The Disciple's Love For Christ

Title: The Disciple’s Love for God

Text:

Matthew 26:6-13

7 a woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume, and she poured it upon His head as He reclined at the table.

8 But the disciples were indignant when they saw this, and said, "Why this waste?

9 "For this perfume might have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor."

10 But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why do you bother the woman? For she has done a good deed to Me.

11 "For the poor you have with you always; but you do not always have Me.

12 "For when she poured this perfume upon My body, she did it to prepare Me for burial.

13 "Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done shall also be spoken of in memory of her."

John 12:3

3 Mary therefore took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

Introduction

The greatest commandment in the bible is not for us believers to serve Him.

According to Christ the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength and all our mind.

Luke 10

27 And he answered and said, "YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."

God consider our heart’s love for Him as more important than all the works we performed for him.

And that is why in the book of revelations He reprimanded the Church of Ephesians. Even though they have been active in Christian service, they had lost their first love.

Mary of Bethany is the sister of Martha and Lazarus whom Jesus raised from the dead. Shortly before Jesus was crucified, she demonstrated her love for Jesus in such a beautify manner.

Let us turn our bible to Matthew 26:6-13 and then to John 12:3

What Mary did for Jesus one week before His death is a demostration of the disciple’s love for God.

Through this passage, I would like to bring out three evidences of our love for God.

The Disciple’s love for God must firstly be:

1. Evidenced by Submission

- Mary was led by God to anoint Christ before his death and burial.

- She submitted willing to God’s leading even though the jar of perfume was very costly, because of the love and devotion in her heart for God.

“ If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. (John 14:5)

- Genuine love for God is evidenced by obedience to God’s command and a wholehearted submission to His will.

Illustration

Jenifer Chean

In my previous church I knew this girl by the name of Jennifer. She was in her teens when I first got to know her. She made a decision to be baptized and her parents being unbelievers not only objected they really beat her up badly.

Jennifer was actually a very soft spoken and relatively timid girl. But that day she chose to obey God and be baptized. Why? Because Jennifer loves God and her love was evidenced by her obedience in baptism.

- If our obedience is not generated by genuine love for God, it will not last long.

Illustration

Lilian’s Story

I have often shared about my own life. Let me share with you a part of Lillian’s journey. Lillian has always been a brilliant student. At one point of time she was studying in the University of Melbourne. She finished her first year with excellent results and a bright future awaits her. Suddenly God dropped a bombshell upon her. “Quit university and go bible college” She received confirmations after confirmations. She struggled in her heart and finally out of her love and devotion to God she yielded and she obeyed.

Well the awesome part of the story is because of her obedience God gave a great husband like me!

If you are a discipleship who truly love God, there will be an increasing degree to submission to God’s command and God’s will. Is you love for God evidenced with a growing submission to His command and His will?

2. Evidenced by Sacrifice

- The perfume is cost approximately one years wage at that time. Translated to our time it cost about 20-30 thousand dollars.

- Mary could have just removed the wax, which sealed the jar and pour a few drops of perfume on Christ.

- But no, that is not good enough for Her master. She chose to broke off the neck of the jar and pour it all upon Jesus.