Delivered Mar. 25, 2007
by Pastor Eric Henderson
Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him.
Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him) said, "Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii's and the money given to the poor?" (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.)
Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me."
Seven days before Palm Sunday, Jesus was invited to PMC, the home of a group of people who believed God had given them physical and spiritual life. Most realized that without faith in the life of Christ their lives would have the stench of death. On Sunday's and sometimes on other days, Jesus was invited to meet with these people, to eat and talk with them. Some served by planning, leading, and welcoming, while others simply relished being with other people and Jesus.
One Sunday an astounding event took place. The event had a jarring affect on people because it was spontaneous and this kind of thing seldom happened. The event was directly in front of everyone, so no one could ignore what happened. The on-lookers knew right away that the person had spent at least $45,000 just to do that one thing. Some were amazed at the cost but realized it as an expression of love for Jesus. Others knew that it was incredibly humiliating to do what they had just witnessed. A few were so deeply affected by this marvellous outpouring of love for Jesus, that they began to cry and wonder what they would do to humbly show their love for Jesus.
Everyone was silent because no one knew what to say or do, even the ones who planned the gathering, because they didn't expect such a thing to happen.
After the initial paralysis ended, one of the group stood and said, "I'd like to call our attention to Article 21 of the Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective which says, and I quote, "We believe that everything belongs to God who calls us as the church to live as faithful stewards of all that God has entrusted to us." (End of quote.)
Stewardship is using the resources God has given us responsibly and with careful planning. What we just witnessed has not been done with either responsibility or careful planning. The $45,000 spent on this gaudy public act is short lived.. If that money would have been used for food, cloths, shelter, training, or something more practical, many more people with real needs could have been helped. And I'm wondering how this person intends to provide for themselves during retirement.
The Mennonite Church has a long history of simple living. What we just experienced is not an example of simple living. It sets a bad example for everyone, especially our children. We need to form a committee and plan on some teaching on stewardship so this kind of thing, which is obviously poor stewardship, doesn't happen again."
A few nodded their heads in agreement with what had just been said. Someone made another shocking declaration by volunteering to teach about stewardship for a full quarter.
For the third time in the short span of 10 minutes people had been shocked and had that look on their face that you get when you open a gift at Christmas and have no idea what it is or what to say. An uncomfortable silence followed while people replayed first the lavish act of love, then the criticism, then the volunteering. Even the children stopped playing and squirming and became quiet.
One of the leaders decided to break the silence by reading what Paul wrote to encourage others.
For Christ's sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
The leader went on to say,
This is the season of the church year, when we choose to follow Christ who gained life by loosing life. A time to place total confidence in the power of God's unfailing love to change death to life, tears to joy, our losses to gain.. Maybe what we witnessed this morning was someone loosing $45,000, risking misunderstanding, having people criticize and gossip, in order to gain abundant life in Christ. Perhaps the rest of us should consider being more generous in our acts of love, service and devotion to Jesus Christ and others, even if we suffer public ridicule and misunderstanding.
Jesus was given the final word.
Leave her alone. She was honouring my death which will lead to life.
Petitcodiac Mennonite Church