At the Table

"Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 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. But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected" (John12:1-4)

This scene from John 12 presents us with different characters, which I will study.

The first character is Jesus. In John 11:45-57, the chief priests and the Pharisees plotted to kill Jesus, and Jesus, knowing this, withdrew to the village of Ephraim, a region near the desert. And so my question is this. If Jesus knew of the plot to kill him and thus withdrew to a remote village where no one recognized him, why then did Jesus, especially only less than a week before the Passover, return to Bethany, and hence into civilisation? In John 11:57, the Bible tells us that if anyone saw Jesus, he/she was to report him to the authorities. Bethany, as told in John11:18, was less then two miles away from Jerusalem, which would have had a huge population at that time. So, when Jesus returned to Bethany, it was suicide! Why, of all places, did Jesus go to Bethany? The answer is simple, OBEDIENCE. Jesus definitely knew that by going to Bethany, he would be in a position of danger. But he knew he had to do it anyway. Jesus knew he couldn't stay out of civilisation forever, that wouldn't be accomplishing what he came to do! And so he went. And because he went, we have the rest of the gospels. And because he went in obedience, Jesus ultimately accomplished what he came to do, and you and I are saved today. Jesus act of obedience was his worship unto God. And friends, we need to catch this Spirit from Jesus. We need to imitate his obedience. How many of us have procrastinated writing the rest of the gospels of our lives because we have chosen to reside in wilderness? How many of us have not accomplished what we came out to do because we have been so afraid of the what goes around us? We feel intimidated by what the world is doing to us and so we run into remoteness, where no one can find us, and we refuse to get out because we're afraid to go out and face what the world has for us. Friends if all of us are going to stay in our own remoteness, in our own comfort zones, the world is going to die! Without us, God will not! Friends, the gospels for our life need a strong finish. Leave a strong legacy, not a wimp's account, but a warrior's legacy. Finish the gospel of you life, and finish it strong. Allow God to use you, by stepping out and availing yourself to God. This day, worship God with your obedience.

The second character John presents to us is Martha. At this dinner, Martha is serving. The church needs people like that. Marthas ready to get their hands dirty for the cause of Christ. Marthas ready to go wherever their service is needed. Marthas who will go the extra mile just to make the place cleaner, the shelves tidier, the food tastier, the chairs neater, the atmosphere more presentable. Marthas are the ones who keep the pace of the church. Marthas don't live off the applause. They don't live off the applause. That’s not to say they don’t need it. They just aren’t addicted to it. BUT Marthas have a weakness. They tend to put their mission over the master. In Luke10 we find a seated Mary and a fuming Martha. Martha is angry because Mary is, horror of horrors, sitting at the feet of Jesus. How impractical! How irrelevant! How unnecessary! I mean, who has time to sit and listen when there is bread to be baked, tables to be set, and souls to be saved? So Martha complained, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" (Luke 10:40) Suddenly Martha has gone from serving Jesus to making demands of Jesus! "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things. Only one thing is important. Mary has chosen the better thing, and it will never be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41–42). Martha got the point, and we find her serving again in John12. In John12, is Mary helping out in the kitchen? No, she is worshiping Jesus, this is what she loves to do. But this time, Martha does not object. She has learned that there is a place for praise and worship. When Mary brings the perfume in and poured it on Jesus' feet, Martha does not object. The old Martha would have. Such an act was too lavish, too extravagant, too generous. But this mature Martha has learned that just as there is a place in the kingdom of God for sacrificial service, there is also a place for extravagant praise. Marthas need to know that worship is service.

The third character John presents is Mary. Marys are gifted with praise. They don’t just sing, they worship. They don’t simply attend church, they go to offer praise. They don’t just talk about Christ, they radiate Christ. The church needs Marys because all of us, we tend to forget how much God loves worship. Marys don’t forget. They know that God wants to be known as a father. They know that a father likes nothing more than to have his children sit as his feet and spend time with him. Marys love nothing better then to sit at the feet of the Father and enjoy His presence. Whenever you find a Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus, don't ask them to leave. Much better to ask them to pray for you. The church desperately needs some Marys. We need them to pray, to inspire, to worship and to radiate Christ. But Marys must be careful to meditate on Luke6:46, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ but do not do what I say?”
Marys need to know that service is also worship.

The fourth character John presents to us is Lazarus. Lazarus knows that not everyone can play in the band or contribute with his hands. As the dinner, as far as we know, Lazarus did nothing at the table. He simply resided at the table. But Lazarus was simply saving his work for outside the house. "Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came , not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him." (John12:9-11) Lazarus worshiped with his testimony! He testified of God's grace and mercy when he was raised from the dead, and because of his testimony many Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him! Lazarus had a testimony, and he worshiped with it. God gave Martha a heart of service, Mary a heart of worship and Lazarus a heart of testimony. Friend if you have a testimony, then share it. Remind the rest of us that we were once lost but now found, dead but now alive, blind but now we see. Your testimony does not have to be dramatic, it simply has to be real.

The fifth character is Judas. Everyone had their place at the table, except him. He couldn't find his place. Although Judas had been with Jesus longer than the rest, his heart was furthest. His heart had grown cold to Jesus. The miracles didn't amaze him anymore. The parables didn't impact him anymore. The teachings didn't inspire him anymore. His heart had grown cold. And more than that, Judas was a thief.(John12:6) When Mary poured her perfume onto Jesus' feet, Judas feigned spirituality, "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages."(John12:5) But Jesus knew Judas' heart, and Jesus defended Mary's worship. Judas had been taking money out of the money bag, and he wanted the perfume to be sold so that he had access to more money. And very sadly, there are many Judas' in the church today. In every church there are those like Martha who take time to serve. There are those like Mary who take time to worship. There are those like Lazarus who take time to testify. But there are also those who are like Judas who take, take and take but never give. Friends my question is this. Are you near Christ but far from his heart? Are you at the dinner with a sour soul? Are you always criticizing the gifts of others yet seldom, if ever, giving your own? Are you benefiting from the church while never giving to it? Do others give sacrificially while you give miserly? Do you take, take and take but never give in return? If honestly, it's a yes, then you are the Judas in this story. Friend my advice to you today is this, return to the heart of worship. If your heart has grown cold don't dwell in that place any longer. Allow God to take your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Don't harden your heart any longer. My prayer for you today is that you will shift your focus. Shift from the money bag to the table. Shift from what you can receive to what you can give. Friend I pray that you will truly find your place at the table.

Jesus had a heart of obedience. Friends we need to catch that. To die to ourselves and follow God, no matter what it takes. It's not easy to count your cost and live for the cause, but this day, know that just as Jesus saw the heart of Judas, God sees yours.
Marthas have been called to serve. Remind the rest of us that there is evangelism in feeding the poor and worship in keeping the church tidy.
Marys have been called to worship. Remind the rest of us that we don't have to be busy to be holy.
Lazarus' have been called to testify. Remind the rest of us that all of us have a story to proclaim.

If you are a Martha, be strengthened. God sees your service.
If you are a Mary, be encouraged. God receives your worship.
If you are a Lazarus, be strong. God honors your conviction.
But if you are a Judas, be warned. God sees your selfishness.


When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless Your heart

I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart

I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made and
When it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus

King of endless worth
No one could express
How much You deserve
Though I'm weak and poor
All I have is Yours
Every single breath

Draw Me Close To You

Just the time I feel
That I've been caught
In the mire of self.
Just the time I feel
My mind's been bought
By worldly wealth.
That's when the breeze begins
To blow I know,
The Spirit's Call.
And all my worldly wanderings
Just melt into His Love.

Oh, I want to know You more!
Deep within my soul I want to know You,
Oh, I want to know You.
To feel Your Heart and know Your Mind,
Looking in Your eyes stirs up within me,
Cries that says I want to know You
Oh, I want to know You more.
Oh, I want to know You more.

When my daily deeds
Ordinarily lose life and song,
my heart begins to bleed,
sensitivity to Him is gone.
I've run the race but set my own pace
and face a shattered soul,
But the Gentle Arms of Jesus
warm my hungering to be whole.

Oh, I want to know You more!
Deep within my soul I want to know You,
Oh, I want to know You.
And I would give my final breathe
To know You in Your Death and Resurrection,
Oh, I want to know You more.
Oh, I want to know You more.
Oh, I want to know You more

My focus has been wrong. I had been placing my world on the wrong things. I kept building, the materials were right, but the foundations were wrong. A house was built, but on sand and not on rock. And when the waves came, the sand gave way, and my house came crumbling down. But Lord, You knew better. Through the seasons, You always held me by my right hand, and you never let go of me. You are forever in my life, You see me through the seasons, cover me with Your hands, and lead me in Your righteousness. I was like Job, complaining and never listening to You. You kept quiet, waiting for me to stop complaining, to stop grumbling, to move from speaking to listening. And when I did, there You spoke. Oh, how little You spoke, but how powerful Your words. And Lord, I have learnt to trust Your sovereignty. To trust You in Your death and resurrection. To know that Your foolishness is wiser than my wisdom. Oh Lord my God, how wonderful Your name is. No love greater than this, the love of my Father God to me. And in You I find my peace, in You I find my strength. In You I find myself, my self-worth, my everything. And I know that I am not defined by the things of this world, not by my failings or successes. I am defined by You, and You said that I was fearfully and wonderfully made. I am nothing Lord without Your grace. Let everything I say and do be founded by my faith in You. In Your sovereignty, Lord, I put my trust. And I am confident that You will never fail me, because You have never did.


Draw me close to You
Never let me go
I lay it all down again
To hear You say that I'm Your friend

You are my desire
No one else will do
'Cause nothing else could take Your place
To feel the warmth of Your embrace
Help me find the way
Bring me back to You

You're all I want
You're all I've ever needed
You're all I want
Help me know You are near

I Will Go

You've called me to places I can't see
Lord open my eyes
You've called me to people I can't reach
Lord stir within me
A hunger to see Your Kingdom come
A passion for Your will to be done

Give me a heart for this generation
Set me apart for Your great commission

And I will go
Wherever You lead I will follow
And I have counted the cost
I will carry the cross
So take my hands
All that I have they are Yours
And You have laid out my course
I will live for this cause

Heaven and Earth will pass away
But Jesus You're eternal
Kings and their kingdoms will fall one day
But Your glory's forever
All of creation will bow to You
The time will come for all to see
God You reign

No turning back
No turning back
And I will follow
No turning back
No turning back
And I will carry the cross
No turning back
No turning back
No turning back
And I will live for this cause

Lord You have spoken, and I will heed Your voice. I'm not fighting, I can't and I shouldn't. You've called me, this is my response: I'll go. No turning back, because I know that anyone who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is not fit for service in the Kingdom of God. And so I'll go, Lord lead me. I know this is not about where I'll be after O's whatsoever, but where I'll be for the rest of my life. It doesn't matter, because You Lord hold my world in the palm of Your hand.

Give Unto The Lord

Oh what truth! Indeed, the little that we have, when we give it to God, God will multiply it for the extension of His Kingdom.

Friends how often do we look at what we have and then wonder if it's enough? My question to you today is, when you question, are you doubting the power of God? If you dare say that God is your provider, then surely, even what He wants you to give, is from Him. Why do you worry that it is not enough when everything comes from God? What do you worry about? That it's too small for God to use? That it won't make a difference whether you give or not? That you won't have enough left? Friends we have to stop looking at what we have, instead we have to look at what God can do. Many a time, it is too easy to forget that it is not about what we can do, but what we can offer. It has never been and never will be about us. It is written that the clothes we wear and the food we eat are given by God, anything more is a blessing, and we ought to bless others with it.

One of the things that stop us from giving our all to the Lord is our selfishness. Our selfishness has resulted in us doubting the power of God, it has corrupted our child-like faith, it has contaminated the very essence of Christianity, it has blinded our eyes from focusing on the very purpose God has called us to. We need to awaken from our slumber and open our eyes, to see that Christianity is all about giving. The life of Jesus was one of giving. From the very day he was born, Jesus Christ gave. He gave forgiveness, unconditional love, amazing grace, unexplainable healing, and traded his holy life for our filthy ones. From the manger in Bethleham to the cross of Calvary, Jesus never stopped giving. At the very core of his heart was the art of giving. Jesus never asked, never demanded, never begged for anything, but most of all, he never refused to give what he could. Jesus never held back anything. Why? Simply because he knew that he had everything for him in Heaven. He saw Heaven before he saw Earth. He knew that God who gave could take away. He recognised that everything he had belonged to the Father. And unless he gave, he had no purpose on Earth. It is written that Jesus knew the Father, he was constantly in intimate relationship with the Father. In the same way, we need to have a constant intimate relationship with the Father, we need to focus on Heaven before we focus on Earth.

We need to realise that Christianity is all about giving. Only when we give to God, can He use it according to His purpose. Whether in terms of finance, or in terms of service, or perhaps just the simple action of prayer, let us never underestimate what God can do with what we give. How wonderful to know that when we go to Heaven one day, the Lord will say those marvelous words, "Well done, good and faithful servant...", and all because of the simple act of giving. How wonderful to know that whatever we sow on Earth, we reap greatly in Heaven. "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal." (Matthew6:19-20) Friends what for we hold on to what we have on Earth and forfeit the things that await us in Heaven? Today, know that as you give unto God, you store up for yourself treasures in Heaven. And that is what matters most. Start by the giving of your life once again.


All that I am, all that I have
I lay them down before you, oh Lord
All my regrets, all my acclaims
The joy and the pain, I'm making them yours

Lord, I offer my life to you
Everything I've been through
Use it for your glory
Lord I offer my days to you
Lifting my praise to you
As a pleasing sacrifice
Lord I offer you my life

Things in the past, things yet unseen
Wishes and dreams that are yet to come true
All of my heart, alll of my praise
My heart and my hands are lifted to you

Lord, I offer my life to you
Everything I've been through
Use it for your glory
Lord I offer my days to you
Lifting my praise to you
As a pleasing sacrifice
Lord I offer you my life

What can we give
That you have not given?
And what do we have
That is not already yours?
All we possess
Are these lives we're living
That's what we give to you, Lord