[0:00] As you read through these verses, verse 1 to 11, you find Jesus meeting with different people in many different situations, different kinds of people in different situations.
[0:12] And how many different kinds of attitudes do you see towards Jesus in these verses? As you read through them, you see people from different backgrounds, different ways of life, been following Jesus, some of them being in a good way, others have been antagonistic against him.
[0:33] You see a number of different attitudes among the people. And that's something that still exists to this day and always will. There's always differing attitudes towards Jesus.
[0:46] And we're going to just throw out some of the different attitudes that we see in these verses and think about them. But here as we're hearing about the holiday club, we're hearing that the number of children coming in, so many coming from different kinds of backgrounds, different homes, different families, even different faiths as we were hearing.
[1:07] And it's a blessing and a privilege to be able to share the gospel with them and realizing that there will be differing kinds of attitudes maybe towards what their background is, even what maybe their understanding at the moment is of Jesus.
[1:25] But what's been so encouraging is seeing them all together and their attitude being one of willingness, of being involved, engaging with it, enjoying it, and listening to what is being said, listening to the talks, listening to the dramas, listening to different leaders, sharing the gospel with them in different ways.
[1:47] And then taking that message from them. An invitation is going out with them in these days to a family service this coming Sunday morning.
[1:58] And our prayer is that as the word goes out and as it always goes out in different ways, that attitudes towards Jesus will change. We all have different attitudes in life.
[2:12] Some things we maybe have the same thoughts towards and other things we may differ. You think of foods and different kinds of foods that we have different attitudes towards.
[2:24] People often speak of Marmite and you either love it or you hate it. I guess the local equivalent of Marmite would be Guga. You either love it or you hate it, one or the other.
[2:37] And although there are areas in life where we may differ in our attitudes towards something, some things, there's one thing that will truly set us apart. And that is our attitude towards Jesus.
[2:53] And in these verses that we've read, if you're thinking of the kind of attitudes that you're seeing towards Jesus, they probably weigh heavy towards a negative attitude towards Jesus.
[3:06] And it's not just among those who we would not be surprised that that's their attitude, those who are already antagonistic towards Jesus. But you see it even among those who are with Jesus and following Jesus and listening to Jesus.
[3:23] And there's a lesson in that for us. Always to be on our guard. Always to keep ourselves focused on Jesus and in a close relationship with him.
[3:35] But among these negative attitudes towards Jesus, there's one positive one that stands out in the midst of these verses. And that is an attitude of pure love towards Jesus.
[3:50] And that's what we see in verses 4 through to verse 9 there. When this woman comes with an alabaster flask, a flask of perfume and anoints Jesus with it.
[4:08] There was an attitude towards her that was very negative from the followers of Jesus. But Jesus himself says in verse 6, leave her alone.
[4:20] Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing for me. Then in verse 8, it goes on to say, she has done what she could.
[4:33] She has given everything for Jesus. And it follows on from chapter 12. At the end of chapter 12, where you have that short passage about the widow's offering.
[4:44] There were those who were rich who were giving us, in the eyes of many, what was generous. But Jesus saw it differently. In verse 44, it said, for they all contributed out of their abundance.
[4:58] But she, out of her poverty, has put in everything she had. All she had to live on. You see, her attitude there, the widow's offering.
[5:09] Her attitude was one of giving everything for Jesus. A love for Jesus. The same as this woman who anointed him with this perfume.
[5:20] And so we want to just think about these attitudes towards the Lord Jesus. And how we pray attitudes that are hard towards Jesus would change.
[5:32] When we think of what Jesus has done for us. When you hear a verse like this. Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
[5:46] Here we are in this passage, just days before Jesus' death. Before he gave his life as a ransom for many.
[5:59] What would you do if someone gave their life for you? It happens in everyday life where people put themselves before others in order to save them.
[6:10] Sometimes it's maybe going into the sea to rescue someone and they lose their life and so doing. It happens. And if it happens, you've always got a connection towards that person who has given their life for you.
[6:24] They've saved you. And you owe them so much. But do we realize what it is with Jesus? Who saved us from the consequence of sin.
[6:37] Who saved us so we might have an eternity with him. And what's our attitude when we hear that for ourselves?
[6:48] That's what we were looking at today in the holiday club. That Jesus gave his life on the cross. That these young souls, that their families, that all our communities would hear of his love for his people.
[7:03] That he gave his life. And that our attitudes would change or be changed towards him. So here are some of the attitudes that we see in this passage.
[7:15] There's three negative ones. Before we come to the attitude of this woman who poured out this ointment, this perfume. And the first is this. There's a hatred towards Jesus among some.
[7:28] You keep hearing in the gospel of Mark about the chief priests and the scribes. They were always around Jesus, wherever he was going.
[7:40] But it wasn't in a positive way. They were always trying to catch Jesus out. To get him to say something that they could hold him accountable to.
[7:50] Something that they could punish him for. They were trying to trap him. It's almost like you've got one final reminder here of just what kind of attitude they had towards Jesus.
[8:04] It was two days before the Passover. And the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And look at what it says of the chief priests and the scribes. They were seeking how to arrest him by stealth and kill him.
[8:18] It's no longer just trying to catch him out. They're looking for a way to kill him. To get rid of him. And why would they have this hatred?
[8:31] We'll ask ourselves today, why does the world hate Jesus so much? Why do we hear Jesus being ridiculed so much in our society?
[8:41] Why do we see such venom towards Jesus? Because people don't like one who would have authority over them in any way.
[8:52] Here, Jesus is a threat to the scribes and the Pharisees. To their way of life. To their lifestyles. Everything that they have in life is under threat because of Jesus.
[9:04] Jesus has exposed them. That hypocrisy. They've claimed to be spiritual and godly men. But Jesus has proved otherwise.
[9:16] He's shown that they're selfish out for themselves. For their own gain. They're nothing but religious phonies. Jesus made a fool of them in front of others.
[9:28] And they're not going to stand for this. This has been the last straw for them. Now they're just looking for a way to kill him. They're upset that Jesus is affecting their business.
[9:42] The religious leaders controlled the temple and everything that happened at the temple. The commerce. The buying and the selling. It was all in their hands. You remember on occasion Jesus went in and overturned the tables.
[9:56] They've turned it into a den of iniquity. He says. They've just brought everything into disrepute in the temple. Because they were charging a fee for the people to sell there.
[10:09] For the money changers to be in there. And if there was profit made. They would take a percentage of the sales. They were in it for the money. And Jesus is threatening all of that today.
[10:21] So they just want rid of him. If we ask ourselves today. Why do people hate Jesus? Because God's word.
[10:32] His law. Is a threat to them. It's not something. That's more precious than gold. As the psalmist describes. It's something they just want to get rid of. Because the Bible.
[10:43] The word of God. Tells us to do things differently. So often to what we would want to do. Of ourselves. The Bible says. The Lord's Day Sunday is a day of rest and worship.
[10:55] Well that spoils our weekend plans. If we see. In the Bible. It tells us to love our enemies. And to forgive. Those who have done wrong against us.
[11:06] It goes against what we want for them. Naturally in our heart. We just want people punished. Who have hurt us. If the Bible tells us. To give to the Lord's cause.
[11:17] We say. Well. How dare they? It's my money. I can do as I please with it. When the Bible tells us. That certain things. Or certain lifestyles. Are wrong.
[11:28] But we enjoy them. We get upset. Because that's the way we want to live. We're not going to listen. To the word of God. And so. There is this hatred.
[11:38] That arises towards Jesus. Jesus interferes. Jesus interferes. With our lives. So much. That we just want. Rid.
[11:49] Of. The scribes. And the Pharisees. Even though they've heard. And seen. The good things. That Jesus was doing. They've heard.
[11:59] His teaching. Towards them. No. They want. Rid. Of. Him. And so that's the kind of attitudes. That we see to this day. This well attitudes.
[12:11] All around us here. In our own town. There's people who just have this. Hatred. Towards the gospel. Towards Jesus. So we pray. That God will transform.
[12:23] That the gospel will come in. And melt these hearts. Hearts that are so angry. Towards Jesus. We also see an attitude.
[12:33] Among those who are already with Jesus. Those who are following. Jesus. His own disciples. Were in the midst of this crowd. That we. Read of. That were in Bethany.
[12:43] In the house of Simon the leper. He was here reclining. At the table. And we see a wrong attitude. Is not confined. To those who are openly.
[12:55] Against Jesus. Even Jesus's followers. Can have this wrong attitude. It's almost like it's a half-hearted. Love towards Jesus. They're not.
[13:05] They're not all in. Perfume. And you see that. In the way they react. To this woman. Pouring out the perfume. On Jesus. This costly. Perfume.
[13:17] How would you feel. If someone. Came into your house. Picked up your favorite. Perfume or aftershave. And just started. Scattering it all over the house. You've paid. Maybe good money for that.
[13:29] And they're just wasting it. Just so the place. Will smell nice. Well when you look at this. Incident here. Not everyone appreciates.
[13:39] What the woman is doing. Not everyone thinks. The Lord is worthy of this. Almost you would say. Because again. There's this thing that comes between.
[13:50] The Lord and ourselves. And it's this idea that. Hold on a minute. We could have got money out of this. This was an expensive. Perfume. We could have.
[14:02] It's worth a year's wage. As we understand. When you hear. The Psalms spoken. About 300. Denarii. That was. Denarii was a day's wage. So you're nearly a year's wage.
[14:13] Here. Imagine. Spending that money on a perfume. In the first place. Very often it would be done. For burial anointing. But then to just. Pour it out in this way.
[14:23] Just seemed. So extravagant. And that's this idea. That following Jesus. Is fine. Up to a point. When things are comfortable.
[14:35] For us. We're okay. But extravagant. Worship. And going. The extra mile. Things just become more complicated. Then. And our hearts.
[14:45] Not fully. In it. In the Gospel of Mark. You see. The rich young ruler. Who was challenged. To sell all that he had. And follow Jesus. But because he was rich.
[14:57] He went away sad. Because he couldn't give it up. Following Jesus. Was too. Difficult. And when we see.
[15:09] People around us. And even ourselves. That's always a danger. Of just enjoying. Jesus for a time. We can enjoy. Like we see in the holiday club. We can enjoy things. Together in our comfort zone.
[15:21] For a week. But our prayer should be. That as the young ones. As their families go on. Week after week. Month after month. Living in our communities. Living in the difficulties.
[15:31] Of the society we face today. That they would be bold. To stand up for Christ. To put their trust. In him. And to see that what.
[15:45] Jesus has done. For us. Deserves. Our all. When you consider. What God has given to us. In Jesus Christ.
[15:56] You read in 1 John 3. Verse 1. How great is the love. The father. Has lavished. On us. That we should be called. The children of God.
[16:08] Lavished means. Nothing spared. Nothing held back. And yet. Our attitude is one of. Holding back. Of not giving everything.
[16:19] For him. It can apply. In so many ways. Of our lives. But how do we want. To be remembered. This woman.
[16:31] It says that. Wherever the gospel. Is proclaimed. In the whole world. What she has done. Will be told. In memory of her. And it still is.
[16:42] And always will be. Until the Lord's return. We will speak of this woman. Who gave everything. But what of us. How will we be remembered. As fully committed.
[16:54] To the Lord. Or as just half-hearted. Followers. I read once. A comment. Of someone. Who had been. Walking around.
[17:04] A graveyard. In England. Once. Many years ago. But he noticed. Two gravestones. And just how. Different. They were.
[17:16] One gravestone. Said this. Here lies. A miser. Who lived. For himself. He cared. For nothing. But gathering.
[17:27] Pelf. An old word. For money. Now where he is. Or how he fares. Nobody knows. And nobody cares. Such a sad.
[17:41] Reminder of our life. Obviously lived. In not the best way. Then he noticed. Another gravestone. And said this. Sacred to the memory.
[17:52] Of Charles Gordon. Who at all times. And everywhere. Gave his strength. To the weak. His substance. To the poor. His sympathy. To the suffering. And his heart.
[18:03] To God. What a difference. What a contrast. And what is your attitude. Like in that. Are we half-hearted.
[18:15] Or are we all in. For the Lord. So another attitude. We see here. In a negative way. As well. And that's of Judas. Iscariot. Threat.
[18:26] Shirey. Towards Jesus. The danger. Of half-hearted love. Is that it becomes. So hard. And so cold. That we end up.
[18:37] Just turning. Away from Jesus. Completely. It wasn't enough. For him. To complain. About the pouring. Out of the ointment. In such an extravagant way. He turned.
[18:49] Completely. Against the Lord. He went to the chief priests. To betray. Jesus. It's one of the saddest. Accounts.
[18:59] In scripture. In these few verses. Just two verses. Here. You read at the end of them. He sought an opportunity. To betray him.
[19:12] How sad. Is that. Turned his back. Completely. On the Lord. Our prayer is.
[19:23] That there will be no one. Who would end up. Like that. But sadly. It happens. There's a darkness. In our world.
[19:35] That we need to pray. Against. Treachery. Towards Jesus. He just turned. His back. On him. But there's one other attitude.
[19:48] As I mentioned here. And that's the attitude. We should long for. In all of our hearts. This attitude. Of the woman. Who gave everything.
[19:58] For Jesus. Who anointed him. With this costly. Fragrance. This alabaster flask. That she poured out.
[20:09] Over his head. Many. Turned against her. For this. But Jesus. Didn't. And he said to her. There in verse six.
[20:20] Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done. A beautiful thing. For me. And it's wonderful. That what we do. For the Lord.
[20:31] That he would see it. As beautiful. Just the little things. That we do. The helping. In any way. We can. And there has been. Many beautiful things.
[20:42] Done. For the holiday club. This week. There's been many beautiful things. Done for people. Day after day. Just the little things. Done. For the Lord's sake.
[20:54] And that's where we show. Our love. Towards Jesus. This woman. She was making a statement. She was making a statement. In a very difficult situation.
[21:07] In front of all the disciples. And others in the room. She was showing. That her love. Was for the Lord. She was committed. To him. She broke this flask.
[21:18] There was no. Turning back. All its contents. Were poured. Out on him. She was making a statement. About his value. To her.
[21:29] That he meant. Everything. To her. She was making a statement. About. Her value. Of herself. She was saying.
[21:40] I love you. So much. I don't care. I don't care. What anyone else thinks. About my expression. Of this extravagant love. Towards you.
[21:52] And she was making a statement. About her possessions. Nothing else matters. In this world. To me. Except you Lord. What a powerful.
[22:04] Reminder. To us. Her attitude. Was one. Of love. Love. And love. So bold. Love. So extravagant.
[22:14] Love. So. Deciding. For the Lord. That our hearts. Would have. That love. And that we would see others.
[22:26] Coming to show that love. Towards Jesus. Himself. Young. And old. Alike. There's a poem. By a man called. Francis.
[22:36] Francis. Saviard. And says this. My God. I love thee. Not because. I hope. For heaven. Thereby. Nor yet.
[22:47] Because. Who love thee not. Are lost. Eternally. Thou. O my Jesus. Thou didst me. Upon the cross. Embrace. For me.
[22:57] Despair. The nails. And spear. And manifold. Disgrace. And griefs. And torments. Numberless. And sweat. Of agony. Yea.
[23:08] Death. Itself. And all. For me. Who was. Thine enemy. Then why. O blessed. Jesus Christ. Should I not.
[23:18] Love thee well. Not for the sake. Of winning heaven. Not off. Escaping hell. Not from the hope. Of gaining ought. Not seeking.
[23:29] A reward. But as. Thyself. As. Loved me. O ever loving. Lord. So would I love thee. Dearest Lord. And in thy praise.
[23:40] Will sing. Solely because. Thou art my God. And my most loving. King. That's the theme.
[23:51] We've been looking at this week. Who Jesus is. The son. Of God. My most loving. King.
[24:03] That's what we shared. With the young people. And that's what we remember. Ourselves. The great love. Of Christ. For us. That deserves.
[24:15] An extravagant love. From us. May our attitude. Be one of love. Towards him. Because he first. Loved us.
[24:27] And gave himself. For us. Let us pray. Our father in heaven. We thank you for your love. Towards us. We thank you for the great reminder.
[24:38] And powerful reminder. Of love towards you. From this woman. Who poured out. The ointment on your head. Even before your crucifixion. We thank you for the way.
[24:50] The word says. It will be spoken of. Whatever the gospel. Is proclaimed. We thank you Lord. That there is that attitude. Of love towards you. Because you loved us first.
[25:03] And we pray that. You will give us. That loving heart. Towards you. To serve you. With all our hearts. To do all. For your glory. And for your sake. So may you continue with us.
[25:14] Bless us. And keep us. As we ask it all. In Jesus name. Amen. We're going.