Regional abundance and regional famine-7 years of plenty-Every year there is more and more. They have so much grain and food they quit counting. 7 years of famine-Joseph is about 40 yrs. old. Every year the famine gets worse and worse. Joseph opens up the storehouses. Now he is praised by the people as well.

1. A reversal of fortune! First, the brothers have power over Joseph and now Joseph has power over them. In Chapter 42:1 the famine has gotten so bad that Jacob tells his sons to go toEgypt (all the sheep and cattle are dead). The question should be asked: Has Jacob lost his faith in God? He knows nothing of God’s purpose in the famine. We have not heard about Jacob since chapter 37:34-35 where he is weeping over the loss of Joseph. It is now 20 yrs. later. God first took his son and now he hears that He has given the Egyptians corn and there is nothing for them. What kind of faith would you have if you were taught that God blesses His own (and Jacob had success) and now this?

Remember that Abraham and Issac also faced famine in Canaan. “famine” is mentioned 25 x in Genesis. Jacob still has money to buy food. Does this mean that Jacob didn’t trust God? No, he just uses common sense. Other than the manna in the wilderness, normally God uses human means (others) to fulfill our basic needs. Trusting God doesn’t mean idleness. Jacob said “We are starving so get up and get over toEgypt.” Do you realize the humility it takes to basically ask your enemy for help? Benjamin is now mentioned-youngest son of Rachael who died in childbirth. Jacob will not let him go to Egypt. Why? He believes he is the only son of Rachael left and the last time he sent his son out, he didn’t return.

2. A reversal of honor! v. 6, 9 The brothers bow down to Joseph (remember the dream over 20 years ago). Joseph appears like an Egyptian so they would not recognize him (shaved head). The test of Joseph-acting harshly, asking questions he already knew the answers to, accusing them of spying…etc. The brothers are still not completely honest. V. 10 is true but v. 11 is not. They say they are “honest men” but v. 13 reveals the truth. “one is no more.” – implying there was a misfortunate accident.

Adam and Eve-God says, “Where are you?” God knew where Adam was but still asked him to see his response. Notice that a reversal of honor doesn’t mean personal vengeance. Joseph could have exacted vengeance by 1) putting them all in jail 2) revealing himself to them. So why does Joseph do this to them?

1) to find out and see his father and his brother 2) to show his brothers God’s faithfulness. (They were not godly).

3. A reversal of punishment! v. 21 “we are being punished because of our brother.”

A. Guilt- There is something here we need to understand. After over 20 years, their sin and guilt still affects them. V. 22 – Rueben says: “I told you so” Although sin is against God, it is directly related to others. “What is this that God (not Joseph) had done to us?” v. 23 – Joseph wept.

B. Hostage-Simeon is held until they return with Benjamin.

God reverses the past-Joseph was thrown into a cistern and prison and now Simeon gets the same treatment. He chose Simeon (next oldest after Rueben who wasn’t really behind Joseph’s destruction) probably because he remembered him to have been his most bitter enemy and probably the least humbled.

C. The plan to guarantee their return – Joseph had gold put in their bags so they would have to return with Benjamin and the gold. They thought for sure Simeon would be killed.

D. Return to Canaan–Jacob is now in complete despair. Jacob says this is the second time I sent you out and you returned without your brother-now you want Benjamin. The truth is that Simeon was in the safest place of all (under the care of Joseph). God’s purpose for Joseph and us will be unfolded in stages over the course of our life.

Life Lessons

1. Trusting God means you know it is God who balances the injustices of your life.

2. Trusting God means you will be faithful to God through abundance and through famine.

3. Trusting God means that we show mercy to those who have treated us unjustly. Joseph opened the storehouse of food to all nations.

4. Trusting God means we don’t have all the answers.

 I.          MEDITATING ON THE WORD

1. Introduction
2. Path of the righteous – way of a blessed man – is the way of the man, who lives undefiled, a prosperous life in accordance with the Word of God.
   1. Read Psalm 1:1-3
   2. A child of God must not be influenced by unbelievers/wicked people but he/she must be influenced by his meditation in the Word of God. 
      1. Psalm 1:1
      2. If you want to live a blessed life, do not join the way of the wicked, don’t walk in it and do not sit among the wicked.
      3. You cannot be blessed if you do not meet the condition put in this verse. Many children of God do not know the way of the Word of God and that is why they often join the way of the majority – the way of wicked.
      4. What does it mean to “meditate in the Word of the Lord“?
         1. Psalm 1:2
         2. Meditation in the Word must be continuous and consistent. It should bring about great joy and delight. 
         3. Meditation/pondering/studying of the Word of God makes our root grow deep down until it reaches the living stream of the river of prosperity.  
            1. Psalm 1:3
            2. What is prosperity? What marks a blessed man?
            3. Everybody has a different season in a certain time. Every blessed man bears fruit in his time.
            4. Even though the blessed man waits for the manifestation of his blessings, his praise never withers or fades. He keeps on praising God.
            5. Read Psalm 92:13-16 and Joshua 1:6-9

 II.        RESTORING THE ALTAR = REVIVING PERSONAL PRAYER LIFE = GETTING BACK ON TRACK

1 Kings 18:30-40, 44-46       

1. Introduction
2. Elijah lived and ministered in the time when Israel was ruled by a wicked king, Ahab, who was controlled and manipulated by his wife, Queen Jezebel. Idolatry was wide spread in Israel; the Israelites served Baal and demonic deities.
   1. Elijah repairs a broken altar
   2. What did Elijah use to repair the altar?
   3. An altar was a place of sacrifice, prayer and worship of the living God. Today though it is not a place or a structure, it is A PERSONAL DEVOTED PRAYER LIFE
   4. Occasions when somebody built an altar: Genesis 8:20, 12:7, 26:23-25, 33:19-20
      1. What happened after Elijah had repaired the altar, sacrificed and prayed to the LORD?
      2. Fire of God fell from Heaven and consumed the sacrifice
      3. People turned from false gods
      4. Prophets of Baal were killed
      5. Season of drought ended by abundant rain
      6. Power of God fell upon Elijah
         1. Remember
         2. The fire of God will fall upon our lives as soon as we renew our personal, devoted prayer life.
         3. Every altar is endangered by idolatry. Nothing and nobody in our lives must have priority before God. Never allow anything to stop your personal prayer life. 
         4. Repair your altar and expect a mighty outpouring of the fire of God and rain of abundant blessings into your life.

God remembered Joseph. The butler and baker were officers of importance in ancient Egypt. The butler and the baker were not spared punishment by Pharoah. They sinned against Pharoah. In a palace one day, a prison the next. Joseph is now thrown in a prison for a false accusation. 40:15 I was forcibly carried off…do not deserve it. Don’t you think he thought, “I have been thrown in a cistern in Canaan and now thrown into a prison in Egypt.” Joseph knew God was with him in Canaan, Egypt and now in prison.

THE DREAMS

The subject of the dreams is a little strange but they deeply troubled the baker and the butler. In verse 6, Joseph saw they were dejected. There would be no interpreter of dreams in the prison. Joseph could have been so consumed with his own problems, but he notices them.

1) He knew that these dreams were from God

2) He knew that all interpretation of dreams belong to God v. 8-praise to God

3) He knew that there was a purpose in these dreams.

4) He knew that these dreams could be the key to his deliverance. “Remember me and get me out” v. 14

5) He told the whole truth (real prophets tell the good and the bad). One gets out and the other get hung.

Joseph thought for sure this was the answer for him also. But the cupbearerer (butler) forgot-v. 23. Don’t put all your trust in man. Paul used the Roman system to get him out of a mess (Roman citizen-carta d’identita’). It didn’t work for Joseph.

THE DELAY

Two years passed-We don’t read that he complained. Joseph just wanted out of prison, God wanted him in the palace. Delays are for greater purposes-Psalm 105:19. Do we like waiting? Waiting (Hab 2:3). Those that patiently wait for God shall be paid with not only principal but interest, Lam 3:26.

THE DELIVERANCE

The dreams of Pharoah-cows and ears of corn-the weak devouring the strong

1. Advise was to prepare for the good years and the bad years.

2. Appoint someone to administer this.

The ungodly Pharoah gives Joseph

1. an honorable testimony. v. 38-39: He is a man in whom the Spirit of God is; and this puts a great excellency upon any man; such men ought to be valued-v. 38. He is prudent: There is none so discreet and wise as thou art, v. 39. Ps 37:6.

2. an honorable office. Not only was he employed to buy up corn, but made him prime-minister. v.40, 41-44 Joseph had enemies, no doubt, archers that shot at him, and hated him (Gen 49:23)

3. an honorable respect-the king’s favorite. He gave him his own ring, as a ratification of his commission, showing his favor. He gave him fine clothes (instead of his prison ones). He gave him the privilege to ride second in command in the chariot and ordered honor to him: “Make way.” He gave him a new name-Zaphnath paaneah-a revealer of secrets. He gave him in marriage to his daughter.

Life Lessons

1. God’s purpose for us is bigger than just one part of our life.
2. God’s plan for us is that we do not lose hope when our dreams seem to fade.
3. God’s promise to you is that He never forgets.

 There are four stages in the life of Joseph in Genesis 39.

1. The Lord was with Joseph as a slave-v. 1

The market place of most slaves meant death from working the fields but Joseph ended up in the house of Potiphar. Isaiah 43:2 states “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. When you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” The question is not that I doubt that God is with me. The question is why do I go through waters, rivers and fire.

Remember 4 factors when you face tough times.

1. God’s heart is never against us.
2. There will be rough waters in our lives.
3. Our experiences bring His glory in our lives
4. You will pass through it

2. The Lord was with Joseph as a steward-v. 2-6a

He is the chief steward in the house. “When his master (pagan) saw…” Joseph had everything he could ever want. He was a gifted administrator (Rom 12). He was not really a preacher from what we know from the Scripture. V. 6 sums up what God did through Joseph. All Potiphar concerned himself with was the food he ate.

3. The Lord was with Joseph in temptation-v. 6b-19

Each stage in Joseph’s life gets him into worse trouble. During this time, the culture of the Egyptian womhas and men were very promiscuous. This was common. Joseph is single, lonely, forsaken, has natural desire and  could be on a cover of a magazine. He could have secretly sinned. Don’t minimize the temptation here. He was tempted but v. 9 ‘ How could…”

What do you do when temptation comes your way?

1) Refuse immediately v. 8

2) Reject the excuses v. 9

3) Remember God v. 9b

4) Relocate away from the temptation v. 11 Potiphar’s wife probably trapped him

5) Run-v. 18 four times in the NT we are told to flee from the love of money, idolatry, evil desires, and immorality.

4. The Lord was with Joseph as a prisoner-v. 20-23

Like previously with his brothers, he is involved in a trouble where he is innocent. He had every reason to say that every time I do the right thing, it goes bad. Notice even in the loss, he is put in the king’s prison. Any other prison would mean certain death.

Life Lessons

1. Life’s disappointments are many times God’s appointments.

2. Life’s appointments doesn’t mean that you escape trouble.

3. Life’s disappointments doesn’t mean that the Lord is not with you.

      Mephiboshet is typical of a man who became damaged and discouraged in life but was restored. He lived in a city called Lodebar (pasture-less). He was born royalty but one day was dropped by his nurse and consequently became damaged, crippled and discouraged in life. Perhaps you are living in a barren and hopeless situation without God. It could be that you have been dropped by friends, disappointed in marriage or business. People may have damaged your reputation through gossip. Maybe you have been damaged in some areas of your life through a sinful lifestyle and wrong decisions. As a potter, God knows how to bring back every damaged and broken piece of your life (verses 5-9). Mephiboshet was damaged and crippled in life but he received an invitation that restored his “self-assumed damaged life.” It was an unexpected invitation from the king, which gave hope to a man who classified himself as a “dead dog.”

      The Bible also chronicles lots of people that felt discouraged and damaged in life but God restored them to honor and dignity. Joseph thought that his big dream had been damaged when his own brothers dropped him inside a well and later sold him into slavery in Egypt. But God supernaturally restored him to his dream (Gen. 37). David one day lost all he had labored to acquire in life but God supernaturally restored all (I Sam 30:3-6, 18-20). The woman with the issue of blood and the crippled man at the beautiful gate all considered their lives damaged but God supernaturally restored them (Mark 5:25-29, Acts 3:1-7). The message today is that God will replace every damaged issue in your life. All you need is to maintain a spiritual discipline by praying and obeying the Word and being in earnest expectation of His supernatural intervention.

      Do you feel that your dream is damaged and shattered? Do you feel that God is too far and no more interested in you because of your past life? Have your friends dropped you? The good news today is that God wants to restore you to honor and dignity (Isa. 1:18-19; Matt. 11:28).

a.  obedient when he knew his brothers hated him

b.  kindness to his brethren. Though he knew they hated him and envied him, yet he went to see if his brothers were well. Do you love those that hate you? Shechem is about 60 kilometers. There were previously fights with Shechemites. But then goes to Dothan (another 15 kilometers); he could have returned but out of love, he goes.

2. The Crime of His Brothers v. 18-24

a.  premeditated sin

b.  they sinned against Joseph and Jacob

c.  Only Rueben and Judah have a conscious (although not much of one)

3. The Conspiracy of Their Sin. v. 25-28

a. 10 against 1

b. They were away from home

c. They saw him afar off, they conspired. They had their chance. v.20 “kill him and throw him in a cistern and say wild animals devoured him.” Nothing less than murder would satisfy them (1 John 3:15) It is bad to do evil, but worse to plan it (Prov 29:10).

d.  Reuben comes to his rescue. Rueben had more reason to be jealous of Joseph, because he was the first-born, and was entitled to favors which Jacob was conferring on Joseph.

e.   After the sin, they sat down to eat a meal (v. 25). How heartless! The cistern was used by shepherds to supply water for their flocks in the dry season. A stone covered it. Joseph was left to die.

f.   They realize that it would be better to sell him than to leave him to die. Why? Because this would prove that the dreams of Joseph never happen if he was a slave

4. The Cover-up of their Sin v. 29-33

a. The lie (told by all the brothers) Joseph was torn in pieces by a wild beast.

b. The pretending to mourn (v. 35) He that covers his sin shall not prosper long (Prov. 28:13)

The Bible speaks of two main types of sin.

1. Someone who falls into temptation and sins

2. Someone who intentionally sins (this episode is a story of intentional sin)

Lessons for Life

1. Intentional sin leads to more sin.

2. Intentional sin rejects repentance.

3. Intentional sin ignores the conscience.

4. Intentional sin hides other sins.

5. Intentional sin fakes a spiritual life.

1 John 1:8-10 “If”, “If”, “If”

1. The Commitment of Joseph

Joseph (17 yr.old) was a shepherd working with Bilhah and Zilpah. He reported as a faithful steward (not gossip). We don’t know what they did. The same word is used in 1 Samuel 2:24 when Eli hears a bad report of his sons. What do we do when we see and hear about sins in other people? The answer lies is the way we respond. What did Joseph do? He went to his father. He probably warned them but the Bible doesn’t say that.

 2. The Care of Joseph

Jacob did love all his children. In his blessing in Gen. 49, he blessed them all and gives Judah the Messiah’s line. He is hated by his brothers. They could not speak a kind word (Heb. peaceable). Translation- they shouted at him. His father made things worse. His expensive coat was the final act. Patched colors sown together of expensive materials on a robe. The real reason they hated Joseph is because he would not join them in their sins. He was tender and obedient. His brothers would not go with him so Bilhah and Zilpah went and Joseph saw their bad report (ra- evil). Believers and the world – the world may antagonize and hate us.

 3. The Coat of Joseph

When parents make a difference in their children, the children soon take notice. Sibling rivalry happens. Was God intervening here as an answer to the brothers hatred? God gave Joseph dreams and interpretations. He tries to reach out to his brothers by telling them a dream. Was Joseph trying to get even with them? They would not speak to him so he went to them. He could have kept the dreams to himself. Joseph dreamed of his honor, but he did not dream of his imprisonment. The brothers with their hatred could not see anything in the dreams but his own ambition and pride. Even the father was grieved by the second dream.

3 major causes of jealousy or envy

1. Possessions. Joseph was envied because his father favoured him. Asaph was “envious at the foolish,” when he “saw the prosperity of the wicked” (Ps 73:3). David says it in Ps 37:1-7.

2. Plans. Joseph was envied because of the destiny foretold by his dreams. They resent his presuming to have his plan higher than theirs. The happiness of other men is poison to the envious man.

3. Piety. Joseph was envied because he stayed away from his brothers’ sins. It is not so now? Mark 15:10 Envy torments and destroys one’s self and will grow in intensity. Joseph’s brethren hatred grew more and more. 1 Peter 2:1, Proverbs 27:4.

4. The Commission of Joseph was faithful to his calling

In Joseph we see a combination of grace and power. In David we find a similar grace of character, and a similar personal superiority. David played music and Joseph dreamed dreams. Joseph is more self-controlled than David with his personal purity. In Daniel we see his equal ability to Joseph’s in dealing with foreigners and his gift of a dreams and visions. Joseph had a strenth of power which enabled him to be trusting and faithful in difficult circumstances. Daniel would certainly have borne manfully but probably in a sterner and more passive mode. Joseph inherited Abraham’s dignity and capacity, Isaac’s purity and power of self-devotion, Jacob’s cleverness and tenacity.

Lessons

1. Regardless of how you feel you have been treated, you are loved by God and He has no favorites.
2. A jealousy believer looks only to what he/she doesn’t have and not to what God has for them.
3. Jealousy leads to broken relationships and ultimately hatred.

        In the broad sense of the word, we are the church. It is not centered in any one place, but made up of people from all nations, tribes, people and language. Gr.“ekklesia” combines two words – ek= out & klesia = from the verb “to call” Therefore, the church is a group of people that are called out from the population. Referring to the OT, Stephen in the Book of Acts, describes Moses in Acts 7:38 as being in the church.

2 views of the church from Greek Christians and Jewish Christians.

1. Greeks looked at it as self-governing Christian society

2. Jewish Christians thought of it as a theocratic society loyal to their King Jesus.

In A cts, the church is employed in two distinct senses (in a local sense and also in the universal sense). Biblically, there is always a universal church worldwide but equally there is to be multiple local expressions of the church in the same city. Rome had many house churches by 60 A.D.

The Scriptures teaches that in the Church universal and local, there is 1 purpose expressed by 3 functions.

The Church as the Eternal Purpose of God.

a. Eph 3:9

b. Eph. 3:10 -11 manifold is a compound word “much+various in character”

c. Eph. 3:12 Purpose is God’s wisdom (manifold wisdom to all) creating God’s people (relationship). The holy angels, who look into the mystery of our redemption by Christ, could not participate in this mystery. The Eternal Purpose of God for the Church is expressed by 3 functions explained in metaphors. They have their origin in the OT.

1. The Church as the Body of Christ.

1 Cor 12:12-13, 1 Cor 12:27

If the church functions as the body of Christ, it receives from Christ 2 vital functions.

a. source of strength

b. power for service

2. The Church as the Family of God.

Jesus Christ is the head of the family.

Eph 2:19

If the church functions as a family, then we are the bride and Christ is the bridegroom. Healthy families require 2 things.

a. Love

Eph 4:15-16

Do families act unkindly to each other? Do families show favorites? Do families fight? Sometimes they do.

b. Commitment

Gal 6:10

God will provide the opportunities, we provide the commitment. Healthy families care for one another. Ask yourself, “What would the church be like if everyone was just like me” John 13:34 “as” means “to the degree that”

3. The Church as the temple of God.

a. Worship

The church worship service is not the church. It is an expression of the church.

2 Cor 3:18 .

The Israelites saw the glory of God in a cloud, which was dark and mysterious. The temple of God, the church, sees the glory of the Lord as in a glass that is becoming more and more clear. Moses spoke with God face to face but now all true Christians see Him more clearly with open face His glory. Paul is saying the more you gaze into His glory, the more of His glory reflects back on you.

b. Build on the foundation

Eph. 2:20

One Purpose – to express the manifold glory of God by showing the world that Christians are:

1) a body 2) a family and 3) a temple for His glory.

1. The believer’s life is in made in the true vine.

   a. Notice the allusion to the “I am” in Scripture (with Moses Ex. 3:14 “I AM”and Ex 6:2 “I am the Lord”, John 6:48 “I am the bread of life.” John 9:5 “I am the light of the world”, John 10:9,11 “I am the gate and the good shepherd”, John14:6 “I am the way, the truth and the life”, John 15:1 “I am the vine”.

   b. The truth is every branch is cut. For the branch that has no fruit, he cuts it off completely. For the branch that has fruit, he still cuts it in order to make it more productive. Psalm 80:8-19 tells us that Israel was supposed to be the fruitful to the world.

   c. Jesus says you are already clean v. 3 (essentially, you are ready to produce fruit.) It is easy to get dirty.

2. The believer’s life is maintained by the true vine.

Where there is life in the vine, the Father will provide everything necessary for growth (including pruning). v. 4 “no branch can bear fruit by itself”. Pruning is never comfortable in the present. Its effect is seen later. Maybe you feel the sharp cut in your life now but you will be thankful for God’s great plan of maintenance. Can you imagine what man would be like if there was no suffering? His pride would so great that he would think he was invincible. The story of the tower of Babel is a story of man’s pride growing to a point as to reach the heavens. “Pruning” is a word also translated cleaning (katharizo). Without the pruning, a tree is apt to go all to wood. This happens when the sap of the tree goes exclusively to the formation and growth of fresh branches, and none of it to the production of fruit. Pruning prevents this by cutting their useless purpose. Then all the strength of the tree goes toward healthy branches that produce fruit.

What causes the branch to be unfruitful?

Mark 4:19 answers this from another parable. “And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.” “Choke” means smothering. We should not fear the devil but we should not underestimate his plans. Malcolm Muggeridge said, “If the devil can’t get you to convert, then he will try to get you to divert.” Notice also the phrase, “apart from me you can do nothing.” There are a lot of things you could do without the Lord but they would not be fruitful to your heavenly Father.

3. The believer’s life is marked with the true vine.

Notice how many times the words ”bear fruit” occur-6 times. 3 marks of a believer’s life are mentioned in this metaphor.

1. bear fruit v. 2 and 4

2. bear more fruit v. 2

3. bear much fruit v. 5 and 8

4. The believer’s life is modeled in the true vine.

How is this accomplished? v. 7 “If you remain… v. 10 “ If you obey my commands, …” It is impossible to remain in the life of God without a continuing obedience. v. 6 Who is on the mind of Jesus and the disciples when Jesus is speaking these words? “If anyone does not remain in me…”? Judas Iscariot has just left the Passover and gone to betray Jesus. After being with Jesus for 3 years, he leaves.

Lessons for the Branches

1. All believers will be shaped in order to be more fruitful. v. 2

2. All believers can be cut down if they have no fruit. v. 2

3. All believers have the choice to remain or not remain. v. 6-10

4. All believers that obey are promised the true joy of being in the vine. v. 11

1. THE PEOPLE OF THESE STORIES

One is about wanting to sacrifice Jesus and the other is a sacrifice to Jesus.

One is about betrayal of Jesus and the other is about honor and worship to Jesus.

One shows a group of seeming importance and the other is a woman of seemingly no social significance.

One is about deception and the other is about devotion. v. 2 “some sly way” gr. means “make a decoy or trick”

The events took place in the home of Simon the leper who was apparently healed by Jesus. Lepers were separated from the population. Simon’s reputation was well known. Also, Bethany is the place where Lazarus was raised from the dead. Jesus was well received there. Note v. 2 “not during the Feast,” they said, “or the people will riot.” While the men were eating, women were not to join them. There were more than Judas that were offended by this. Firstly, by her interruption, and secondly, by her actions. v. 4, 5b “rebuked her harshly” – gr. snort with anger, blamed her.

 2. THE POSITION OF THESE STORIES

Chief priest and teachers-the Feast of the Passover was their big event of the year. They wanted to look good. Look at Mark 15:10 to see the real reason behind their actions.“knowing it was out of envy that the chief priest…” During the Passover time, the numbers arriving at Jerusalem and surrounding villages were about 200,000 people. The woman (not named) had an alabaster jar (nard from an Indian plant-a jar costs more than 1 year’s salary). Jesus answers them by saying, in essence, in gr. “the trouble she has done in labor to do this is a good thing.” We are not told where she obtained this. She may have sold herself in labor until it was paid off. She breaks the seal and pours it on the head of Jesus.

1. The principle here is not the amount. The principle is that she gave all that she had.

2. The principle is not the perfume. The principle is her experience with Jesus caused this outpouring of love.

It is not the amount that God sees but the sacrifice. Remember the widow in 12:41-44 who had only a fraction of a penny. Verse 44-“They gave out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty, put in everything in all she had to live on.” If this was Mary, the sister of Martha, then her brother was just raised from the dead a few days ago.

 3. THE PURPOSE OF THE STORIES

The chief priest and teachers wanted to kill. Ironic in that this is the Passover time when God saved the killing of people. It was a time of victory and not a time to kill. The woman had one thing in mind-the anointing of Jesus for burial. How did she know this and nobody else did? Because she listened to Jesus. If this was Mary, then she was the one who listened to Jesus while Martha served. She probably prepared her brother, Lazarus, when he died so Jesus now, without family, needed to be honored. In this story, she is the true disciple that emerges when the rest of the disciples are worried about the future.

 4. THE PRODUCT OF THE STORIES

a. the chief priests and teachers were glad for the betrayal-v. 11.

b. the memory of her sacrifice continues even today-v.9.

Discipleship lessons

1. Being a true disciple means that your sacrifice in serving Jesus is never wasted when given for the Lord.
2. Being a true disciple means that your sacrifice for Jesus is never forgotten by God.
3. Being a true disciple means that your sacrifice for Jesus is never to be done for self importance.