No Holding Back

COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

SERMON NOTES FROM SUNDAY 14 SEPTEMBER 2025 - PASTOR HENRY CASKEY

JOHN 12 VERSES 1 TO 8

What a wonderful scene before us in these verses. What was so special about this house in Bethany? We can see all the names of the people present - Simon, Martha, Mary, Lazarus. They were all there. There was nothing outstanding about this home. There was nothing architecturally amazing or wonderful but there was something that made it stand out from all the others - Jesus was there. Isn't it wonderful to have that presence, to know he is here in our midst today. In Revelation 3 the Laodicean church as far as they were concerned stood in need of nothing. They were rich and increased in goods. They had everything they ever wanted. A booming congregation, a good financial bank account, probably the best preachers speaking every Lord's day but there was one difference - Christ was on the outside. "Where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst." (Matthew 18 verse 20) Imagine the privilege of having Jesus in our very midst today. 

An occasion that is priceless.  The Lord Jesus is standing in their midst. Simon's home was opened up. Christ is in the house. It is important to realise that Jesus is already here to meet with us. Maybe this morning you are like the church of Laodicea. You love to come to the house of God, to sing and gather around the word of God. As far as you are concerned though Jesus is on the outside of your life. You have never come to the cross of Calvary, bowed your knee. You have seen Calvary in your minds eye and the preacher has brought you there time and time again. You have seen Jesus bleeding and suffering. You have heard his words as he cried out but you have never trusted Christ as your own and personal Saviour. He knocks at your heart's door again today "Behold I stand at the door and knock." He is giving you another opportunity today to trust him as your own and personal Saviour, to trust him. It was an occasion that was priceless. Imagine Simon opening up the door and he came in. Martha is in the kitchen preparing the meal. Mary is waiting to hear him speak. Lazarus is also there, he had been raised from the dead - what an occasion that had been. Jesus was in the very midst of everyone. Imagine if we got some invitation to go to the palace - we would start to think about what to wear and what to say if the king comes to talk to us. Was the church service on your mind last night? Did you prepare your heart to come into God's house today? In verse 9 we read that this was an opportunity missed. The Jews knew Jesus was there. They came to this little house, to the place where Jesus was but not for Jesus. It was only to see Lazarus who they had seen raised from the dead. People came not for Jesus but to see Lazarus. People will drive for miles to hear a preacher but they miss the Lord. They forget about his presence being in their midst. Do you realise today that the Lord is in this house? The Lord is wanting to meet with you today. Remember Herod when the Lord was brought before him in the Seat of Judgment. Herod was glad to see Jesus, not to look on him as the Son of God, the one who came into the world to seek and to save that which was lost. He had heard so much about Jesus, heard of those who were lame made to walk again, the blind to see. Now Jesus was in his midst all he wanted was to see a miracle done by this man. He didn't want to know anything about having his sins forgiven. He just wanted a little bit of entertainment. Some people get caught up in the atmosphere of a meeting, of a group singing and they miss the presence of God. Remember Thomas - he missed meeting Jesus after he had arose from the dead. The disciples were all gathered together behind closed doors but Thomas was not there. It doesn't say why Thomas wasn't there. Maybe he was discouraged, that sometimes happens. Maybe Thomas was doubting - Peter had walked away from the Lord and followed afar off. Thomas made amends and made sure that he was there for the next occasion on the following week. Maybe you will miss tonight's meeting. You will miss God's presence if you do. Remember the 2 on the road to Emmaeus. They were going to their own village. Their heads were down. They were talking about all that had happened when the Lord drew near and walked with them. They were so caught up in what was happening they missed the occasion of the Lord drawing beside them. That can happen. We come into the Lord's house on the Sabbath and a thousand things are going through our minds. The things we have done in the past week and the things we should have done. There are many things going through our minds and we miss the presence of the Lord. Priscilla and Aquilla listened to Apollos preach one day. They knew he hadn't fully got the gospel message so they took him to one side and taught him fully the things of God. The people of Berea listened to Paul preaching. They went home and searched the scriptures for themselves to see if what they had heard was true. God is here today - don't miss the precious occasion that it is.

An opportunity that was posed. It posed an opportunity to serve. God is asking us today to step out for service. Simon opened the door of his house and allowed the Lord to step in. He gave his home over to the Lord. That is how he would serve. Remember when God wanted to preach to the crowds on the seashore he stepped into the boat. He used what Peter had. He asked to move out a little further. Martha was in the kitchen doing something insignificant but she was doing it for the Lord. I wonder - is there something insignificant you feel you could be doing? Something that does not seem worthwhile but it is something for the Lord. Lazarus was sitting there at the table. He came from death to life. A life changed. He was now living for the Lord. Imagine having that in your area, in your home town, in the church - people see it and come to see it. Mary had an alabaster box. The cost would have been equivalent to a full years wages. She had stored it away, keeping it safe and out of reach of everyone in case anything would happen to it. It was very precious to her. She seized the opportunity and decided to give it to the Lord. As we come to the house of God today, as the Lord speaks today, maybe he puts his finger on something in your life - are you prepared to hand that over to him? We come along and enjoy the presence of God in our meeting but somehow we never leave ourselves at his feet. We rise up and go out the same way we came in. In Isaiah 6 the prophet comes into the house of God. He experiences something he had never experiences before. He sees the Lord high and lifted up. He sees the glory that filled the temple. He saw his majesty, his power, his holiness. He saw the seraphims who cried "holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts and the whole earth is full of his glory." God puts his finger on our lives and asks us "who shall I send, who will go for me?" Isaiah had no problem saying "here am I Lord send me." As God speaks and challenges us do you see your Saviour? Do you see what he has done for you today? As he was taken into the Judgment Hall before Pilate, as he was bashed and beaten, the very hairs of his face plucked out, as he was spat upon him, as he was dressed in a purple robe and taken out to walk through the streets of Jerusalem carrying the weight of the whole world on his shoulders. As he is lifted upon the cross and very joint was pulled asunder. He was bleeding and dying for you today. Now what will you do for him? There is a world of lost people out there. Will you go? Will you reach someone today? What a challenge this morning. Have our eyes been opened as we look on him today? Maybe we could be like the 7 young men in Acts. They stepped forward to help, leaving the disciples time to preach and pray. Maybe the Lord is asking you to take a step forward today.

The offering that was presented. Mary's ointment was precious perfume. She had the opportunity to serve the king of kings. Mary steps out to open this box. It was only as she broke the box that the smell was released. She poured it over Jesus' feet. She didn't open the jar very carefully but gave everything there was in this box. Everyone in that room was affected by the perfume. Imagine the fragrance of it filling the room. Everyone would have had the experience of it. Maybe if you were to step forward for Christ it might affect others. Maybe in your own homes, in the work place around you or even in the church. Will you step out for the Lord today? The widow woman in the scriptures went into the treasury one day. everyone was stepping forward and putting in money. They were giving of their own abundance. The Lord turns their eyes to this one widow woman who put in 2 mites. The Lord told his disciples that she had given more than anyone else. She gave her all, everything she had. In Acts 5 we read of Ananias and Sapphira who sold a possession. People in the church at this stage were selling what they had and bringing the money from the proceeds to the apostles. Ananias and Sapphira owned some land. They thought they would get some publicity if they sold it and brought the money to the disciples. They kept back part of what they made. That was a sin. What are you holding back today? Are we giving the Lord the best of our talents? Our time? Our finances? What are we holding back?

The opposition that is revealed. When Mary brought this box of ointment Judas stepped forward in verse 5. "Why was this ointment not sold for 300 pence and given to the poor?" The moment you step out for the Lord there will be opposition. You might be laughed at or criticised, maybe even mocked. We need to be ready to step out today. Judas cared not for the poor because he was a thief. When David stepped up before Goliath his brothers criticised and ridiculed him.

The object that was precious - verse 7. "Jesus said let her alone against the day of my burying has she kept this." She has done this for me. Her service was for the Lord and no-one else. The Lord was on his way to the cross. Mary had to be quick. The opportunity would soon be gone. Maybe the Lord gives you an opportunity. Mary didn't care what others thought. She used her hair to dry Jesus' feet. She was doing it for the Lord and his glory. What about us? Are we doing things for our own glory or for the Lord's honour? Are we ready to say "thank you God for this opportunity, I am offering myself to you today?"