignition with themselves the end of verse 4 and said why was this waste of the ointment made?
So they're seeing Jesus, you know, and again, these are the disciples as we'll see in a minute. It's not just Judas
There's other disciples that are there other people that are believing on Christ those that would be considered
you know apostles those that would be considered as disciples those that are there at meet with them those who have
You know benefited from his ministry. They're seeing this and they're actually upset that Jesus is being anointed
They're seeing Jesus Christ in whom they believe be anointed with this precious spikenard and they say why is this waste been made?
They're actually getting mad that Jesus has been anointed thus and it's actually kind of a startling
Turn of events here. You would expect that they would be like, oh that makes sense
You know, what a great thing like there's nothing you can waste on Jesus folks
Anything you give to the Lord everything anything you you spend on Jesus anything you sacrifice for the Lord is never a waste
And yet here we have people seeing this and they're getting mad and they're mad because it was a waste of the ointment
Look at they go on and say for it might have been sold for more than 300 pence and have been given to the poor
And they murmur and again, it's they murmured against her
Okay, and we know Judas was the betrayer was involved in this as we'll see in a parallel passage
but notice the plurality there they murmured against him against against her for having done this and
Notice the you know hyper spirituality the the feigned
Spirituality here. They're saying oh it might have been given to the poor, right?
You know, it's such a you know, often when we try to do things for God
We try to do things for the Lord Jesus Christ
You know people will come along and criticize our efforts and the things that we try to do and they'll try to you know
Make themselves sound more spiritual by saying well, you know, you could have done this
Right. Oh
You only read your Bible once a year. Maybe you should read it, you know several times in here
Well, at least they're reading it once. Oh
You only go soul winning and once a week when maybe you should go so anymore
You know, you guys aren't getting anyone saved it's all the Lord it's that kind of an attitude, right?
Well, Paul said I have become all things to all men that I bite by some means save some right and he said I saved
Them of course
We all understand that it's the gospel that we preach that saves the gospel of Jesus Christ death brown resurrection
And yet when we'll go out and preach that people and we'll say oh we got so many people saying
You know, you'll have these these types of people these that'll because they're doing nothing
It's just making them mad because it's pointing out their own hypocrisy
And they'll say well, you know, you didn't get anyone saved. That's the kind of attitude that's present here
Why was this waste of the ointment made it could have been given to the poor
Like there's so much more spiritual and so much more holy
Then Mary here who is breaking open this precious ointment and doing something that is actually to be praised
Jesus goes on and says wherever this gospel is preached, you know
This record will be there and we see it in the Gospels all four of the Gospels. We see this story taking place
so G truly Jesus did honor that statement and we're here reading about her today and
We're reading about these guys and their reaction and they're not being cast in the best light
But you always have these types of people that just want to level criticism at somebody who's just trying to serve God
Just trying to sacrifice for the Lord
Jesus
Said in verse 6 let her alone. Why trouble ye her she hath brought a good work on me
He's saying no what she's doing is good. What she's doing is right for he had the poor with you
Always, you know you guys you're so worried about the poor, you know, you could go sell your own ointment
you could go raise your own funds and take care of them any time you want and
Whensoever you will you may do good that them good but me you have not always
And Mary here seems to understand that
She that Christ is going to be crucified that she understands that this is being done against his death
Now that's kind of the synopsis of what my sermon this morning the kind of the point
I want to make but let me just point out a few things before I get into that
First of all, let me point out here that all the guests that are present that we read about have reason to be grateful, right?
They're all there and they all have a reason
To be grateful for what God has done and obviously Mary is simply doing this out of gratitude. She's doing something
She's offering something out of a heart that is grateful, but she's not the only one there notice in verse 3
It says and being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper
Now, I don't think Simon was still a leper if they're just calling him Simon the leper, right?
It's not like Jesus went around
You know curing all this leprosy but left Simon in his leprosy and then went over to his house and ate
Obviously, he's being called Simon the leper because he was formerly a leper
In fact, if we were, you know adhering to the Levitical law, he wouldn't have been present at that dinner because he would have been
Outside he would have actually been ostracized until his leprosy was clear. So obviously he's in the house
they're in the house of Simon leper Simon the leper is there and
he has a
Reason to be grateful right and look leprosy in the Bible is a picture of sin. It's a picture of sin
You know we can identify with Simon the leper this morning if you say I don't know what I have to be grateful for
You know, I don't my life isn't as blessed as other people
I don't know if God's blessing me the way he's blessing other people. Well
Are you saved this morning? Have you had your spiritual leprosy cleaned up has the blood been applied?
Well, then you have a reason to be grateful this morning. You have something like these other guests to thank Jesus for
You have a reason to make sacrifice for the Lord you have Simon the leper and of course in John 12 in the parallel passage
I'll read to you in verse 1 it says then Jesus six days before the Passover cometh to Bethany
Where was excuse me where the Lazarus was which had been dead?
I mean talk about a guy, you know that has something to be grateful for right?
He was dead and then he's risen again
We all know the story when Jesus came and said Lazarus come forth after he'd been dead for days, right?
And this is of course the brother of Mary who was pouring out that ointment and Martha
Okay, so you could see that there's guests here that have a reason to be grateful one. You have Simon the leper you have
Lazarus which had been dead whom he raised from the dead
There they made him a supper and Martha Lazarus his brother served
But Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table. So
Lazarus has a reason to be grateful and look so do you for the same reason?
You know, you have the same reason to be grateful this morning
If like Simon the leper you've been cleansed from a spiritual iniquity, you've been cleansed from a spiritual disease
You've been cleansed from sin and the wages of sin. That's a reason to be grateful this morning. You're like Lazarus
You're one who has been risen again from the dead spiritually, you know, we have been made new in Christ
Old things are passed away behold all things are become new. We are a new creature in Christ
We have a resurrection like Lazarus that is awaiting us. We have a new body
We have the home in heaven, you know
We've been raised again spiritually from the dead and one day in Christ because we are sealed by the Spirit will again be raised
into
Again with Christ in glory praise the Lord. That's something to be grateful for this morning
It's something to be glad about, you know, Mary and Martha there and they're grateful because they got their brother back. I
Don't know. Maybe they're not so happy me. They're kind of like, you know, you could have just let not just kidding
We know the story, you know, they're weeping and they want him to come back
Mary's had said, you know, if you'd been here my brother had not died. Okay, so everyone here has a reason to be grateful
They all have a reason to be
Thanking the Lord for all the things that he has done in his life. You know, what so do we I
Don't care how hard your life is. I don't care how difficult your circumstances are
I don't care what it is you're going through if it's your health if it's your finances if it's you know
It's something's going on with some loved one or some family. I don't care what trial or tribulation you're going through
Whatever it is you have a reason to be grateful this morning
You have a reason to thank God that you're saved and that you're on your way to heaven
That's a joy that nothing in life should take away from us
Now it's going on here in the story Mary the sister of Martha and
Anne Lazarus, she's the one that piers out this ointment upon Jesus. It says in John 12 verse 3
I'll read to you in a parallel passage then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard very costly and
Anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped him with her hair and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment
You know you start serving God you start making a sacrifice
You know that odor of that sacrifice that sweet Savior unto God is going to fill the house so to speak
You know, it's gonna be evident to those that around you
People are gonna start to notice a change people gonna start to notice your difference
I people can sort of notice that you're not the way you used to be right. You can't avoid an odor
Some some orders we wish we could right and sometimes no matter how many matches we like that order
Just ain't going away. You got to take the bag out, right? You got to get the diaper out, right?
Some orders are just unavoidable. You know, it's the same way in your Christian life
You know you're serving God if you're actually making sacrifices people are gonna notice that odor is
Gonna be something that other people around you cannot avoid smelling so to speak and there's gonna be some people that are glad for it
There's gonna be some people that are gonna be encouraged by it
There's gonna be some people that may even be inspired by it
But there's also gonna be other people gonna say oh, well, why did you do that? You could have given that to the poor
Oh, you're so much holier than us now. Oh, you're so much more godly than ever. Oh, you know, they'll say things like this
They'll have criticisms though. They'll the level accusations that you why because you're just trying to serve God
You're just you're just grateful for what God has done for you're just anointing his feet
I mean, I love the story here when you kind of compare the passages, you know
It says she poured upon his head, but it's also on his feet. She's anointing the whole man. She's breaking upon his head
It's it's dripping down and it's hair and it's getting over
You know his head and his beard and all that then she's also going onto his feet and she's anointing his feet as well
She just wants to praise God. She just wants to serve the Lord
And
What this does is actually provokes this self-righteous response and others
there's it provokes a response out of Judas and the others disciples that were there as it says in verse 4
There was some there that had great indignation within
Themselves plural and said why was this weight waste made in John 12 then sayeth one of the disciples Judas Iscariot, which is the betrayer
Simon's son which should betray him which was not he said why it was not this ointment sold for 300 pence and given to the poor
You know, he it sounds like he's the one that actually just came out and said it
Kind of said what everyone was thinking. Oh, why did you do that Mary? Oh, what do you think you're better than us? Oh
Mary must is so holy because she's here anointing the body of Jesus
Right guys, and then the others are kind of like yeah
We're all thinking it we're all feeling that way
But you know Judas had enough sense to speak up and just say it
Tell everybody what we were thinking
But notice it says this he said this is in John 12
Not that he cared for the poor. That's what he said, right?
Oh, you could have given that to the poor for 300 300 pence you could have sold that you could have given 300 pence
300 days wages apparently
But you know that and you could have fed the poor
He but the Bible says it clarifies the narrator of Scripture tells us what's actually in his heart and says
That he said not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief. He's just covetous
He's just thinking man that why is Jesus getting the ointment a man if I had had that spike
No, if I had had that ointment, I could have sold that and kept that because he's a thief
Because he had the bag and bear that was put there in so I love this in the scripture to in Jesus's ministry
You know he and the Bible says he knew that Judas was a devil from the beginning, right?
Jesus deliberately chose Judas so that the scripture might be fulfilled and the Bible says that he was a devil from the beginning
And even at the Last Supper as we'll see he'll say, you know, you're clean but not all right speaking of Judas
There is one that who's who's at the table whose hand betrayeth me, right?
So he knows Judas is the betrayer that it's ultimately gonna stab him in the back
And I just love the fact that Jesus decided in his ministry and said let's give him the bag
Let's give that guy the money. Let's give the money to the guy who is gonna betray me
Kind of gives you an idea what Jesus, you know how concerned he was about earthly riches
But notice it is that Jesus rebukes this attitude
Jesus rebukes this mildly albeit and reminds them that you know, if you're so concerned about the poor you just have opportunity after you
Perpetual opportunities to serve the poor. He said you have the poor with you always
Verse 7 mark 14 for you have the poor with you always and whensoever you will he may do good to them
But me you have not always saying oh, you're so worried. You're so concerned about the poor
Well, you know what? You could take care of the poor anytime you want Judas
You can take care of the poor anytime you want you self-righteous hypocrites. That's what he's saying
You know the people that want to level
Accusations and people that want to criticize the fact that we want to serve God go soul-winning live for the Lord
Whatever it is that we just want to be like Mary and just out of a grateful heart out of thankfulness
Just you know, give something sacrifice something for God out of our time of our our ability
You know those of us that are we're criticized for that, you know, we could say the same thing back to them
We could say hey, you know, you could start serving God anytime you want to
You know, you could you could get saved and start going to church and clean up your life anytime you want
But it's so often those same those people that refuse to that
They're the ones that are ready just right there ready to start criticizing
Ready to start leveling accusations and try to bring down other people that are just out of a grateful heart trying to serve God with their lives
They'll be right there just to criticize. You know what? But the truth is they could start doing any you know
This isn't some exclusive club that we're in this morning
You know, if you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ your child of God, you know, you have the Holy Spirit
This is much as anybody else that's in this room. You know, we all have access to the same King James Bible right here
You know, we could all learn to serve God and live for God. It's it's not it's not off limits to anybody
And yet people rather than getting right and straighten out their own lives and getting right with God themselves
They would rather just sit there and criticize people and try to tear them down
You know what it's it's a it's a Judas move
It's Judas like right
When they're saying oh, you know, you could have sold that given it to the poor and trying to sound so much holier than they actually
are
But Jesus is saying you know you have the poor with you always you guys could serve the poor anytime you want and that's what we
Say the same people that would criticize the fact that we're living for God
I mean, I remember when I got saved and I started going to church and I started cleaning up my life
You know, that was something that was leveled against me
Oh, you're so much holier now you're holier than now and kind of quit hanging out with the old crowd and doing the things that they
Did and they would all and I just thought to myself. Well, you know you could I in fact
I invited some friends to church and I said hey, you know you guys and they came and I was like you guys could get on
board too
You know you could quit all this sin
You could quit this living this lifestyle anytime you want and you can get saved and start doing the same thing. I'm doing
Jesus is rebuking them saying you have the poor with you always but me you have not always in this morning
I want to encourage us to take advantage of the opportunities that we have
You know, we have this one life only to serve Christ
He said you have the poor always but me you have not always that's what Jesus said
And we should take advantage of the opportunity that we have in this life
Look, there's a lot of people who have the poor always but me you have not always that's what Jesus said
And
We should take advantage of the opportunity that we have in this life
Look there's gonna come a time
when we draw our last breath when we close our eyes when we pass into glory if
We should live under the coming of the Lord and his return, you know, that's when our
Earth our earthly opportunity to earn rewards and serve Christ is over. It's over
We have one opportunity serve Christ this life we should take advantage of it
Take
Advantage of your opportunity this life to serve Christ take advantage of a church like this to serve Christ
You know these you know churches that are just on fire and zealous for soul winning aren't they're not everywhere folks
I'm not saying we're the only ones but you know, they're fewer and farther than between that I care to admit
They're hard to find it's hard to find, you know, someone's gonna preach the whole counsel the Word of God
It's hard to find some it's gonna try to keep you fired up and inspired to go out and preach the gospel and and help
And support that churches like this, you know, they're not everywhere
You should take advantage of it to serve God in churches like this and I'm not saying it's the only church you can serve
Got it
I'm just saying you know, they're not there's not a lot of them
There's a lot of them. You can go have a religious experience
There's a lot of you can go and have enjoy a show a
Lot of them that are hard to tell a difference between the club
It's a lot of hard to tell between that and a rock concert
it's hard to tell that between that that church and a movie theater, you know, but this ain't one of those and
Those are a dime a dozen
The church is like this where you have an opportunity to go out and serve God in
sincerity and truth with those that call the Lord have a pure heart
they're getting fewer and farther between
Unfortunately, I wish there were more
Let
Me find my spot here
You know, we need to take advantage of the opportunities that we have if you would go to first Peter chapter number four
We'll come back a little bit mark 14 or I might just read it to you
We kind of got the details that we want out of this morning
Take advantage of the opportunities that we have and just understand that as you serve
God as you start to live for the Lord
There are always going to be those in life that are going to critique you those that are doing less or nothing for God
Are the ones that are always critiquing those that are doing something for God. They're always gonna be critics
There's always gonna be people there that are gonna you know
Be cynical and make their snide remarks and try to tear people down and make them feel bad for serving God
I mean put yourself in the story. I mean imagine being married
You're just grateful. You just love the Lord. You've got this precious ointment
You've been hanging on to it was very costly and you go and you're just so grateful for salvation
You're so grateful that the Lord has done all this healing. You're just grateful for the sacrifice
He's about to make you're grateful that your brother is sitting at the table with you who was previously dead and Jesus miraculously raised
But you're just married with this grateful heart. You just want to do something special for God
You just want to give of what you have and then there's a group of people the disciples of all people
That are sitting there saying I don't like to do that part
You know that could be very discouraging
And I'm just warning you right now that if you're gonna serve God
There's gonna be people that are gonna criticize you bring you down say negative things and try to get you to stop. I
Again, I don't I don't like to just constantly use myself an example
But it's like when I first got saved and started serving God
I remember, you know, I had a relative come to me and say, you know, I'm gonna
Give you two weeks, you know, they just like you're just on a bandwagon. You're just on some kick
Well, I've been on a kick for over 20 years now
So I don't think it's a it's just a kick it's not a bandwagon friend it's a it's a train
And I'm on the tracks
Those that are doing less are always there to criticize
Those that are doing more look at first Peter chapter number four verse one for as much then as Christ has suffered for us in
The flesh arm yourselves with the same mind. Likewise the same mind
That's think about what he's saying what Peters got not saying there, you know Christ suffered in the flesh for us
Be prepared in your mind to do the same thing
Welcome to the Christian life. That's suffering
Right, but you know, that's life is suffering, you know
At least with Christ the suffering has meaning it has purpose. There's reward
For he that has suffered in the flesh have ceased from sin, you know
If you were gonna cease from sin, it's not gonna be easy
There's gonna be some suffering involved that he should no longer live the rest of his time to the lust of the flesh
Excuse me to the lust of men, but to the will of God
For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles
He's saying you know before you got saved you had your fill of sin and that's more than enough
You don't need to continue on going on and sin
The time of the past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of Gentiles
What is the will of the Gentiles eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we die
That's what the unsaved of this world say when we walked in lasciviousness, you know, just indulging the flesh
lusts excess of wine, you know drunkenness
revelings
Banqueting's just these big feasts where we all eat and be gluttonous and drink and party and abominable idolatries
wherein
They meaning those that are right, you know that old crowd that did all those things
They think it's strange that you run not with them to the same excess of riot
Speaking evil of you, you know the time past of our life. We did those things. That's what we used to do
You know, maybe maybe some of us have it. Maybe some of us grew up a Christian home and never partook in those things
Praise God
That's what I want my children to be able to say
But you know a lot of people get saved later in life and they look back and say yeah
I did a lot of these things. I wrought the will of the Gentiles
I was just a man a woman who just did by nature, you know, the things according to the flesh
So you can't really hold that against people. They're just doing you know, they know not what they do
Okay, but when we get saved, you know
We should no longer live the rest of our time in the flesh the time past has sufficed that there
We've already had enough of that
That's not something we should go sneaking after and if we decide that we're gonna get on board with God's program
And stop living for the flesh and start living for God just mark it down
There's been people as it says there in verse 4 that think it's strange. They think it odd. They think you're weird
Why because you run not with them?
What do you mean you're not coming over Friday night? What do you mean? You're not gonna be coming to the kegger?
Grabbing the 12-pack and joining us for the big game. What do you mean? You're not gonna be going down to the bar
What do you mean you're not gonna smoke this?
What do you mean you're not gonna go to the club and go home with whoever
What do you mean it? What are you weird now? Are you strange?
You in a cult?
Let's just wait for that one. It's coming
You know if I'm running a cult I'm doing a really bad job. I
Should probably step down if I'm running a cult, you know, this is a Baptist Church. There's nothing cultish about a Baptist Church
Okay, I
Mean I've probably I've there's as many people have left this church is to attend it currently over the years
That's not a very good cult leader, right?
I've preached people out the door. I said, please leave
That's not what a cult does
Cult doesn't tell you to read your Bible and decide for yourself what it says
Cult says oh you need me to tell you what this says
You need me to interpret you need someone you need the man of God to get up and you just trust me
I know what it says. You don't need to read this for yourself
That's cultish, but this is the type of things people are gonna level that at you. Oh, you're in a cult. I
Don't think you know what that word means
You're in a cult. You're uh, you're weird. They think it's strange
What are they and what do they think that's so strange that you run not to the same excess of riot that riotous living
Right, that's another term there that that's used elsewhere in Scripture riotous living. Just this hedonistic
Unconfined just doing whatever comes naturally just whatever feels good the lascivious ness
The lust the excess of wine the banquetings the revelings the idolatries the fornication
The adulteries all these things that the world just goes chasing after when you get right with God
You start serving God out of a grateful heart. There's gonna be people that think you're strange
it's weird that you don't come around and hang out and do these things anymore and
Then notice they'll actually what begin speaking evil of you
And as you hear about so-and-so
He got Jesus. He got religion, right? He's a holier-than-thou. No, he's some kind of holy roller. He's going to that church
But
You notice the verse 5
Who now who's the who there at the beginning of verse 5? It's talking about the people that say these things
Those same people that say these things that speak evil of you shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the
dead
They're gonna give an account to God just like anybody else
You
Know criticism comes from people
Who are doing less or nothing at all for God, okay
Now I want to point out in the story here and if you want to go back
to mark 14
Really quickly, it's it's an interesting use of words here that Jesus uses
I
Believe it's there in verse 8 mark 14 when she comes and anoints him
Notice in verse 6 will back up and Jesus said let her alone
Why trouble ye her for she hath wrought a good work on me?
For you have the poor with you always and whatsoever you will he may do them good
But me have not always notice this word here she hath done what she what could
Could I think that's an important word because Jesus didn't say she hath done what she should
Right, and that's really what I want to preach about this morning, you know
I know I just preached a whole nother sermon, but you know
That's kind of all introduction is that you know
There's gonna be people who those that are doing less for God or nothing at all are always going to criticize
Those that are doing more and
Listen, you're gonna end up doing more when you stop doing what you should do and start doing what you could do
You follow what I'm saying here?
Look, there's things that we all as Christians should do okay
There's just things in the Christian life that are just commands in Scripture
But you know Mary here she's not doing what she should she did what she could there's a difference
She didn't have to break open that spikenard
It's not like if she had showed up empty-handed Jesus would have been at the door going where's the spikenard Mary?
You know, you're supposed to come do this
This is something that out of her it was a freewill offering out of her own heart
Something that she decided to do so much why because she wasn't got just gonna do what she could do
Excuse me what she should do. She said I'm gonna do more than what I'm supposed to be doing
She went to the next level and this is a mentality that we have to have in the Christian life
Look, we can all just go through the Christian life. Just doing the bare minimum
Okay, just doing the bare minimum just getting by and praise God for that
That's more than a lot of Christians will do in their whole lives
But you know if we're going to excel if we're gonna get to the next level as
individuals as families as a church
we have to stop having this mentality of am I only doing what am I doing what I should be doing and start thinking about
am I doing everything that I could be doing and
I'm trying to prepare you tonight that if this morning rather that if you start doing not just what you should but what you could
Do there's gonna be other people that are gonna try and criticize you and bring you down
But let's just look at some of the things we should be doing right if I were to give this
Sermon a title besides mark 14 1 through 9. I call it should versus could should versus could
There's a lot of things we should be doing if you would go to first Thessalonians chapter 4
I'll just read to you from Romans chapter number 6
The Bible says what shall we say then shall we continue in sin that grace may abound God forbid
How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein
Know you not that as many of us were baptized in Jesus Christ were baptized into his death
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death that like as Christ also was raised up from the dead by the glory of the
Father even so we also should what should walk in newness of life
You know why you should live like a child of God
You know, I should live like God's child because that's exactly what you are if you're saved
If you have been born again if you believed on Christ if you've been buried with by baptism into his death
Through believing the gospel the death burial and resurrection of Christ. You're a new creature in Christ
All things have become new. We should walk in newness of life
We shouldn't be continuing in sin
Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound God forbid that's what Paul said in Romans 6 now
Listen, can you get saved to continue in sin you betcha?
That's salvation salvation is not based on how much sin you do or don't do we've all we've all sinned and come short of the
glory of God
We all deserve to be punished for our sins
You know, we but here's the thing, you know Christ died for our sins was buried rose again
So that we don't have to pay for our sins
salvation is a free gift you're saved by grace through faith that not of yourselves it is the gift of God not of works us
Any man should bless is just freely given to us through faith
It's not about the things we are or aren't doing in order to go to heaven
Meaning yeah, you know what you can get saved and you can just continue to live a sinful life
If that's what you want to do and still go to heaven
But is that what you should do?
You know, I'm married I got saved, you know 20 plus years ago since that time
I got married
You know
I could if I wanted to go out and commit adultery on my wife and still go to heaven because me going to heaven is
Based upon whether I do or don't commit adultery on my wife
It's based upon whether I believe done the one thing that Jesus said we all must do to go to heaven to believe on the Lord
Jesus Christ
That's what I did. Does that mean I should go commit adultery on my wife
That'd be a really bad idea
be wicked
So, you know shall we continue in sin God forbid we should walk in newness of life
We should not he says there serve sin for he that is dead is freed from sin
What glory have you in those things of which you are now ashamed
Ephesians chapter 2 I just quoted it. God had well, I'm verses 8 9
I'll read verse 10 for we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works
You know, it's I'm glad you got saved but God's got a will for you
God has created you to be a creature that is gonna do good works for him. He's created you in Christ Jesus unto something
God has a will for you to accomplish God and it's in his word. It's not some mysterious thing
And he God wants you to walk in newness of life
Which God hath before ordained that we should walk in and we should walk in these works that God has given us to do
That's what we something we should do
But it's not something you must you look at first that's loading chapter 4 verse 1
Furthermore then we beseech you brethren exhort you by the Lord Jesus Christ that as he have received us how you ought to walk
And to please God how you ought to something you should do you should walk in a way that pleases God
That's something you should do as a Christian
So you would abound more and more verse 2
For you know what Commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus Christ for this is the will of God even your sanctification
That you should abstain from fornication. That's something you should be doing as a Christian
That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel and sanctification and honor not in the lust of
Concupiscence even as the Gentiles which know not God
You know God's will is that we do not after we get saved continue to live in fornication
Continue to live in drunkenness continue to live it you know in adultery and all these sins in the lusts of concupiscence
This cornucopia of sin that's just on the table for us to partake in every day of our lives
You know we are not to be living in those things. That's God's will we should abstain from these things
Abstain from fornication abstain, and we should we should know how to possess our vessel in sanctification. I'm talking about our body
Go to Titus chapter number two
Look these are things that you should be doing
This is just the will of God for you your sanctification
But you know this isn't anything noteworthy
No, listen
No one's gonna come pin a star on your chest because you quit living in fornication because you quit drinking because you quit
You know being a pothead because you quit doing whatever the sin that you're not supposed to be doing
Well you started possessing your your vessel and sanctification and honor you know what you just reached baseline with God
You just got out of the negative and back to zero. That's what you should be doing
You know so many people sometimes they come to church
And then and they start cleaning up their lives a little bit
And they it's like they want you know the pastor or the preachers of somebody to start come praising them for like
Doing what they're supposed to be doing
It's like well, yeah, I'm glad it looks like don't get me wrong
I'm glad that people come to church and get cleaned up and start doing what they're supposed to be doing, but it's like
You know we're not gonna. Have a bronze statue out front. You know
We're not gonna. You know name that we're gonna have a day in your honor
We're not gonna. You know roll out the red carpet. Oh you did what the Bible said you're supposed to do
Welcome to the club
You know here in a room full of people that are doing that and hopefully and look I get it's a process we work at it
The Bible says in first Peter to I'll read to you here on to were you called because Christ also suffered for us leaving us
An example that we should follow his steps
That's something you should do you should fall in the steps of Christ. Oh, but it's so hard. It's so hard to quit sin. I know
It's so hard to clean up my life and get the semi I know
But that's what you're called on to because Christ also suffered for us. Oh
It's so hard to quit you know committing this sin and that sin. I just don't know if I can do it
Well, you know consider him who endured the cross despising the shame he have not resisted on the blood striving against sin
The Bible says in Hebrews 12
We start feeling sorry for ourselves because we're you know we're trying to get right with God and think it's though
It's hard, and it is hard. I don't mean to minimize it
But it's like at some point. You just got to get over yourself
Christ suffered for us
He
Suffered far more than us having to give up our our sin
You know and it's like you give up some addiction you give up some sin. It's like
You're actually it's actually a good thing. It's not you. I know it's hard to do, but is that really suffering
Like let's just let's just use alcohol right as an example because that's a really big one. That's a big sin
That's out there. That's really downplayed by society
You know amongst a lot of other sins right is it really suffering for you to not be a drunk
Man, it's just so hard being sober
Like I get like I'd understand addiction and things like that and those are those are hard chains to breaks
I understand there's suffering there
But is it is it really a negative thing is it really you suffering when it's like well now
I'm not gonna get you know liver disease oh
Now I'm not gonna. You know get a giant nose
And I'm not gonna have you know the redness of eyes oh now
I'm not gonna go get in a bar fight. Oh poor me. Oh you poor thing. Oh you poor thing
You're not gonna ruin your marriage. Oh you poor thing. You're not gonna ruin your family. Oh you poor thing
How is that suffering remind me again? How it's a look. I know it's work. I know it's hard
I know it's difficult to break habits to break the chains of addiction and sin
But is it really suffering in a sense that Christ has suffered for us?
You know it was hard was dragging that cross up Golgotha's Hill after having being whipped having had his beard pulled out
After having a crown of thorns shoved into his head after having you know been mocked and ridiculed
And then eventually to be hung up on a cross to die of asphyxiation slowly
You know in open shame that that's suffering friend
And anything that we're going through because it's something we should be doing you know I understand
It's hard, but let's be careful not to chop that up. It's like some great spiritual sacrifice for God. You've just done what you should
You should follow in his steps just as he suffered for us
Look at Titus chapter 2 verse 11 for the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men teaching us that denying
ungodliness
What's God's will for my life deny ungodliness and worldly lusts that we should live soberly?
Righteously and godly in this present world that's something you're supposed to be doing right now. That's what you should do
Look at go to 1st John chapter 3 1st John chapter number 3
I'm just gonna kind of scatter through these real quick 1st Peter chapter 4 it says we should we should
No longer live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lust of men, but to the will of God
That's what you should be doing folks
Well I went to church this Sunday
And I read my Bible
Every day this week, and I prayed for at least 15 minutes, and I prayed for several people in the church
I even went soul-winding good job. That's what you're supposed to be doing I
Poured all the liquor out and I cleaned up my life, and I quit committing this sin and quit doing so oh good job
You know
That's what you're supposed to be doing
We should not be living after the flesh
The lusts of men, but we should be living the will of God. Oh, I'm doing the will of God good
That's what you're that's what you should be doing
And again don't get me wrong. I'm grateful for people that are want to live for God
I'm glad for that, but I'm just here to remind you that
That's just what you're supposed to be doing
There's a big difference between what you should be doing and what you could be doing
Hmm and some people could be doing what they should be doing okay?
Hmm
Where did I have you go?
First John chapter 3 verse 11 for this is the message that you have heard from the beginning
That we should love one another
That's something we should be doing
Look at verse 23
And this is the commandment that we should believe on his name of his son Jesus Christ and love one another as he gave us
Commandment you know there's certain Commandments like loving one another that you should just should be doing
And it's amazing to me how many Christians think the commands of God are optional
Jesus said you call me Lord and Master and so say ye well for so I am
But then elsewhere he says why call you me Lord Lord and do not the things which I command you
It makes no sense to call Jesus Lord and Master if you're not going to obey his commands
Right because what are you saying when you're calling him Lord? You're basically saying yes, sir boss, right?
Like if I went to work and every time my boss told me to do something
I just said yes, sir, and then didn't do it. What is it? What does it mean calling them that matter at all?
He's saying why would you call me Lord Master and do not the things which I command you
He said you call me Lord Master and so say he well for so I am he is our Lord. He is our master
But what good is it to call him that if we do not the things which he commands us and yet so many Christians today
Think that you know their it's their body is theirs to do whatever they want with
Their time is theirs to do whatever they want with that they had that serving God that getting sinner like it's somehow optional in the
Christian life look it's a commandment
He said this is a commandment
He gave us Commandments that we should walk in them
Go over to Luke chapter 17 Luke chapter number 17, and I'll begin wrapping up
I'll read to you from 2nd John 1 and this is love that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment
That as you have heard from the beginning you should walk in it
Jude chapter 1 verse 3 beloved when I give all diligence to write any of the common common salvation
It was needful me to write into and exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith look
there's things that you should be doing in the Christian life and
When you do the things that you should when you start doing these things when you start
abstaining from these sins when you start
Possessing your vessel and sanctification and honor when you start doing the will of God
Congratulations, you're out of debt you've reached zero
You've just reached baseline the Christian life
And now you know now you're just doing what you should
You said I don't know about that okay look at you're in Luke 17 right look at verse 7
But which of you and this is Jesus speaking by the way
Having a servant plowing or feeding cattle will sand him by and by when he's come from the field go and sit down to meet
He's saying okay
Let's say you're a guy
You know that owns a farm and you have an employee a servant who's out working your field
And when he comes in you say to him go eat
Is that what you would say to him okay when he comes in your servant?
he says and will not rather say to him make ready wherewith I may sup and
Gird thyself and serve me till I have eaten and drunken and afterward thou shalt eat and drink
He's saying that what you would actually do if this person's your employee if they're your servant and by the way
This is before the 40-hour workweek the 8-hour day over time before all that socialist nonsense and got worked its way into our system
you
Know if they used to be it's like hey, you're done working the field okay servant now
Make me my dinner why because you're my servant. Oh
He's so mean doesn't matter. He's my servant
That this is Jesus talking
He's saying what you view would have a servant and then when he's done working you're not going to command him to
Take care of you because he's your servant
And
He's saying you know that's what the servant does look at verse 9 duth he thank that servant because he did the things which were
commanded him
He said oh, thank you for coming in from the field where you worked my field
Thank you for giving me an opportunity to pay you wages
Thank you for giving me an opportunity to put food in your belly and a roof over your head
Is that what he is that what we say to our employees I?
Mean I know in this day and age. There's probably that's probably going on
But you know that's not that's not how it's supposed to be he's saying here look
You don't thank your servant for doing the things that are commanded him
You tell your child you know take out the trash and they obey hopefully right away, right? They just
Yes, mom. Yes, dad. They take the bag up the trash to take it out
They even come back in and they put the new bag in oh
Man, that's a good day
Right we get excited. It's like you just went to the next level right, but do we fall down?
Thank you child for taking out the trash like I told you to oh
Thank you for cleaning up your room. Thank you so much
No, it's like of course. That's what I commanded you. I'm your I'm your parent. That's what you're supposed to do
You're supposed to obey you're supposed to do the things that you're told
You know I don't go at the end of my day. You know turn in my timesheet, and then write my
Supervisor a nice email saying you can thank me for doing this and thank me for doing that. Thank you
It's like like yeah, that's what was on the workbench. That's what you're supposed to be doing
Does he thank the servant because he did the things that which were commanded him I try not meaning. I don't think so
And anyone that has any common sense in their head feels the same way
Now look at verse 10
This is a parable right Jesus is using an earthly example to explain a heavenly truth
About our relationship with God right he's giving us something relatable. You know when you have that employee. It's working for you
You don't thank him for doing all the things that you command him
You know he goes and works your field you say now make dinner
And when you're done you wipe your mouth you walk away, and you don't even have to say thank you
Because he's just doing the things that are commanded him. That's the way. That's that's the the
You know that's the the chain of command there, that's just the way it's supposed to be
That's the truth that he's trying to get us to understand on earth about our relationship with God look at verse 10
So like Elias ye when you have done all those things which are commanded you
Say this when you're done doing all the things that have been commanded you this is what we're supposed to say
We are unprofitable servants. We have done that which is our duty to do
You know that's our attitude in the Christian life look when we do all the things that we should do
All the things that are commanded us when we abstain from fornication when we abstain
From drunkenness when we confess possess our vessels and sanctification and honor
We start to walk in newness of life when we stop to stop doing the will of the Gentiles when we clean up our lives
And get right with God and start doing the things that we're we should be doing our response should be we've done
What our duty to do I'm unprofitable
Me unprofitable meaning meaning, you know, I've just gotten back to baseline I'm at zero
I've only done that which is my duty. That's what Jesus just got done saying
You know the point I want to get this morning across is that if you want to go further in your Christian life you
Have to get beyond doing just the things that you should and start doing the things that you could be doing
Look it's great. Once we've done everything we should do. Let's not stop there
You know a lot of people have got what they should be doing down
You know, they've cleaned up their life. They don't have these sins in their life anymore. They straighten things out
They've gotten right with God. They're reading their Bibles. They're praying. They're going to church. They're doing this
They're doing everything that God has commanded us to do
They're there that the unprofitable servant don't stop there. If you want to become profitable you then have to ask yourself
What could I be doing?
I've taken care of everything. I should be doing look that's a good practical tip for you kids
You want to get on mom and dad's good graces?
You know go ahead and do the chore list and then find something else
They didn't ask you to do and do it without being asked
They'll fall over
You want to give the old man a heart attack, you know
Get him out of your hair, you know, surprise them by doing something you did with that. He didn't even ask you to do
Whatever that is, you know, I got all the cobwebs and the dust bunnies out of the corners or something
I don't know. I went ahead and just clean the glass, you know windows without even been asked I
went ahead just took care of that laundry took out that trash and
Now you're actually somebody who's profitable because now you're doing something beyond what's just commanded you
I mean, there's a lot of practical application with this dude. You want to get ahead at work?
You want to get the promotion you want to get the raise don't be the guy that's just gonna do the bare minimum
You know, you start at eight o'clock. Well, it's 759. I'm here
You know, oh we were out at five well, it's four it's it's it's five o'clock see ya
Look, I'm not saying we're just gonna give away all our time for free
But you know when an employer sees somebody who's willing to go that extra mile. That's the person they're gonna keep around
That's the person they're gonna promote
That's the person they're gonna say this guy's profitable
You know, you got to have more than a pulse
Some people think that's that's enough like hey, I just show up. I've got a pulse. I'm here. I could pass the drug test
It's like oh, well, you know, that's what you should do
but what could you do I
Could learn this skill and bring it, you know to the table
I could learn this I get this certification you learn this skill and I can I could become a more profitable employee
When I start stop, you know start doing the things that I could be doing and not just doing the things that I should be doing
But
When it comes to us and God, it's the same way
You know, we should be doing
The things that we should if you want to be a profitable servant start doing the things that you could be doing
By going beyond what is expected now you say well, why doesn't everybody do that?
Why doesn't everybody just start doing the things that they could because it requires
sacrifice
It requires sacrifice and a lot of people just aren't willing to do that
Go back to our story mark chapter 14 verse 8 she hath done what she could
She has come beforehand to anoint my body to the burying
Verse 9 mark 14 verily saying to you wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world
This also that she hath done shall be spoken for memorial memorial of her and here we are this morning
Talking about Mary and this very story those words have just come true
But consider what Mary did she did what she could not just what she should and
What when she did that when she did what she could it required a sacrifice didn't it?
That that spiken art. I don't know that the day she went and bought that spike Nard that precious ointment that she had this in mind
Maybe she wouldn't out and bought it just before it. I don't know
You know, maybe she had it laid up in some
Treasure box somewhere some vanity chest. I don't know what girls have
Vanity chest, I don't know what girls have in their bedrooms
You know, she's got a special place myself and you know one day
Your wedding day or some special anniversary. She's gonna break that up
You know, she had a something in mind for that
But then Jesus came along and Jesus worked in her life and Jesus started doing things for her
Braised her brother healed the lepers preached sermons. This is the same Mary that previously had sat at his feet
Remember that and Martha was coming about with much serving
But Mary sat at his feet and he said Martha thou art comfort about with much serving
But Mary hath chosen that better part and shall not be taken from her. You know, she sat at the feet of Jesus
She's listened to him. She loves God and she just wants to do something for him it but he required a sacrifice
It required that precious ointment being broken open and poured upon him
You know doing
More will require you
enduring
Criticism and scorn, you know, you just start doing the things that you could I mean that you should just start there
Start doing the things that you should and just brace for impact because people are gonna start leveling
Accusations people start criticizing you make the same speaking evil of you because you're on not the same excess riot as they do
Okay
That's that's just gonna come with doing the things that you should be doing
But when you decide to do the things that you could be doing
You know you say hey, I've been reading my Bible I'm gonna start memorizing some scripture
Hey, you know, I I've been going to the Sunday morning service. I'm gonna go to a Sunday night service
Subtle hint
Hey, you know, I've started reading my Bible go to church
I'm gonna find out what the soul winning things about, you know, that's you doing more that's you doing where you're at
You know, you're doing the things you should
What could you be doing though?
How could you improve what what you know?
Whatever it is, it's gonna cost you something and it's gonna cost you the most precious thing any of us have time
that's the most precious commodity any of us have is our time and
Serving God takes time
It's gonna take that time. That's a sacrifice. You're gonna have to be willing to make
All I'm saying is that it's worth it
It's worth it. I don't care what the naysayers say. Oh, oh, you know, you could you could be a
Why are you pastoring a church?
You know, you could be working on a career where you make a whole lot more money
You know, you could be bettering yourself getting an education and going on to some, you know, huge income or something
Yeah, maybe I don't know apparently don't know me though
I'm dumber than I look trust me, right? Yeah, maybe but you know what what's in it some earthly reward. Oh
I you know, why are you going to church on Sunday morning?
Don't you know you could be at home in your PJs watching the morning, whatever on TV
What do you mean you're going to church again? Didn't you just go there earlier this week?
What do you mean you're gonna spend your time reading your Bible? What do you mean? You know, there's gonna be criticized criticism
It's gonna cost you something
But it's worth it at the end of the day look it's worth it to pastor a church and see lives change and souls get saved
What price are you gonna put on that?
It's worth it for you to come to church and hear the preaching word of God and start to put these things to work in
your life
It's worth it for you to make the sacrifices that you need to make
In order to go beyond just doing the things that you should be doing and start doing the things that you could be doing
Let's go ahead close the word of prayer your Lord again