NEWS & THOUGHTS ARCHIVE

How Will You Be Remembered? 

Evangelist Dr. Bob Sanders
July 1, 2007

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For several days I have been meditating on John 12. There are several tremendous truths found in this passage. One such truth is that people are remembered for what they do. We will not be remembered for the things that we wanted to do or the dreams we envisioned, but for our daily accomplishments or failures. If you are interested in determining what you will be remembered for just do an honest evaluation of your life. Determine what occupies the majority of your time, talents, and energy. Now pull away all the cloaks of camouflage and boil away all the superficial liquids. Bring it down to a single phrase or word and that is what you will mostly be remembered for. There are three people in this account that reveal this truth. 

The Denial of Judas
Did he not see the many miracles of Christ? Was he not one of the disciples that helped to disperse the bread and fish at the feeding of the five thousand? Was he not an intimate companion with the Lord for over three years? While all this is true, the thing that dominated the life of Judas was lucre. In a very short period of time, Jesus would complete His earthly ministry and offer Himself for the sins of the world. For three years Judas had been part of the Twelve. During that time Judas was preoccupied with money and not the Master. Verse 6 of our text gives great insight into this truth. “This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.” John 12:6 Have you ever wondered why Judas was the treasurer, the man that controlled the finances for the Twelve? Most likely, he was not the most qualified! When Jesus called Matthew, he was seated at the receipt of customs (see Matthew 9:9). He was a man that managed money. Matthew worked with money every day. It was not Matthew that became the man with the bag, but Judas! While Matthew may have worked with money, Judas worshipped money. Judas built his entire life around acquiring the wealth of this world. When writing to young Timothy, Paul delivered this admonishment, “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (I Timothy 6:10). Judas rejected faith for finances! When giving the qualifications for the man of God, Paul said, “not greedy of filthy lucre” (I Timothy 3:3). If you find yourself ruled and dominated by the thoughts and pursuit of the material wealth of this world, most likely you will be remembered for your denial of the Lord. Jesus said, “And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:24). It is not the restrictions of salvation, but the resolve of the sinner that keeps them out of heaven. The love of money not only forfeits the soul of the sinner, but forfeits the service of the saints. Jesus said, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24). The link to lucre is denial! 

The Duty of Mary
Just six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany. While He was there a great supper was prepared for Him in the house of Simon the leper’s home (see Mark 14:3). Please note two things: the supper was not at the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. And while she did not host the meal, the Bible said, “and Martha served” (John 12:2). While Judas was consumed with lucre, Martha was ruled and dominated by labor. Other than the concern for the sickness of Lazarus, Martha is obsessed with the service of the Lord. One of the first times we meet Martha is in Luke 10:38, Jesus came to Bethany and Martha received Him into her home. Immediately she began the process of laboring! Finding the task large and void of any assistance, Martha complained to the Lord. Jesus revealed that the problem was not Martha’s act of labor, but rather her attitude toward labor was her problem. “And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42 An earlier verse says that she “was cumbered about much serving” (Luke 10:40). The word “cumbered” means to drag all around, to be distracted. Jesus said she was “troubled” which means to bother, to distract or to trouble. Martha became burdened and not blessed by her service. The key is in the phrase “much serving.” It was not the serving, but the much serving that had generated Martha’s problem. The word “much” means far passed, a great deal or plenteous. It was not the Saviour that preoccupied the heart of Martha, it was service. It was not money but the place money occupied that caused Judas trouble and it was not labor, but the place labor occupied that caused Martha trouble. Jesus said “But one thing is needful.” The word “needful” means to be demanded or requirement. The practice of labor is not a substitute for the passion of the Lord. The link to labor is duty! 

The Devotion of Mary
If there was one dominating trait in Mary’s life it was love. At every given opportunity, Mary was at the feet of Jesus. Love would cause her to sit in His presence, “And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word” (Luke 10:39). Love would cause her to sacrifice her possessions, “Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment” (John 12:3). Love would cause Mary to seek His person, “In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher” (Matthew 28:1). When speaking to Martha, Jesus said, “Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:42). The phrase “good part” is a reference to the finest cut of meat that would be set aside a dignitary or person of great importance. Mary had not chosen the good; she had chosen the very best, the most desirable. Perhaps it was not the most desirable to man, but it was to the Master. Is it not interesting that no one criticized Judas’ love for lucre or Martha’s love for labor, but Mary’s love for the Lord was an offense to all that were present? Only the Lord saw the worth of Mary’s passion and pursuit. The link to love is devotion! 

I do not know what Judas wanted to be remembered for, but he will always be remembered for his denial. Martha’s name will always be synonymous with duty. Wherever the name of Mary is mentioned, the thoughts of devotion will immediately surface. People are remembered for what they do. How will you be remembered? 

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