Why Did I Do That? - Peace Church, Loyal OK

Loyal, OK

Pastor Leon Seaton

Why Did I Do That?

Mark 14:1-11

At the busy dental office where I work, one patient was always late. Once when I called to confirm an appointment, he said, "I'll be about 15 minutes late. That won't be a problem, will it?"

"No," I told him. "We just won't have time to give you an anesthetic."

He arrived early. -Terri Spaccarotelli, Reader's Digest, June, 1992, p. 145.

It is so easy to get into trouble! We talk too much, we think out loud, we say things before we think - and bang! Trouble comes!

Today's passage takes place at the time of the Passover celebration. It was a major event. The streets of Jerusalem were like a crowded mall in Oklahoma City two days before Christmas when all the procrastinators and bargain-seekers converge on the mall at the last moment.

The normal population of Jerusalem was 50,000 people. Some have estimated that during this celebration the crowd swelled to several hundred thousand people.

You have probably discovered that some people cannot be pleased no matter what we do. Jesus was mindful of that, and we might as well be too! Just love them, do your best, and let things go at that. Yes, it is easier said than done, but doing that will save your sanity!

God can't please them
The republicans cannot please them
The democrats cannot please them
And neither can the independents!

Jesus taught us to be faithful in teaching and modeling His word. The results are God's responsibility!

Luke 6:26, "Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets."

During the first year of His ministry Jesus was relatively unknown. The second year He was very popular. By the third year opposition was beginning to gain a foothold because of the spiritual work of Satan and his associates. Because Jesus understood this He did not let it bother Him in terms of His spiritual balance.

Jesus enjoyed His relationship with His followers, but He drew His strength from His Heavenly Father. We will do well if we do the same thing!

During the Lenten Services at the Kingfisher Church of the Nazarene, the Kingfisher pastors have been preaching on the hands of Jesus. It has been very inspirational and helpful. The last service will be at noon on Good Friday - at the Catholic Church in Kingfisher.

I want to look at it from a different standpoint this morning! We will look at it in terms of the people that wanted to get their hands ON Jesus!

The people that hated Jesus

The chief priests and teachers of the law (called "lawyers" in the KJV) were very jealous of Jesus because He was drawing the people away from them and because He was not following all of their rules!

Jesus loved people and always sought to meet them at their level of need. Any time anyone fights God's plan just to keep rules, they need to do a heart check to see if they are in the will of the Lord.

As one of my pastor friends said recently, "Don't people think for themselves any more?"

The text plainly states, "They were looking for some sly way to catch Jesus and kill Him." Wow! Talk about disobeying the Ten Commandments! They were so motivated by their own desires that the Word of God apparently made no impact on them!

When that happens to you, ask yourself, "Why am I doing this?"

The bottom line in any transaction if you are a Christian is very simple. "Am I acting in love?" Jesus taught us to love each other (Christians) and to love the people of the world (even if they are our enemies).

He did not suggest that it would be easy!

The Woman with the Alabaster Jar of Expensive perfume

John 12:3, "Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume."

Some think the woman was Mary Magdalene. Mark does not identify her, nor does Luke, so some suggest that we cannot know for sure! The bottom line is that she loved Jesus with all of her heart, soul, mind and strength - and to be a little crude, she put her money where her mouth was.

When Judas questioned her wisdom Jesus told him to leave her alone because she had anointed Him for His burial. God constantly checks our motive - we should do so as well! (You can't fool God!)

Judas and his love for money

Judas was an inside man. He had access to Jesus, the Son of God, whenever he needed it. However, he had a weakness - the love of money. As you know, the love of money is the root of all evil.

Judas was the treasurer for Jesus and the disciples - and was known to steal from the treasury. Although he had a part in the disciples' ministry, he was not the good man many believed him to be.

"Man looks on the outward appearance, God looks on the heart." Thus we need to ask God to help us know what is in our hearts. We might be disappointed!

What motivates you?

Marguerite Bro tells of a minister who took his little child to a circus. She writes, "The clowns were particularly good and the last one of them was a little fellow wearing a very wonderful high hat. While he was bowing elaborately to a dignified woman, his hat fell off and an elephant sat on it.

"The clown gestured wildly at the elephant, but the beast sat still. He waved and shouted again and again, but the elephant never budged. Angrily the clown stepped behind the elephant and kicked with all his strength, and hopped away with a sore foot in his hands.

"Then, frantic with anger, the little clown turned back to the elephant and tried to lift him off the hat. Defeated and in complete despair, the clown sat down and started to eat peanuts. The elephant was interested in peanuts and got up, ambled over, and begged for one!"

That was a powerful illustration for that minister. He realized that he'd just witnessed a spiritual object lesson: You can't accomplish anything for God by crabbing and kicking at the world (or your spouse, child, neighbor or co-worker!). Morning Glory, January 12, 1994. Found at www.sermons.com

Lately I have felt impressed - because of conversations with several people - that we need to start stressing holy living! Not to avoid sin because of what others say or because of the risk of going to hell, but simply to honor God.

Think over the last week - think about your sins and failures. What motivated that action? Ask yourself, “Why did I do that?”

Think about your successes. What motivated that action? Ask yourself, “Why did I do that?”

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14