Following Jesus: Giving Our All

As John 12 begins, Jesus is sharing a meal with some of the people closest to Him just days before His death. Around the table are people whose lives have been profoundly touched by Jesus: Simon, who had been healed; Lazarus, who had been raised from the dead; Martha, who was serving; the disciples; and Mary, whose gratitude and devotion overflowed in an extravagant act of worship. She poured expensive perfume, worth roughly a year's wages, on Jesus, holding nothing back.

Through Mary's response, Sebastiano gave us three words for thinking about our own relationship with Jesus: Observe. Embrace. Become. We can know about Jesus, we can personally embrace His grace and salvation, but Jesus ultimately invites us to become more like Him - to allow what has moved from our head to our heart to become visible through our hands and lives.

Group Discussion Questions:

1. What is the difference between knowing a lot about Jesus and actually knowing Jesus, and how can we recognize when our faith has become more about information than relationship?

2. As you consider the people gathered around the table in John 12, each had a story of what Jesus had done. What has Jesus done in your life that you don't want to take for granted?

3. Mary's love for Jesus became visible through what she did. If someone watched the way you live, and not simply what you say you believe, where would they see evidence that Jesus is changing you?

4. Where might the Holy Spirit be inviting you to move from good intentions to concrete action?