THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM

INTRODUCTION

ILLUS: We have had a wet spring/summer with a few storms. Right before a big storm, there is change in the weather as a front comes through, a calm, a warning.

We are going to look at two events in Jesus’ life right before the storm of Holy week. Two events that were peaceful and joyous. They were the calm before the storm of the cross. And in that calm, changes were taking place, changes of expectations about who Jesus is and what He was doing.

What people expected from Jesus is not what they really received.

What people thought about Jesus was not really who He was.

What people wanted to believe was Jesus’ mission was not really what it turned out to be. Different expectations, and they were changing... What are you expectations of Jesus in your life? Nation? World? Our church?

Text: John 12:1-19. We are in the final chapter of Jesus’ public ministry.

Two significant and symbolic events take place at the beginning of Holy week.

1. The Anointing in Bethany Vs. 1-8 READ

• Passover 6 days away, this is the Sabbath, Saturday. Jesus is invited to a gathered in Bethany - festive occasion - Lazarus special focus.


• Bethany a little town right outside Jerusalem. Mary, Martha, Lazarus lived there, though this event was probably at the home of Simon, if this is the same story as Matthew 26:6-13.


• Lazarus - more alive than ever. His name found 5 times in section. He was the talk of the town, made the news, got attention of religious leaders.
ILLUS: Maybe had a local doctor give him a physical “Yep, you are alive again, congratulations, watch your diet, exercise and lose 20 lbs.”


• Martha - sister. NT gives us three pictures of her. Each time serving, two time meals, serving her family by seeking Jesus’ help.


• Mary - other sister. She also is shown in Scripture in three memorable pictures, each at Jesus’ feet - listening to his teachings, falling before Him in sorrow, now anointing His feet. Some think - Mary Magdalene - No!


• v. 3 In the midst of a joyous special meal comes Mary to Jesus.


• What is going on? Normally a servant washes feet of guests at dinners, wipes with a towel. She was a guest. Costly perfume - maybe equivalent to a years wages of a peasant worker, Nard: imported perfume from India.


• Why? To her an act of devotion, gratitude. She had seen how powerful and loving Jesus was. This was a humble act of genuine worship.


• A few other details. Other gospels speak of pouring the perfume on His head - it would thus flow down to cover His whole body.


• Then wiped His feet with her hair - let down her hair, women didn’t let their hair down in public. Shows total commitment of Mary - gave of her treasure, put reputation n the line to give complete devotion to the Lord.


• v. 7 Jesus then added meaning to her devoted action. Preparation for burial. A symbol of what was to come. No doubt Jesus’ words of Mary actions were more she/anyone expected. Pure devotion...


• But in the midst of this is pure defiance - Judas speaks up


• vs. 4-6. He was a selfish thief. He wasn’t interested in helping the poor, but making Mary look bad and himself look good with some extra cash.
Contrast


Mary	Judas
Self-Sacrifice	Selfishness
Gave a costly gift	Gave cheap sarcasm
Took role of a servant	Considered himself a critic
Faith blossomed to devotion	Frustration gave way to betrayal



• Remember, Judas had the group’s money, supposed to be trusted.
ILLUS: Often times our giftedness is our undoing. One good with money - steals; one good at leadership abuses followers; one good at preaching/teaching become egoistical or teaches heresy; one good at counseling can give in to inappropriate relationships with counselees. Be careful with gifts!


• Romans 13:14 What motivates you? Devotion to Jesus, or your lusts?


• While Mary gave her best to Jesus in a blessing, Judas would give his worst in betrayal. He ridiculed the use of 300 denairi, yet when he betrayed Jesus he did it for one tenth of that, 30 pieces of silver.


• This anointing by Mary was filled with meaning more than Mary or any others realized in the calm before the storm.

2. The Announcement in Jerusalem Vs. 12-17 READ

• This is the first day of the week, Sunday. All four gospels record this, John gives an emphasis on the joy of this day prompted by the resurrection of Lazarus. The word was out about Lazarus. Many witnesses had seen it. Jesus must be the long awaited One...


• Quote: Psalm 118:25, 26. “Hosanna” = save now


• While the Passover remembered past redemption from Egypt, there was also expectation of God’s Messiah to deliver His people. Jesus is the One.


• Riding the donkey a sign of peace, not a horse a sign of war. Jesus is showing His royal claims. Fulfilled prophecy of Zechariah 9:9.


• Palm branches are a sign of rest and peace after sorrow - Rev. 7:9
ILLUS: Royal Parade. Not the best comparison - County Fair Parade. Dignitaries - Grand Marshall, Fair Board, Queens, Mayor. Suggested the shovel detail follow politicians instead of the horses. Not many this year, the one candidate I saw was running for the Iowa Senate - worked parade staff.


• This announcement in Jerusalem was filled with meaning, more than the disciples or the rest of the people realized, the calm before the storm.

3. Changing Expectations about Jesus (Including vs. 9-11, 16-19)

• The expectations concerning Jesus are not matching what Jesus was heading towards. Jesus was a great teacher and miracle worker. Jesus claimed to be the Son of God. That was all true, Jesus clearly revealed.


• vs. 3,7 Mary gave an act of worship, her expectation was Jesus was a friend, miracle worker. She didn’t expect to anoint Him for burial.


• vs. 4-6 Judas criticized Mary and showed his true nature, in a matter of days he will betray Jesus. Judas wanted a revolutionary to start a new worldly kingdom. By betraying Jesus he was siding with the power brokers, sold his soul for political and financial gain. Judas didn’t expect Jesus to be anything more than disappointment to him and the nation.


• v. 16 The disciples didn’t really understand what was happening around them until afterwards. They didn’t know what to expect, but they followed anyway, they didn’t expect to be a part of a great new worldwide faith.


• vs. 9-13 While many people believed in Jesus, and many shouted “Hosanna” on Sunday, many of the same cried “Crucify Him” on Friday. They expected immediate results of political gain. They didn’t expect an eternal spiritual kingdom.


• vs. 10, 19 Then there are the Chief Priests. Amongst the good calm events of the Anointing and Announcement there was the hatred of the religious leaders who not only wanted to get rid of Jesus but to kill Lazarus too - what mockery of justice, what treachery of full blown unbelief. The Chief Priests were Sadducees, they didn’t believe in the resurrection - get rid of the evidence. They expected to be rid of Jesus once for all. They didn’t expect another resurrection and of Jesus.


• Jesus is beginning to be seen not as the national liberator, but something else, all the players were not sure what. Expectations were changing, sides were being chosen. But Jesus knew exactly what’s happening: (vs. 32, 36)


• It was not immediate glory, but suffering. Not personal prosperity and political power for Himself and His followers, but pain and suffering for our sins to give priceless redemption for us for eternity. A kingdom not of this world, but out of this world.

APPLICATION

What are your expectations of Jesus today?

Now Jesus is ruling from heaven, someday to return in power and great glory. In the meantime what are your expectations of Jesus?

Prophetic - study Bible prophecies, listen to the news, latest books.

• See everything through the lens of prophecy: charts, playing “Name that Anti-Christ,” watch Israel like a hawk
ILLUS: 1970’s preachers - 1948+40 years, 1988 return, 1981 rapture

Political - rescues USA from the mess we are in

• Yes, Jesus is coming again, but we sure need Him to bail us out now
• Political activist, want a new Moral Majority, forward emails...
ILLUS: Thursday NCD, businessman, Term Limits. There has be just 535 smart people that are better than the _________535 we have now.

Personal - Someone to help me and my family

• Life is tough. Want answers to prayers, what a fresh touch from God, desperate for hope, “Just get me through another day, Lord”
ILLUS: Job crises, finances, health, children, aging parents - wore out just keeping up, go from crises to crises.

Pastoral - (not me as Pastor), but Jesus as the Shepherd of church

• Want Jesus to come in to our church and grow it spiritually, and numerically, financially, be more of the “happening place”
ILLUS: I spent 3 days learning about church health, 10 new books on how to open ourselves to God’s power to build His church...

Nothing wrong with all four expectations. The Bible addresses all four of them in details and more. Are you willing to let your expectations change? You need to begin with Jesus saving grace!