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Sunday, April 6, God moves us to empty ourselves. The sermon text from John 12:1-8 has a certain aroma therapy about it. Mary takes a pound of essence of nard, it cost a year's wages, and pours it on Jesus feet. The smell of the expensive perfume filled the room everyone could smell it. The smell carried memories, and thoughts of dollar signs around the table. Judas objects to this act, and insists that it should have been sold and the money given to the poor. Jesus, rebukes Judas and tells him Mary had been saving this in preparation for his burial.

Mary's act is an act of sacrifice. She takes the best most expensive thing in the house and pours it on the feet of Jesus. The smell of nard is the smell of sacrifice. Sunday God moves us to empty ourselves, and lay our best at his feet. As I reflect on this passage, the words from Romans 12:1 come to mind. "And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice- the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him." Join us Sunday at 11:00 to learn more.