John 12 - 212 Degrees

This past Sunday I ministered from John 12. The first few verses about Mary anointing Jesus for His burial. There is says “Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” John 12:3 (NIV)

I shared with everyone that 212 degrees is the point where water boils. When water boils, there is steam and steam can move locomotives, generate electricity and so much more. Many people are at 211 degrees in their life. They haven't reached that place where God changes them as liquid turns into steam. Mary was one of those people who applied a few degrees and it changed the rest of her life.

Can you imagine, everywhere she went someone would ask, "Are you the Mary who anointed Jesus before He was crucified?" She would have to answer, yes - and with that a witness of Jesus would be established.

What I also note about this chapter is something else that we need to understand. For even Mary, who anointed Jesus' head and feet would have met people who still wouldn't believe. In verse 37 "Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him."

There are people who are going to have spiritual conversations with you, who are going to hear your story how Jesus has changed your life, who are going to come to church, who are not going to believe. They will come and they will go. No matter what you say or do, they will not get it. What would I say that? Because there were people who didn't believe in Jesus and He was standing right there in front of them raising the dead - and they still didn't believe. Jesus hasn't given up on them, neither should we.

My Prayer Today: Jesus, help me to raise the temperature of my life to 212 degrees. Change me, mold me and make me into Your will, the image of You! Help me Lord to pray that the god of this world will take the blinders off of those around me and that they may see You for who You are. Help us Lord Jesus to never give up on them, but also help us not to be consumed with their rejection of You. Help me not to take it personally, but don't let me become calloused to their lack of faith. In Jesus Name I pray - Amen.

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