Flora First Christian Church - Flora, IN

Nov. 4, 2007

John 12: 1-8

The Pig and The Chicken

Last week a man called the church, and as usual, Phyllis answered the phone in her cordial and professional manner. He said, “I’d like to speak to the Head Hog.” Phyllis replied “Excuse me, but I believe you mean Pastor Sam.” He said, “Yeah, the Head Hog, can I talk to him or not?” Taking a breath, Phyllis diplomatically said, “Sir, that isn’t an appropriate way to address our pastor.” The man replied, “Well, I’d like to speak to the Head Hog, because I want to donate $75,000.00 to the church.” Phyllis said: “Hold on, I think the pig just walked in.” Okay, it’s a joke! That did not happen, but it’s still a good story.
A couple of weeks ago, I was searching the internet for a specific sermon illustration that I had heard about four years ago, when I came across a website that was dedicated to nothing but . . . pig jokes. As a new resident of the pork producing capital of the state, and perhaps the country, I thought it would be appropriate to share a few of these with you. My hunch is you have probably heard most of them. If you have heard them . . . humor me.

Q. Why did the judge send a man to jail who said that he didn’t steal a pig?
A. Because the pig squealed to the police.

Q. What do little pigs get every morning from their parents?
A. Hogs and kisses!

Q. Why did the teenage pig decide to run away from the hog barn?
A. He felt that the other pigs were taking him for grunted.

Q. Why didn’t the piglets listen to the teacher pig?
A. Because he was an old boar.

Okay, just one more pig story and I promise that this one has something to do with the sermon. A pig and a chicken were walking by a church holding a major charity event for missions. The church had a bazaar, a crafts fair, a bake sale and a dinner going on. Getting caught up in the mood for charity, the pig suggested to the chicken that they each make an offering. “Great idea!” the chicken replied. “Let’s offer them ham and eggs!” “Not so fast,” said the pig. “For you, that’s an offering. For me, that’s total sacrifice.”

Emotions in the Story

Gratitude, thanks, confusion, offering and sacrifice were all emotional responses taking place at dinner in the home of some of Jesus’ friends.

The Personalities

Several personalities had assembled in the home of two grown sisters and a brother in Bethany. Bethany was a little suburban village about a mile and a half due east of Jerusalem. Jesus and his disciples were again staying with Mary, Martha and Lazarus. Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead, and it was only six days before the holy week of Passover was to begin. That Passover feast would be Jesus’ last before his crucifixion.

In a different story, we heard of Martha preparing a big spread for Jesus. Martha was doing all the work, and she thought her sister, Mary, was a slacker because she just hung out and listened to Jesus. Jesus told Martha that Mary had made the right choice in soaking up his teachings, and she didn’t need such a large spread of food. Jesus invited her to spend more time with him instead.

On this particular evening the dinner was going smoothly. Martha served the meal. Lazarus sat by Jesus at the head table. Lazarus had quite a celebrity status - raised from the dead after four days! The group was no doubt enjoying the meal, when out of the blue, MARY interrupted with some bizarre behavior.

Mary was carrying a large jar—perhaps clay, or maybe terra cotta or alabaster, full of perfumed oil. She poured the perfumed oil onto Jesus’ feet! Washing feet after a long journey on dusty, dirt roads was the job of the slaves or servants, but Mary was washing Jesus’ feet and using her hair to wipe the grit, grime and the excess oil! This jar of perfumed oil very likely came from India. It was worth a year’s wages of an unskilled laborer. She didn’t just use a little of it, but the whole jar! Outrageous!
Mary’s actions took center stage. Women were not to be center stage—especially in the presence of men!
She had set herself up for criticism and gossip. Can’t you hear the other eyewitnesses self-righteously criticize Mary? “How DARE you dishonor Jesus like that! It is a violation of our laws for a woman to touch a man in public - especially a rabbi!”

Judas Complained

Then Judas complained about Mary recklessly wasting all of that perfume. The profits from selling it could have been used to help the poor. Complaints, complaints, complaints! Only two people in the room understood her spontaneous action: Mary and Jesus.

Mary Expresses Gratitude

Jesus understood. Mary HAD to express her gratitude. Her brother, Lazarus, had died and Jesus brought him back to life! It was that simple. Mary’s gratitude was priceless because it came from the heart. Mary was not concerned about how much the perfume cost. She also knew that Jesus would not always be there.

Gratitude Gone Extravagant

Mary’s action of anointing and wiping Jesus’ feet in public was an offering of gratitude gone extravagant. Mary’s action was not planned and it was not calculated. Mary went “all out” and she was not concerned with cost, or how it would look to the neighbors. Her sacrificial example teaches us that we cannot fix a price on unconditional love.

I recently came across the quote that says: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.” (Jim Elliot) Mary gave up perfumed oil worth thousands of dollars. It might have been used for her own funeral. She knew, however, that she had gained something that no one could take away from her.

Mary’s Gift Was Prophetic

Mary’s extravagant and generous gift of anointing Jesus’ feet was also a prophetic act. What Mary did was to prepare Jesus for his burial, which was just around the corner. Mary was given the insight to see that Jesus would soon face his own death. He had been talking about his death a lot at this time, and the disciples weren’t plugged into what he was saying.

Pointing to the Washing of Feet

Mary washed Jesus’ feet. Soon Jesus would wash his disciples’ feet. Jesus lived a life in service to others. Mary had learned much from Jesus. Now, through her faith, she is being transformed to become like Him.

Somewhere along the line, Mary had gone around the corner, and moved from Seeker to a Disciple. A “disciple” is not used as in “one of the Twelve,” but as a committed believer and follower of Jesus as the Christ and as Lord.

Seekers of the Two Sermons

Mary knew that there was more to Jesus than meets the eye. Like the woman at the well, Mary knew what it was to be loved by Jesus, and to have her spiritual thirst quenched in a way no one else could.
And like the Roman official whose son was healed by Jesus, and who experienced a miracle in his life—Mary too, experienced a miracle first hand when she witnessed her brother raised from the dead by Jesus.
For someone who is seeking more out of life: to move from curiosity to hope, to a growing faith in Jesus Christ, they must turn the corner somewhere. Then their faith can just keep going and going, like the energizer bunny.

Three Elements in Making a Decision for Christ

Jim Peterson, author of the book “Living Proof,” states that there are three elements of our personalities that are involved in making a decision to become a Christian. The three elements are 1) The emotion, 2) The intellect, and 3) The will.
Peterson gives the example of a young man and young woman meeting for the first time. They are immediately attracted to one another and say to themselves: “Now there is someone I’d really like to to get to know and to date. I may even want to marry a person like that.” At that point, if the emotions had their way, there would be a wedding A.S.A.P.

But then the intellect intervenes, questioning the impulsive emotional response. The intellect begins to ask: Are we compatible in every needed area? Can we communicate and get along? He asks: What is she really like first thing in the morning? She asks: Will he be able to support a family? Both conclude it would be better to take some more time and answer a few questions before they proceed.

So, they begin spending more time with each other. He concludes that she is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside. She concludes that he can support a family emotionally, financially and spiritually. The intellect has sided with the emotions on the idea of marriage.
But the final and heaviest vote remains with that of the will. The tough questions are: “Am I willing to give up this lifestyle for another? Is my freedom worth the trade?” The marriage will occur only when the will finally agrees with the emotions and the intellect. [Jim Pete/son, LIVING PROOF (NavPress, 1989), Page 170.]
And so it is in coming to Christ. Turning the corner from being a seeker, who is interested in what Christ has to give, to becoming transformed into a disciple and a servant of Jesus Christ, the emotion, the intellect and the will must line up. Then we can stand convinced that it is not ourselves who own our lives—it is God who placed the very breath of life into us upon our birth.

The Fragrance Pouring Out into the Room

In his gospel, John inserted another little detail in recording the event— “The room was filled with the fragrance from the perfume.” The perfume’s fragrance filling and lingering in the house may symbolize the beauty and joy of our loving relationship with Christ that lingers and fills our lives. Life in Christ is not intended to be dull or boring. It is intended to be brim-full of meaning, joy, beauty, and relationship.

How Life’s Transformation Happens

A life transformation, from seeker to-disciple” cannot happen without spending time with Christ. Like Mary, we sit at his feet to listen and learn. Like Mary, we make sacrifices that come out of our gratitude. Like Mary, we make a lifetime commitment to the One who is the
resurrection and the life. Then we no longer wear the badge of seeker, but the identity of Christian. Amen!