WEBVTT

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 I want you to see now how Mark sets the scene for us.

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 This is another one of those, we've called them literary sandwiches.

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 Scholars call them Markan sandwiches, where he'll start with a story,

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 he'll insert a different story, and then he'll come back to conclude the first story at the end.

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 That's really what Mark's doing here.

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 He sets the scene with the first two verses.

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 It was now two days before the Passover, in the Feast of Unleavened Bread,

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 the chief priest and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth and kill him,

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 for they said, not during the feast, lest there be an uproar from the people.

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 And so these two verses here introduce this final subsection of Mark's gospel.

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 All of the focus is now turning to the suffering, death, and ultimately resurrection of Jesus.

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 Remember what Mark stated in the very first verse of the book was his purpose.

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 His purpose is to proclaim that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah and the Son of God.

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 And by God's grace, and through the work of God's Spirit,

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 he has skillfully set forth his argument, which finds its glorious conclusion in these last three chapters.

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 And though believers look on these moments with understandable joy,

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 they really are very dark and disturbing.

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 We're told that the Feast of the Passover and Unleavened Bread are within two days' time from beginning.

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 The ruling body of the Jews here, mentioned as the chief priest and the scribes,

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 probably meant to be a reference to the Sanhedrin.

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 They are hurriedly and stealthily pursuing the death of Jesus.

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 They've plotted for years.

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 This has been building up all through Mark's gospel, this antagonism of the leaders among the Jews.

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 They are now at a point where they can wait no longer, and they're waiting for the opportune moment,

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 which presents itself here when one of Jesus' closest friends agrees to help them.

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 And as they carry out this plan, all of Jesus' disciples abandon him,

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 and he's left utterly alone to face the agony of the cross.

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 And it's amid this context that Mark inserts this beautiful story of devotion and worship.

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 We say, well, why exactly is this here?

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 Why don't we think it's hard for us to see that this story itself carries on the theme that Mark has woven

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 throughout his whole book on the nature of true and genuine discipleship.

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 We've seen that time and again.

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 And what we see happening here with this woman,

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 it's not so much a picture of that initial decision to be a follower of Christ.

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 Remember, is it chapter 8 where Jesus says,

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 If anyone will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

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 Right?

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 And he sets forth the terms for discipleship.

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 Well, that's a moment that we may, that's a decision we make at the moment of conversion, isn't it?

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 Our hearts are awakened in faith to the person of Jesus Christ.

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 We respond then with an affirmative action that we're going to leave everything else behind

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 and we're going to follow Christ with our lives.

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 But that spirit and attitude and mindset of discipleship does not end in that moment.

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 It's carried on perpetually throughout the entire life of the believer in Jesus.

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 And what we see really unfolding, the purpose I think for it here in Mark chapter 14 of this story

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 is to give us a picture of what it looks like for a believer in this ongoing spirit and attitude of devotion

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 and sacrifice and worship and leaving all things behind, even precious things,

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 in order to be fully and completely devoted to Jesus.

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 I really think that's what we're to take from this story.

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 While the Jews are rejecting Jesus and the 12 are abandoning Jesus,

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 this woman's action stands out as a beautiful illustration of wholehearted devotion to Jesus.

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 And if you want to know how true discipleship is expressed in a believer's life,

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 you need look no further than to this woman.

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 Even Jesus himself said what she's done is not going to be forgotten.

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 People are going to talk about it forever.

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 Wherever the gospel goes, they're going to talk about this moment.

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 And here we are, 2,000 years later, and we're talking about this moment.

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 Four things about this passage I want to point out to you.

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 The first thing is this.

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 I want you to see extraordinary devotion.

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 Extraordinary devotion.

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 What does it look like for a believer in Christ to continue in faithful discipleship?

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 Well, it begins and ends with extraordinary devotion.

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 Look at verse 3.

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 While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper,

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 as he was reclining at table,

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 a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly,

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 and she broke the flask and poured it over his head.

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 Now, neither Matthew or Mark reveal the woman's identity.

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 Luke doesn't cover this particular event.

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 But John chapter 12, in fact, if you want to write that in the margins of your notes,

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 I want to encourage you to go and read that passage later on this afternoon.

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 You're going to hear me say some things probably today that you don't find in Mark 14.

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 You're going to find it in John chapter 12,

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 and I just probably won't take the time to tell you to flip back and forth.

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 Okay, so write that in the margins and go and read it later.

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 John chapter 12 actually tells us who this is.

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 This is Mary.

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 Mary, who was the sister of Martha and Lazarus.

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 That's who it is that performs this act.

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 Now, Jesus had been staying in Bethany.

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 We know that already.

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 It's a two-mile walk from Jerusalem,

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 and a group of Jesus' followers were holding a dinner party in his honor.

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 That's the purpose of the gathering here together.

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 It's not at Mary's house.

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 It's actually at another man's house named Simon.

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 And it's during this gathering that we're told Mary interrupts the dinner,

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 and she has this unusual but extravagant display of honor.

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 I mean, it is unusual, isn't it?

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 Maybe even for their culture it would have seemed somewhat unusual.

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 Certainly for our culture, this is kind of a weird thing.

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 She brought in a box of very expensive perfume or oil.

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 She broke its container open and then proceeded to pour its contents on the head

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 and on the feet of the Lord Jesus.

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 That's kind of strange.

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 The oil that's used here, we're told, is pure nard.

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 Your translation may say spike nard.

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 It's the same thing.

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 It was an aromatic ointment probably from the Himalayan mountains in Asia.

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 It was especially pungent.

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 And its most common use in this particular culture of Jesus' day

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 was as an oil to anoint dead bodies.

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 It covered up the stench.

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 The smell of it was so aromatic and strong.

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 It covered up the stench of decomposition in dead bodies.

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 That's what people would most likely use this for.

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 And the value and purpose of the perfume

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 is what made Mary's action actually so extravagant.

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 Ironically, it's actually also what made people so offended by what she did.

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 There's more to this action than just the giving of a luxurious gift.

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 In fact, there's four things I want to point out about Mary's worship here

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 that show us that this really was an extraordinary act of devotion.

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 First thing is this.

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 It was costly.

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 Her act itself, her worship itself was costly.

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 The cost of such a bottle of ointment was, we're told,

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 equivalent to at least 300 denarii,

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 which is a year's salary.

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 Now, can you imagine, just in the monetary value of this perfume,

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 can you imagine men taking a year's worth of your salary,

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 going this Christmas,

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 and buying the equivalent of whatever your salary is in perfume for your wife?

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 A single bottle of perfume worth a year's salary.

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 And then can you imagine if your wife then comes to church next week

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 and decides she's going to pour the entire contents of that bottle of perfume on me?

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 You might be a little offended by that, right?

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 Why?

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 Partly because of the sheer value of it.

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 It's very expensive.

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 Oil, very expensive ointment.

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 But the value here, what cost Mary so much,

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 was much more than monetary value.

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 You understand that, right?

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 It likely had tremendous sentimental value.

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 Mary's likely not the type of person that would have had the means just to go and buy this.

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 Most likely it was an heirloom passed down from her family.

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 Perhaps it had been passed down from generation to generation.

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 Maybe they would even break open maybe the stopper of the bottle

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 and just use a few drops at a time whenever a loved one would pass away

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 and they continued to pass it down.

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 Maybe that was the circumstance for Mary.

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 I don't know.

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 Typically a gift like this would have been given as a part of a woman's dowry.

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 And we don't know the nature of all of Mary's relationships.

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 All we know is that she's probably not the type of person

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 that could have just gone out and bought this.

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 It had sentimental value.

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 It's been given to her probably by somebody that loved her very much

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 and that she loved her very much as well.

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 But it also had value in the security that it provided to her.

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 Right?

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 It's not only sentimental.

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 If it's really worth a year's salary,

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 she knows that if Mary ever gets into a tough spot in life,

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 she knows she can at least sell the nard.

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 And in the process of selling that,

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 she can at least buy herself a year's worth of comfort,

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 a year's worth of time and security.

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 It's not just about the money.

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 There's an emotional attachment to this gift.

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 There is a securing attachment to this gift.

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 But the purpose of it as well gives it really great value.

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 Like a family who wants to honor the death of a loved one

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 in the most meaningful possible way,

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 this object had an honorable purpose reserved for the people that Mary loved the most.

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 In other words, it cost Mary significantly to lavish this worship on Jesus,

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 something we should all take careful note of here in this story.

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 It wasn't just about the money.

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 There was a lot more value to this object than just that.

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 And she was willing to give up all of it.

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 The money, the security, the sentimental nature,

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 the purpose for another person that this would have had.

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 She's willing to give all of that up in order to give it to Jesus,

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 in order to express this devotion to Jesus.

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 And isn't this the nature of true worship?

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 True worship always cost us something.

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 Always.

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 And when I say worship, I don't mean just merely the gathering on a Sunday morning.

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 When we talk about worship, we're not boxing it up into an event.

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 We're talking about the overflow of our life in response to the goodness of Jesus

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 and the person of God and his character.

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 Our whole life is to be lived as an act of worship to him.

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 That always cost us something.

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 In fact, it always cost us everything.

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 As is exemplified here in Mary.

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 But it wasn't just costly.

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 It was calculated.

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 Her worship, her devotion was calculated.

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 We shouldn't be quick to accuse her of being careless or rash.

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 The unusual nature of what she did, I think,

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 communicates that her actions were actually very thoughtful.

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 They were thought out.

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 But then consider this.

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 They're not in Mary's house.

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 This party's at someone else's house.

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 So it's not like they're in the middle of the party

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 and Mary just gets this idea that up in the closet, I've got this thing.

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 This would be pretty cool to do.

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 And she just does it spontaneously.

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 That's not the picture that we get here.

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 Mary has thought about this ahead of time.

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 She has seen in this act a way to express her love for the Lord.

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 And she goes home.

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 She gets the ointment.

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 And she brings it along with her.

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 It was calculated.

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 It was intentional.

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 She did it on purpose.

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 Nobody shows devotion to Jesus on accident.

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 It doesn't happen.

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 You don't just wake up one morning and say,

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 you know what?

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 I think I'm going to live my life for the Lord today.

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 No, it's the buildup.

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 It's a calculated response to who Jesus is and what he has done.

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 And it's daily, intentionally living out our lives in this expression of devotion.

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 It's costly.

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 It's calculated.

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 Third, it was unreserved.

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 It was unreserved.

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 Mary didn't break the box's seal in order that she might pour some of the oil on Jesus.

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 She broke the neck of the flask itself.

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 The word here indicates crushing.

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 She has crushed the container itself.

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 Why?

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 In order that she might empty all of its contents on the Lord.

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 When it came to her worship and devotion, she held nothing back for herself or for anyone else.

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 She gave it all to Jesus.

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 A consistent picture of discipleship in Mark's gospel, isn't it?

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 Are you seeing why Mark is including this now?

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 Look at what she's doing.

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 She doesn't pour a few drops and then save the rest for Lazarus or for a future husband.

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 No.

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 She gives all of her devotion to Jesus.

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 Any other devotion in her life would have to flow first out of her love for Jesus.

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 Do you see?

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 Fourthly, it was humble.

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 It was humble.

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 Now, how can we know that Mary just wasn't showing off?

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 Because that's easy to do, isn't it?

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 It's easy to find a public way to demonstrate what you believe is an expression of worship.

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 We see that happen in churches all the time.

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 People stand on a platform and put on a good show or whatever it is that they're doing.

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 How can we know that that's not what Mary was doing?

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 After all, it's a room full of men in a male-dominated society.

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 Maybe perhaps she had this thought that said, I'll show these men.

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 I'll do more for Jesus than what any of them have ever done.

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 I don't think that's what she was doing.

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 And the reason I don't think that's what she is doing is because of what John 12 emphasizes to us.

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 Matthew and Mark both say that she pours this on the head of Jesus.

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 John emphasizes a different part.

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 She pours it on the feet of Jesus.

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 John says that after she pours it on the feet of Jesus, she takes her hair and she begins to wipe the feet of Jesus.

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 You know what she's doing?

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 She's literally washing his feet.

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 She's washing his feet.

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 An act reserved for slaves.

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 She was doing for Jesus in this moment what the 12 were going to refuse to do for Jesus in just a couple of days.

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 He was going to have to go through this extreme example of servant-heartedness for his disciples

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 that they could have learned the lesson if they had just paid attention to Mary a few days before.

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 It's humble service.

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 Her worship wasn't about herself.

00:17:14.519 --> 00:17:16.099
 It was about serving Jesus.

00:17:16.819 --> 00:17:19.819
 Even in the most humiliating of ways if necessary.

00:17:21.339 --> 00:17:22.940
 Such is our worship to the Lord.

00:17:24.220 --> 00:17:26.839
 Four things this communicates to Jesus in this moment.

00:17:28.419 --> 00:17:31.859
 What is it that Jesus thinks as Mary does this?

00:17:31.859 --> 00:17:37.199
 What is it that we are to look at this act and say this is what her act communicates?

00:17:38.539 --> 00:17:40.319
 First, it communicates this.

00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:46.979
 Jesus, you are more precious to me than my most precious possession.

00:17:49.399 --> 00:17:53.319
 Nothing, Lord, that I have is more valuable than you.

00:17:54.459 --> 00:17:57.319
 Everything that I have is yours.

00:17:58.179 --> 00:18:00.740
 Even the thing that I love the most.

00:18:00.740 --> 00:18:03.740
 Now you fill in the blank of whatever that is for your life.

00:18:05.039 --> 00:18:08.900
 It may not be a material object like it was for Mary.

00:18:09.359 --> 00:18:10.420
 Maybe it's a person.

00:18:11.900 --> 00:18:12.700
 It's a person.

00:18:13.500 --> 00:18:15.839
 Those of us who are parents, we understand this, right?

00:18:15.859 --> 00:18:17.440
 We love our children so much.

00:18:17.920 --> 00:18:19.420
 Sometimes we love them too much.

00:18:21.200 --> 00:18:24.519
 So that we love them even maybe more than what we love our spouse.

00:18:24.519 --> 00:18:28.539
 Or perhaps even that we love our Savior.

00:18:30.740 --> 00:18:37.660
 Is your children more precious to you than even Jesus is precious to you?

00:18:39.660 --> 00:18:41.039
 Maybe it's a job.

00:18:42.160 --> 00:18:43.920
 I will do this thing.

00:18:44.339 --> 00:18:46.099
 I'll get to Jesus when I can.

00:18:47.460 --> 00:18:49.400
 But this is what's really important to me.

00:18:49.400 --> 00:18:51.820
 Maybe it's a hobby.

00:18:52.820 --> 00:18:54.300
 Maybe it's something else.

00:18:54.540 --> 00:18:56.820
 What is it that's so precious to you in your life?

00:18:57.300 --> 00:19:02.920
 Could you legitimately communicate to Jesus in the devotion that you express to him on a day-to-day basis

00:19:02.920 --> 00:19:05.759
 that, Jesus, you are more precious to me than anything else in this life?

00:19:06.160 --> 00:19:08.360
 That's what her act expresses here.

00:19:08.440 --> 00:19:09.259
 Communicates that.

00:19:10.160 --> 00:19:11.300
 It doesn't just communicate that.

00:19:12.380 --> 00:19:16.140
 She says, I'll hold nothing back as I follow you, Lord.

00:19:16.140 --> 00:19:18.040
 I'll hold nothing back.

00:19:19.259 --> 00:19:21.100
 I'm not just giving you a few drops.

00:19:21.540 --> 00:19:24.180
 I'm not just giving my kids to you on Sunday.

00:19:24.640 --> 00:19:26.520
 I'm giving my kids to you every day.

00:19:28.200 --> 00:19:31.700
 I'm not just counting on the Adventure Club people to teach my children.

00:19:31.980 --> 00:19:33.000
 I'm going to teach them.

00:19:34.180 --> 00:19:34.620
 Why?

00:19:34.759 --> 00:19:37.460
 Because Jesus is more precious to me.

00:19:38.120 --> 00:19:41.900
 And I want them to know his preciousness.

00:19:42.200 --> 00:19:43.540
 The treasure that he is.

00:19:43.539 --> 00:19:46.119
 So we can go on down the line and we can point to things.

00:19:46.799 --> 00:19:48.299
 He says, I'm not going to hold anything back from you, Jesus.

00:19:48.299 --> 00:19:49.079
 I'm going to give you all.

00:19:51.720 --> 00:19:52.859
 What else does it communicate?

00:19:54.659 --> 00:20:00.299
 I'm willing to serve you, Jesus, in the humblest of ways if necessary.

00:20:00.299 --> 00:20:04.299
 If no one ever notices me.

00:20:05.299 --> 00:20:06.779
 If no one ever cares.

00:20:08.099 --> 00:20:12.399
 If everyone thinks that what I'm doing is pointless and useless.

00:20:12.980 --> 00:20:13.980
 I don't care.

00:20:14.460 --> 00:20:17.740
 I will serve you in whatever way you want me to serve you.

00:20:20.619 --> 00:20:22.619
 The big picture of what this communicates.

00:20:24.220 --> 00:20:25.379
 I believe in you.

00:20:25.380 --> 00:20:29.840
 I believe you are who you say you are.

00:20:31.000 --> 00:20:34.020
 I believe you've done for me what you said you would do.

00:20:34.860 --> 00:20:41.460
 And in response to that, I give you all of my worship and all of my devotion to the Lord Jesus.

00:20:43.120 --> 00:20:44.860
 Extraordinary devotion is what we see here.

00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:45.860
 Number two.

00:20:46.800 --> 00:20:48.440
 We see surprising opposition.

00:20:49.740 --> 00:20:50.660
 Surprising opposition.

00:20:50.660 --> 00:20:51.480
 Verse four.

00:20:52.820 --> 00:20:55.000
 There were some who said to themselves indignantly,

00:20:55.400 --> 00:20:58.880
 Why was the ointment wasted like that?

00:21:00.360 --> 00:21:06.060
 This ointment could have been sold for more than 300 denarii and given to the poor.

00:21:07.640 --> 00:21:10.440
 And they scolded her.

00:21:11.779 --> 00:21:13.759
 This is quite the turn of events, isn't it?

00:21:13.980 --> 00:21:17.000
 If you weren't familiar with this story, and I'm sure all of you are familiar with it,

00:21:17.000 --> 00:21:21.900
 but if you weren't familiar with this story, you would probably step back at first and say,

00:21:22.119 --> 00:21:22.579
 Wow!

00:21:24.259 --> 00:21:25.259
 That's incredible!

00:21:26.259 --> 00:21:29.160
 And how was it that the people in the room responded?

00:21:30.160 --> 00:21:31.539
 They scolded her.

00:21:32.819 --> 00:21:37.640
 How dare you do that, Mary, they say.

00:21:37.640 --> 00:21:43.440
 You could have done so much more with that than give it to Jesus.

00:21:45.960 --> 00:21:50.060
 Now we expect this kind of opposition from the world.

00:21:52.480 --> 00:21:54.380
 We're not surprised by that.

00:21:54.580 --> 00:21:55.480
 At least we shouldn't be.

00:21:56.480 --> 00:22:03.200
 But the indignation toward Mary here came from people who claim to follow Jesus.

00:22:03.200 --> 00:22:12.720
 It's amazing how quickly Christians resort to devouring one another.

00:22:14.400 --> 00:22:18.880
 It's no wonder the apostles so often in the New Testament had to exhort the churches

00:22:18.880 --> 00:22:24.440
 to stop with the pettiness and focus on the unity that is found in the gospel.

00:22:24.440 --> 00:22:32.080
 As wonderfully gracious as Jesus is, his people are routinely schismatic.

00:22:33.360 --> 00:22:40.940
 And the problem is that too many of our divisions find their source in the unloving, hypercritical way

00:22:40.940 --> 00:22:44.220
 that we scrutinize one another's service for the Lord.

00:22:45.559 --> 00:22:48.400
 Can I remind you what Paul said to the Galatians?

00:22:48.460 --> 00:22:49.860
 Galatians chapter 5.

00:22:49.859 --> 00:22:57.559
 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

00:22:58.039 --> 00:23:03.279
 If we just continually go after each other and one another's service through the Lord,

00:23:03.379 --> 00:23:08.379
 eventually there won't be any of us left, essentially is what Paul says.

00:23:09.659 --> 00:23:17.039
 The truth is that the others in the room should have applauded Mary rather than scold her.

00:23:17.039 --> 00:23:21.319
 I don't mean to insinuate that all divisions are unnecessary.

00:23:21.559 --> 00:23:22.200
 It's not what I mean.

00:23:22.259 --> 00:23:23.839
 I think you understand what I'm getting at here.

00:23:24.720 --> 00:23:25.740
 But some are unnecessary.

00:23:27.019 --> 00:23:29.680
 What they should have done for Mary is said,

00:23:29.859 --> 00:23:32.139
 Wow, I wish I would have thought of that.

00:23:34.220 --> 00:23:35.139
 What an act.

00:23:35.899 --> 00:23:37.039
 Think about who's in the room.

00:23:38.500 --> 00:23:40.399
 They're at the house of Simon the leper,

00:23:40.940 --> 00:23:43.859
 which we know nothing about him except one thing.

00:23:43.859 --> 00:23:48.079
 At one time, he had leprosy, and now he doesn't.

00:23:49.819 --> 00:23:53.059
 And most likely, the reason he's hosting this party in his house

00:23:53.059 --> 00:23:56.279
 is because Jesus is the one that cleansed him from the leprosy.

00:23:56.399 --> 00:24:01.679
 But it's not Simon the leper that we see lavishing Jesus with such extravagant worship.

00:24:02.039 --> 00:24:04.859
 I'm not saying that he was a part of the crowd that was condemning her,

00:24:04.979 --> 00:24:06.740
 but he's not the one that's highlighted here either.

00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:09.240
 Who else is in the room?

00:24:09.240 --> 00:24:11.859
 Lazarus is in the room.

00:24:12.559 --> 00:24:13.880
 And let me just remind you,

00:24:14.299 --> 00:24:15.960
 just a few days before this,

00:24:16.400 --> 00:24:17.559
 Lazarus was dead.

00:24:19.220 --> 00:24:20.759
 And because of Jesus,

00:24:21.420 --> 00:24:22.920
 now he's alive.

00:24:23.400 --> 00:24:26.019
 But it's not Lazarus lavishing this worship.

00:24:26.259 --> 00:24:27.579
 All the disciples are there.

00:24:29.019 --> 00:24:31.019
 Look at all the things Jesus had done for them

00:24:31.019 --> 00:24:32.039
 and allowed them to see

00:24:32.039 --> 00:24:33.559
 and allowed them to understand

00:24:33.559 --> 00:24:34.920
 what he was going to do with their lives.

00:24:35.160 --> 00:24:36.240
 Yet it's Mary is the one.

00:24:36.279 --> 00:24:37.599
 They should have applauded her.

00:24:37.599 --> 00:24:40.679
 They should have joined her in this act of worship,

00:24:40.679 --> 00:24:42.599
 but it's not what they did.

00:24:43.259 --> 00:24:44.579
 And so that begs the question,

00:24:44.759 --> 00:24:45.119
 why?

00:24:45.919 --> 00:24:47.980
 Why would they condemn her in this way?

00:24:49.439 --> 00:24:50.839
 I came up with three reasons.

00:24:50.959 --> 00:24:51.980
 Maybe you'd come up with more.

00:24:53.199 --> 00:24:55.480
 First, I think they have misplaced priorities.

00:24:56.799 --> 00:24:57.679
 Misplaced priorities.

00:24:58.539 --> 00:24:59.879
 I'm going to say more about this in a minute,

00:25:00.039 --> 00:25:01.899
 but the basis of their reaction

00:25:01.899 --> 00:25:05.240
 is that they judged her act as a waste.

00:25:05.240 --> 00:25:07.759
 So in one sense,

00:25:07.859 --> 00:25:09.359
 they're virtue signaling in a way

00:25:09.359 --> 00:25:12.059
 that we're very accustomed to in our own culture.

00:25:12.980 --> 00:25:15.559
 Rather than judge her action for what it was,

00:25:15.819 --> 00:25:18.539
 they judged it for what it wasn't.

00:25:19.900 --> 00:25:22.200
 So they paid no attention to the fact

00:25:22.200 --> 00:25:23.799
 that what Mary was doing,

00:25:23.880 --> 00:25:24.900
 she was doing for Jesus.

00:25:25.240 --> 00:25:28.900
 They only focused on who she wasn't doing it for,

00:25:29.000 --> 00:25:31.500
 which in this case was the poor.

00:25:31.500 --> 00:25:34.039
 And the irony in that

00:25:34.039 --> 00:25:37.539
 is that by regarding her worship as wasteful,

00:25:37.720 --> 00:25:41.960
 they implied that Jesus was undeserving

00:25:41.960 --> 00:25:43.559
 of this act of devotion.

00:25:45.960 --> 00:25:47.799
 They put their social agenda

00:25:47.799 --> 00:25:49.599
 above their gospel agenda.

00:25:50.119 --> 00:25:50.279
 Okay?

00:25:51.220 --> 00:25:52.059
 I think that's part of the problem.

00:25:52.240 --> 00:25:53.519
 We're going to come back to that in a moment.

00:25:53.799 --> 00:25:56.440
 The second part of this is deceitful influence.

00:25:57.640 --> 00:25:58.539
 Deceitful influence.

00:25:58.539 --> 00:26:01.599
 We refer back to John chapter 12 in this.

00:26:02.460 --> 00:26:04.099
 John tells us that the ringleader

00:26:04.099 --> 00:26:07.319
 of the whole ordeal was Judas Iscariot,

00:26:07.720 --> 00:26:10.339
 which isn't surprising if you understand

00:26:10.339 --> 00:26:12.619
 the way the rest of the story unfolds necessarily.

00:26:13.700 --> 00:26:14.940
 John says that it was Judas

00:26:14.940 --> 00:26:16.220
 who first brought this up,

00:26:16.559 --> 00:26:18.859
 and he persuaded the others in the room

00:26:18.859 --> 00:26:20.359
 to come along aside him,

00:26:21.039 --> 00:26:23.480
 but that he was a deceiver in the process.

00:26:24.680 --> 00:26:26.819
 He didn't tip them off to his true motive.

00:26:26.819 --> 00:26:29.259
 What they came to find out later

00:26:29.259 --> 00:26:32.259
 was that Judas wasn't concerned for the poor at all.

00:26:32.980 --> 00:26:35.240
 Judas was the keeper of the purse for the group.

00:26:36.139 --> 00:26:37.720
 John says in John chapter 12

00:26:37.720 --> 00:26:40.179
 that he would help himself to the purse.

00:26:40.259 --> 00:26:41.939
 In other words, he was stealing from the group.

00:26:43.359 --> 00:26:44.439
 Later they find this out.

00:26:44.659 --> 00:26:46.619
 What Judas is concerned about in this moment

00:26:46.619 --> 00:26:47.879
 is not the poor people

00:26:47.879 --> 00:26:49.299
 who need some food for the evening.

00:26:49.519 --> 00:26:50.740
 What he's concerned about

00:26:50.740 --> 00:26:53.939
 is 300 denarii getting added to the purse

00:26:53.940 --> 00:26:55.519
 so that he can take his cut

00:26:55.519 --> 00:26:57.480
 without anybody realizing what he's doing.

00:26:58.799 --> 00:27:00.460
 And here's what Judas does.

00:27:00.600 --> 00:27:02.660
 He begins to persuade others in the room.

00:27:02.920 --> 00:27:04.820
 There's a deceitful influence here.

00:27:05.059 --> 00:27:07.120
 He wins them over to his position

00:27:07.120 --> 00:27:08.759
 that he doesn't even hold,

00:27:09.380 --> 00:27:11.360
 which is a warning for us, isn't it?

00:27:12.160 --> 00:27:13.440
 It's a warning for us.

00:27:14.440 --> 00:27:16.920
 Don't get carried away in judgment

00:27:16.920 --> 00:27:20.180
 on the basis of someone else's opinion.

00:27:21.560 --> 00:27:24.200
 Start first with the word of God

00:27:24.200 --> 00:27:25.860
 and make your judgment

00:27:25.860 --> 00:27:28.580
 against the measurement of God's truth,

00:27:28.740 --> 00:27:30.380
 not what someone else thinks

00:27:30.380 --> 00:27:31.620
 about any given circumstance.

00:27:31.960 --> 00:27:33.900
 We would do well to remember this.

00:27:34.580 --> 00:27:36.620
 When it comes to spiritual issues,

00:27:36.820 --> 00:27:38.620
 when it comes to social issues,

00:27:38.860 --> 00:27:40.980
 don't get carried along

00:27:40.980 --> 00:27:43.920
 with the mindset of people around you

00:27:43.920 --> 00:27:46.460
 without first looking at the truth of God.

00:27:46.460 --> 00:27:49.000
 If they had stopped and thought for a moment,

00:27:49.140 --> 00:27:50.440
 they would have seen the folly

00:27:50.440 --> 00:27:51.360
 of what they were saying.

00:27:51.519 --> 00:27:52.880
 But they were carried along

00:27:52.880 --> 00:27:54.539
 by a man who in his heart

00:27:54.539 --> 00:27:55.819
 just wanted to steal the money.

00:28:00.400 --> 00:28:01.920
 It's amazing how many Christians

00:28:01.920 --> 00:28:03.660
 have too quickly followed

00:28:03.660 --> 00:28:04.920
 another person's influence

00:28:04.920 --> 00:28:06.880
 only to find out later

00:28:06.880 --> 00:28:08.680
 that it was all a selfish ruse.

00:28:09.779 --> 00:28:11.120
 Be careful of that.

00:28:12.279 --> 00:28:13.400
 I think the third thing

00:28:13.400 --> 00:28:15.540
 is probably fairly common

00:28:15.540 --> 00:28:16.620
 even among us today

00:28:16.620 --> 00:28:17.880
 and it's just simple envy.

00:28:19.960 --> 00:28:21.320
 It's hard not to imagine

00:28:21.320 --> 00:28:22.640
 that pure jealousy

00:28:22.640 --> 00:28:23.360
 was at the root

00:28:23.360 --> 00:28:24.420
 of some of the criticism.

00:28:24.920 --> 00:28:25.540
 Maybe not,

00:28:25.700 --> 00:28:28.780
 but we know the easiest way

00:28:28.780 --> 00:28:30.300
 to minimize our own weaknesses

00:28:30.300 --> 00:28:30.940
 to others

00:28:30.940 --> 00:28:32.560
 is to diminish the strength

00:28:32.560 --> 00:28:33.960
 of other people around us.

00:28:34.780 --> 00:28:36.360
 We try to build ourselves up

00:28:36.360 --> 00:28:37.660
 by tearing other people down.

00:28:37.660 --> 00:28:39.860
 If we're embarrassed

00:28:39.860 --> 00:28:41.060
 that Mary did this

00:28:41.060 --> 00:28:42.380
 and we should have done it

00:28:42.380 --> 00:28:43.100
 but we didn't,

00:28:43.180 --> 00:28:44.200
 the first thing we're going to do

00:28:44.200 --> 00:28:46.480
 is try to criticize what she did

00:28:46.480 --> 00:28:47.220
 so it doesn't make us

00:28:47.220 --> 00:28:48.000
 look quite as bad.

00:28:48.320 --> 00:28:49.320
 Perhaps there's some of that

00:28:49.320 --> 00:28:51.000
 happening in the room.

00:28:51.200 --> 00:28:51.700
 Either way,

00:28:51.880 --> 00:28:53.540
 it was surprising opposition.

00:28:53.980 --> 00:28:55.100
 And I just want to encourage you

00:28:55.100 --> 00:28:55.660
 through this

00:28:55.660 --> 00:28:57.160
 to persevere

00:28:57.160 --> 00:28:58.160
 through such opposition.

00:28:59.340 --> 00:29:00.620
 Every act of devotion

00:29:00.620 --> 00:29:01.400
 is going to hit

00:29:01.400 --> 00:29:03.320
 some form of obstacle.

00:29:04.519 --> 00:29:05.000
 Persevere.

00:29:05.000 --> 00:29:08.000
 I want to also remind you

00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:09.680
 to be careful

00:29:09.680 --> 00:29:10.960
 that you are not

00:29:10.960 --> 00:29:12.420
 the opposition yourself.

00:29:14.279 --> 00:29:15.299
 Encourage people

00:29:15.299 --> 00:29:16.539
 to lavish on Jesus

00:29:16.539 --> 00:29:18.519
 all of their devotion

00:29:18.519 --> 00:29:19.079
 and worship

00:29:19.079 --> 00:29:21.400
 and let's encourage them

00:29:21.400 --> 00:29:22.539
 and join them in doing so.

00:29:23.519 --> 00:29:24.500
 Main point number three,

00:29:25.420 --> 00:29:26.859
 divine commendation.

00:29:27.720 --> 00:29:29.000
 Divine commendation.

00:29:29.519 --> 00:29:30.720
 Look with me at verse six.

00:29:32.420 --> 00:29:33.140
 Jesus said,

00:29:33.140 --> 00:29:35.900
 leave her alone.

00:29:37.400 --> 00:29:38.759
 Why do you trouble her?

00:29:40.360 --> 00:29:42.259
 She's done a beautiful

00:29:42.259 --> 00:29:44.400
 thing to me.

00:29:46.540 --> 00:29:48.000
 I don't want to read emotion

00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:49.540
 into the text unnecessarily.

00:29:50.740 --> 00:29:51.460
 But when have you ever

00:29:51.460 --> 00:29:52.220
 known someone

00:29:52.220 --> 00:29:53.780
 to casually

00:29:53.780 --> 00:29:55.120
 or nonchalantly

00:29:55.120 --> 00:29:56.600
 intervene

00:29:56.600 --> 00:29:58.100
 to protect another person?

00:30:00.200 --> 00:30:01.360
 We don't do that.

00:30:01.359 --> 00:30:04.099
 No, this is,

00:30:04.500 --> 00:30:05.819
 this carries with it

00:30:05.819 --> 00:30:07.559
 a sternness,

00:30:08.059 --> 00:30:09.059
 a passion.

00:30:09.479 --> 00:30:10.399
 Leave her alone.

00:30:13.319 --> 00:30:14.500
 Why would you ever

00:30:14.500 --> 00:30:14.979
 condemn her

00:30:14.979 --> 00:30:15.919
 for doing this

00:30:15.919 --> 00:30:17.659
 of all things?

00:30:18.699 --> 00:30:19.639
 Why would you

00:30:19.639 --> 00:30:20.699
 try to stop her?

00:30:22.699 --> 00:30:23.559
 They had judged

00:30:23.559 --> 00:30:24.259
 Mary's action

00:30:24.259 --> 00:30:24.959
 as wasteful.

00:30:26.219 --> 00:30:27.319
 Jesus saw it

00:30:27.319 --> 00:30:28.819
 as beautiful.

00:30:28.819 --> 00:30:31.119
 And the bottom line

00:30:31.119 --> 00:30:31.759
 here is that

00:30:31.759 --> 00:30:32.779
 if God is pleased,

00:30:33.019 --> 00:30:34.439
 it doesn't matter

00:30:34.439 --> 00:30:35.059
 who isn't.

00:30:37.279 --> 00:30:38.700
 Let me just say that again

00:30:38.700 --> 00:30:39.919
 for the people

00:30:39.919 --> 00:30:40.439
 in the back.

00:30:42.039 --> 00:30:43.399
 If God is pleased,

00:30:43.960 --> 00:30:45.359
 it doesn't matter

00:30:45.359 --> 00:30:46.659
 who isn't.

00:30:48.720 --> 00:30:49.279
 Of course,

00:30:49.359 --> 00:30:49.980
 that doesn't give us

00:30:49.980 --> 00:30:50.419
 an excuse

00:30:50.419 --> 00:30:51.720
 to just do what we want

00:30:51.720 --> 00:30:52.579
 and claim that

00:30:52.579 --> 00:30:54.480
 this is at God's pleasure.

00:30:54.819 --> 00:30:55.919
 We do it based

00:30:55.919 --> 00:30:56.839
 on the word of God.

00:30:56.839 --> 00:30:58.679
 But when we faithfully

00:30:58.679 --> 00:30:59.439
 live according

00:30:59.439 --> 00:31:00.399
 to God's word,

00:31:00.779 --> 00:31:02.759
 we can be at peace

00:31:02.759 --> 00:31:04.299
 when people hate us

00:31:04.299 --> 00:31:04.959
 for it.

00:31:06.199 --> 00:31:07.299
 Please the Lord.

00:31:08.199 --> 00:31:08.939
 Worship the Lord.

00:31:09.720 --> 00:31:10.359
 Live for Him.

00:31:11.159 --> 00:31:12.059
 Give your devotion

00:31:12.059 --> 00:31:13.279
 to Him.

00:31:13.939 --> 00:31:14.699
 Two quick things

00:31:14.699 --> 00:31:15.799
 Jesus commends her for.

00:31:16.480 --> 00:31:17.679
 The first is her

00:31:17.679 --> 00:31:19.119
 priority of devotion.

00:31:20.059 --> 00:31:21.419
 Her priority of devotion.

00:31:21.519 --> 00:31:22.299
 Look at verse 7.

00:31:22.299 --> 00:31:24.379
 You always have the poor

00:31:24.379 --> 00:31:24.700
 with you,

00:31:24.759 --> 00:31:25.319
 Jesus said.

00:31:26.039 --> 00:31:27.279
 And whenever you want,

00:31:27.379 --> 00:31:28.319
 you can do good for them.

00:31:29.460 --> 00:31:30.259
 But you will not

00:31:30.259 --> 00:31:31.079
 always have me.

00:31:33.659 --> 00:31:34.680
 Her critic said

00:31:34.680 --> 00:31:35.700
 she was fanatical.

00:31:37.960 --> 00:31:38.659
 Jesus declared

00:31:38.659 --> 00:31:39.339
 that her priorities

00:31:39.339 --> 00:31:39.899
 were right where

00:31:39.899 --> 00:31:40.700
 they needed to be.

00:31:42.879 --> 00:31:44.159
 Sinclair Ferguson said,

00:31:44.419 --> 00:31:45.119
 here were men

00:31:45.119 --> 00:31:46.440
 who were more interested

00:31:46.440 --> 00:31:47.680
 in their service

00:31:47.680 --> 00:31:49.159
 than their master.

00:31:50.319 --> 00:31:51.259
 Which is an interesting

00:31:51.259 --> 00:31:51.859
 thought here.

00:31:51.859 --> 00:31:54.439
 There is a danger

00:31:54.439 --> 00:31:55.759
 in becoming more concerned

00:31:55.759 --> 00:31:56.959
 with Christian mission

00:31:56.959 --> 00:31:59.339
 than with Christian worship.

00:32:00.859 --> 00:32:01.699
 In fact,

00:32:01.759 --> 00:32:02.899
 this has led many churches

00:32:02.899 --> 00:32:05.059
 to replace the true gospel

00:32:05.059 --> 00:32:06.879
 with a social gospel

00:32:06.879 --> 00:32:08.839
 that links salvation

00:32:08.839 --> 00:32:11.039
 to efforts in social reform

00:32:11.039 --> 00:32:12.359
 and mission

00:32:12.359 --> 00:32:15.099
 as primarily social engagement.

00:32:16.259 --> 00:32:17.799
 Now, to be sure,

00:32:18.740 --> 00:32:20.039
 Christians will inevitably

00:32:20.039 --> 00:32:21.679
 engage in ministry

00:32:21.680 --> 00:32:22.500
 to their community.

00:32:23.440 --> 00:32:24.160
 James said it,

00:32:24.240 --> 00:32:25.080
 James chapter 1,

00:32:25.380 --> 00:32:26.600
 religion that is pure

00:32:26.600 --> 00:32:27.600
 and undefiled

00:32:27.600 --> 00:32:28.700
 before God the Father

00:32:28.700 --> 00:32:29.299
 is this,

00:32:29.600 --> 00:32:30.580
 to visit orphans

00:32:30.580 --> 00:32:31.060
 and widows

00:32:31.060 --> 00:32:31.779
 in their affliction

00:32:31.779 --> 00:32:33.299
 and to keep oneself

00:32:33.299 --> 00:32:34.360
 unstained from the world.

00:32:34.980 --> 00:32:35.500
 Clearly,

00:32:35.860 --> 00:32:36.680
 the action

00:32:36.680 --> 00:32:37.740
 of a Christian life

00:32:37.740 --> 00:32:38.940
 that's devoted to Jesus

00:32:38.940 --> 00:32:40.380
 is going to be involved

00:32:40.380 --> 00:32:41.580
 in social engagement.

00:32:41.840 --> 00:32:43.100
 We understand that.

00:32:43.240 --> 00:32:44.420
 But Jesus' statement

00:32:44.420 --> 00:32:45.519
 even implies it.

00:32:45.519 --> 00:32:47.639
 He implies that there is

00:32:47.639 --> 00:32:49.299
 this ongoing necessity

00:32:49.299 --> 00:32:50.400
 of serving the poor

00:32:50.400 --> 00:32:51.039
 around us,

00:32:51.099 --> 00:32:51.980
 but the priority

00:32:51.980 --> 00:32:52.940
 of the Christian life

00:32:52.940 --> 00:32:54.319
 must first be worship

00:32:54.319 --> 00:32:55.559
 of God,

00:32:56.240 --> 00:32:57.799
 devotion to His truth.

00:32:58.339 --> 00:33:00.240
 And our social engagement

00:33:00.240 --> 00:33:01.799
 must flow through

00:33:01.799 --> 00:33:03.200
 our devotion to Jesus,

00:33:03.440 --> 00:33:04.779
 not eclipse it.

00:33:05.460 --> 00:33:07.720
 The purpose of Lakeside Bible Church

00:33:07.720 --> 00:33:09.019
 is to glorify God

00:33:09.019 --> 00:33:10.160
 first through worship

00:33:10.160 --> 00:33:12.099
 and through making disciples

00:33:12.099 --> 00:33:13.919
 and then through mission

00:33:13.919 --> 00:33:15.240
 to the community around us.

00:33:15.339 --> 00:33:16.480
 But as soon as we start

00:33:16.480 --> 00:33:17.379
 to deceive ourselves

00:33:17.379 --> 00:33:17.939
 into thinking

00:33:17.939 --> 00:33:18.959
 that the true purpose

00:33:18.959 --> 00:33:19.579
 of our church

00:33:19.579 --> 00:33:20.939
 is to engage

00:33:20.939 --> 00:33:22.059
 with the poor

00:33:22.059 --> 00:33:23.519
 in the Cornelius area,

00:33:23.839 --> 00:33:24.699
 then we'll start

00:33:24.699 --> 00:33:25.379
 to diminish

00:33:25.379 --> 00:33:26.159
 the necessity

00:33:26.159 --> 00:33:26.819
 of the gospel.

00:33:27.079 --> 00:33:28.139
 We'll start to diminish

00:33:28.139 --> 00:33:28.899
 the necessity

00:33:28.899 --> 00:33:29.559
 of doctrine.

00:33:29.779 --> 00:33:31.259
 And we mustn't do that.

00:33:32.079 --> 00:33:32.939
 It's a recipe

00:33:32.939 --> 00:33:34.139
 for disaster

00:33:34.139 --> 00:33:35.459
 in churches

00:33:35.459 --> 00:33:36.399
 that will immediately

00:33:36.399 --> 00:33:38.019
 follow in liberal theology.

00:33:38.500 --> 00:33:39.779
 We must focus

00:33:39.779 --> 00:33:41.179
 our worship of Jesus

00:33:41.180 --> 00:33:43.080
 understanding His truth

00:33:43.080 --> 00:33:44.279
 and then allow

00:33:44.279 --> 00:33:45.460
 our service

00:33:45.460 --> 00:33:46.220
 to the community

00:33:46.220 --> 00:33:47.259
 and the people around us

00:33:47.259 --> 00:33:48.740
 to flow through that

00:33:48.740 --> 00:33:50.060
 and from that,

00:33:50.240 --> 00:33:51.380
 not the other way around.

00:33:53.779 --> 00:33:54.820
 Her priorities

00:33:54.820 --> 00:33:55.700
 were right in the right place.

00:33:55.799 --> 00:33:56.840
 Jesus commends her for it.

00:33:57.000 --> 00:33:57.960
 The second thing here

00:33:57.960 --> 00:33:59.340
 is He commends her

00:33:59.340 --> 00:34:01.100
 for the proportion

00:34:01.100 --> 00:34:02.799
 of her devotion.

00:34:04.200 --> 00:34:04.759
 Verse 8,

00:34:05.840 --> 00:34:06.600
 she has done

00:34:06.600 --> 00:34:08.260
 what she could.

00:34:09.559 --> 00:34:10.159
 The implication,

00:34:10.159 --> 00:34:10.819
 she has done

00:34:10.819 --> 00:34:12.019
 all that she could.

00:34:14.299 --> 00:34:15.000
 Notice it's,

00:34:15.799 --> 00:34:16.980
 the commendation here

00:34:16.980 --> 00:34:17.579
 is not based

00:34:17.579 --> 00:34:18.239
 on the amount

00:34:18.239 --> 00:34:18.980
 Mary gave,

00:34:19.139 --> 00:34:20.079
 but the proportion

00:34:20.079 --> 00:34:20.639
 of her gift

00:34:20.639 --> 00:34:21.199
 to the whole.

00:34:23.079 --> 00:34:24.219
 What pleased the Lord

00:34:24.219 --> 00:34:25.139
 is not that she gave

00:34:25.139 --> 00:34:25.960
 so much.

00:34:26.139 --> 00:34:27.059
 What pleased the Lord

00:34:27.059 --> 00:34:27.980
 was that she gave

00:34:27.980 --> 00:34:29.299
 everything.

00:34:31.219 --> 00:34:32.379
 Which reminds us

00:34:32.379 --> 00:34:33.440
 of the last story

00:34:33.440 --> 00:34:34.679
 we heard

00:34:34.679 --> 00:34:36.119
 in chapter 12.

00:34:36.119 --> 00:34:38.980
 Jesus points

00:34:38.980 --> 00:34:40.059
 to the widow woman

00:34:40.059 --> 00:34:40.699
 in the temple,

00:34:41.259 --> 00:34:42.039
 the two small

00:34:42.039 --> 00:34:42.799
 copper coins

00:34:42.799 --> 00:34:43.699
 that she gives

00:34:43.699 --> 00:34:45.699
 and He's so impacted

00:34:45.699 --> 00:34:47.779
 by her devotion

00:34:47.779 --> 00:34:48.440
 to God.

00:34:49.199 --> 00:34:49.859
 And He uses

00:34:49.859 --> 00:34:50.679
 a very similar

00:34:50.679 --> 00:34:51.460
 statement here

00:34:51.460 --> 00:34:52.559
 about Mary.

00:34:52.759 --> 00:34:53.460
 But their gifts

00:34:53.460 --> 00:34:54.739
 are on two

00:34:54.739 --> 00:34:55.699
 different extremes

00:34:55.699 --> 00:34:56.359
 as far as their

00:34:56.359 --> 00:34:57.199
 monetary value.

00:34:58.339 --> 00:34:59.219
 God doesn't judge

00:34:59.219 --> 00:34:59.839
 your devotion

00:34:59.839 --> 00:35:00.779
 based on what

00:35:00.779 --> 00:35:01.440
 others do.

00:35:01.619 --> 00:35:02.179
 He judges

00:35:02.179 --> 00:35:02.799
 your devotion

00:35:02.799 --> 00:35:03.639
 based on what

00:35:03.639 --> 00:35:05.379
 you can do.

00:35:06.259 --> 00:35:07.299
 And He's pleased

00:35:07.299 --> 00:35:08.480
 whether it's

00:35:08.480 --> 00:35:09.159
 two lepta

00:35:09.159 --> 00:35:10.219
 as a widow woman

00:35:10.219 --> 00:35:11.400
 or whether it's

00:35:11.400 --> 00:35:12.519
 a year salary

00:35:12.519 --> 00:35:13.719
 from Mary.

00:35:14.179 --> 00:35:15.619
 He is glorified

00:35:15.619 --> 00:35:16.879
 and pleased

00:35:16.879 --> 00:35:17.759
 in what they did.

00:35:18.219 --> 00:35:18.799
 Which brings us

00:35:18.799 --> 00:35:19.559
 to our final point.

00:35:19.639 --> 00:35:20.159
 We'll be finished.

00:35:21.219 --> 00:35:22.379
 Gospel connection.

00:35:23.779 --> 00:35:24.839
 Gospel connection.

00:35:25.519 --> 00:35:26.179
 Verse 8.

00:35:27.319 --> 00:35:27.900
 She has anointed

00:35:27.900 --> 00:35:28.980
 my body beforehand

00:35:28.980 --> 00:35:29.719
 for burial.

00:35:31.339 --> 00:35:32.579
 Truly I say to you,

00:35:32.579 --> 00:35:34.319
 wherever the gospel

00:35:34.319 --> 00:35:35.000
 is proclaimed

00:35:35.000 --> 00:35:36.000
 in the whole world,

00:35:36.739 --> 00:35:38.639
 what she has done

00:35:38.639 --> 00:35:39.199
 will be told

00:35:39.199 --> 00:35:40.139
 in memory of her.

00:35:42.619 --> 00:35:43.199
 Now this is

00:35:43.199 --> 00:35:43.819
 interesting here.

00:35:43.940 --> 00:35:45.299
 Jesus had foretold

00:35:45.299 --> 00:35:46.219
 His crucifixion

00:35:46.219 --> 00:35:46.739
 and resurrection

00:35:46.739 --> 00:35:47.779
 to the disciples

00:35:47.779 --> 00:35:49.159
 on at least

00:35:49.159 --> 00:35:49.860
 three occasions

00:35:49.860 --> 00:35:52.179
 and they just

00:35:52.179 --> 00:35:53.119
 couldn't come to grips

00:35:53.119 --> 00:35:53.940
 with what that meant.

00:35:54.079 --> 00:35:54.759
 We've looked at that

00:35:54.759 --> 00:35:55.819
 extensively in Mark's

00:35:55.819 --> 00:35:56.159
 gospel.

00:35:57.880 --> 00:35:59.119
 Is it possible

00:35:59.119 --> 00:36:01.239
 that Mary

00:36:01.239 --> 00:36:01.759
 Mary had begun

00:36:01.759 --> 00:36:02.659
 to understand

00:36:02.659 --> 00:36:04.059
 what the disciples

00:36:04.059 --> 00:36:05.739
 continued to miss?

00:36:07.579 --> 00:36:08.019
 Maybe.

00:36:09.479 --> 00:36:10.159
 Let me make

00:36:10.159 --> 00:36:10.959
 the case for it.

00:36:11.559 --> 00:36:12.119
 There's only

00:36:12.119 --> 00:36:12.879
 two other places

00:36:12.879 --> 00:36:13.439
 in the scriptures

00:36:13.439 --> 00:36:14.479
 that we find Mary,

00:36:14.599 --> 00:36:15.419
 the sister of Martha

00:36:15.419 --> 00:36:16.139
 and Lazarus.

00:36:16.979 --> 00:36:17.899
 First one's in Luke

00:36:17.899 --> 00:36:18.479
 chapter 10,

00:36:18.559 --> 00:36:18.959
 I think.

00:36:19.859 --> 00:36:20.679
 Jesus comes to

00:36:20.679 --> 00:36:21.139
 their home

00:36:21.139 --> 00:36:22.139
 and there's a bit

00:36:22.139 --> 00:36:23.079
 of a dramatic event

00:36:23.079 --> 00:36:24.019
 that unfolds.

00:36:25.299 --> 00:36:26.299
 Mary started helping

00:36:26.299 --> 00:36:27.419
 Martha with the meal

00:36:27.420 --> 00:36:29.079
 and eventually

00:36:29.079 --> 00:36:30.059
 she finds herself

00:36:30.059 --> 00:36:30.860
 seated at the feet

00:36:30.860 --> 00:36:31.220
 of Jesus.

00:36:31.380 --> 00:36:31.780
 That's where she

00:36:31.780 --> 00:36:32.460
 wanted to be.

00:36:32.760 --> 00:36:33.460
 Martha gets upset

00:36:33.460 --> 00:36:33.960
 about that.

00:36:34.260 --> 00:36:35.099
 She runs to Jesus

00:36:35.099 --> 00:36:36.099
 and she says,

00:36:36.240 --> 00:36:36.860
 would you please

00:36:36.860 --> 00:36:37.420
 do something

00:36:37.420 --> 00:36:38.180
 about Mary?

00:36:38.980 --> 00:36:39.579
 I'm in here

00:36:39.579 --> 00:36:41.579
 serving all by myself

00:36:41.579 --> 00:36:42.980
 and she's just

00:36:42.980 --> 00:36:43.760
 sitting out here

00:36:43.760 --> 00:36:44.380
 and what does

00:36:44.380 --> 00:36:45.099
 Jesus say?

00:36:45.579 --> 00:36:46.400
 She's chosen

00:36:46.400 --> 00:36:47.380
 the good portion.

00:36:47.960 --> 00:36:48.980
 I will not take

00:36:48.980 --> 00:36:49.800
 that away from her.

00:36:50.460 --> 00:36:51.240
 He didn't condemn

00:36:51.240 --> 00:36:52.460
 Martha for her serving

00:36:52.460 --> 00:36:53.280
 but he wasn't going

00:36:53.280 --> 00:36:53.900
 to take away

00:36:53.900 --> 00:36:55.019
 Mary's worship either.

00:36:55.680 --> 00:36:56.099
 Where does she

00:36:56.099 --> 00:36:57.240
 find herself routinely?

00:36:57.780 --> 00:36:58.860
 At the feet of Jesus.

00:36:59.260 --> 00:37:00.280
 Listening to Jesus.

00:37:00.740 --> 00:37:01.500
 Taking in

00:37:01.500 --> 00:37:02.860
 what Jesus had to say.

00:37:03.019 --> 00:37:04.240
 Watching what Jesus

00:37:04.240 --> 00:37:05.200
 did with his life.

00:37:05.820 --> 00:37:06.900
 The next thing we see

00:37:06.900 --> 00:37:07.760
 is when Lazarus

00:37:07.760 --> 00:37:08.320
 is dead.

00:37:08.860 --> 00:37:10.019
 John chapter 11.

00:37:12.420 --> 00:37:13.480
 Jesus finally makes

00:37:13.480 --> 00:37:14.340
 it to Mary and Martha.

00:37:14.480 --> 00:37:15.500
 Most of the exchange

00:37:15.500 --> 00:37:17.220
 happens with Martha.

00:37:17.500 --> 00:37:18.119
 But what is it

00:37:18.119 --> 00:37:19.240
 that Jesus says

00:37:19.240 --> 00:37:20.039
 to Martha

00:37:20.039 --> 00:37:20.960
 which inevitably

00:37:20.960 --> 00:37:21.440
 would have been

00:37:21.440 --> 00:37:22.300
 passed on to Mary?

00:37:23.240 --> 00:37:24.360
 I am the resurrection

00:37:24.360 --> 00:37:25.059
 and the life.

00:37:25.059 --> 00:37:27.920
 whoever believes in me

00:37:27.920 --> 00:37:28.820
 though he be dead

00:37:28.820 --> 00:37:30.440
 he will rise.

00:37:30.579 --> 00:37:31.820
 He will live again

00:37:31.820 --> 00:37:32.779
 and then they witness

00:37:32.779 --> 00:37:35.059
 the miraculous power

00:37:35.059 --> 00:37:35.980
 over death

00:37:35.980 --> 00:37:37.440
 that Jesus had

00:37:37.440 --> 00:37:38.139
 in Lazarus.

00:37:38.239 --> 00:37:38.480
 Now

00:37:38.480 --> 00:37:39.920
 I'm not saying

00:37:39.920 --> 00:37:40.659
 Mary had it all

00:37:40.659 --> 00:37:41.179
 put together.

00:37:42.179 --> 00:37:43.299
 I'm just saying

00:37:43.299 --> 00:37:44.420
 she spends her time

00:37:44.420 --> 00:37:44.860
 with Jesus

00:37:44.860 --> 00:37:45.900
 listening to him.

00:37:46.279 --> 00:37:46.920
 She's witnessed

00:37:46.920 --> 00:37:48.139
 his resurrection power

00:37:48.139 --> 00:37:49.299
 in her own brother's life.

00:37:49.300 --> 00:37:51.260
 She's heard him say himself

00:37:51.260 --> 00:37:52.960
 I am the resurrection.

00:37:53.240 --> 00:37:54.560
 Is it possible

00:37:54.560 --> 00:37:56.220
 that Mary listened

00:37:56.220 --> 00:37:57.000
 well enough

00:37:57.000 --> 00:37:57.780
 to understand

00:37:57.780 --> 00:37:58.519
 something's about

00:37:58.519 --> 00:37:59.539
 to go down with Jesus

00:37:59.539 --> 00:38:00.720
 and I want to make sure

00:38:00.720 --> 00:38:01.660
 I show him my love

00:38:01.660 --> 00:38:02.100
 and worship

00:38:02.100 --> 00:38:02.900
 now?

00:38:03.860 --> 00:38:04.860
 I think so.

00:38:05.940 --> 00:38:06.740
 Whether or not

00:38:06.740 --> 00:38:07.519
 she understood it all

00:38:07.519 --> 00:38:08.180
 is up for debate.

00:38:08.480 --> 00:38:09.800
 But what is certain

00:38:09.800 --> 00:38:10.560
 from the text

00:38:10.560 --> 00:38:12.620
 is that Jesus affirmed

00:38:12.620 --> 00:38:13.280
 that her act

00:38:13.280 --> 00:38:14.080
 was symbolic

00:38:14.080 --> 00:38:15.900
 of his coming death

00:38:15.900 --> 00:38:17.180
 on the cross.

00:38:17.179 --> 00:38:18.940
 she has anointed

00:38:18.940 --> 00:38:20.379
 my body beforehand

00:38:20.379 --> 00:38:21.879
 for burial

00:38:21.879 --> 00:38:22.619
 he says.

00:38:23.659 --> 00:38:24.879
 Then he proclaims

00:38:24.879 --> 00:38:25.619
 that her actions

00:38:25.619 --> 00:38:26.500
 would be

00:38:26.500 --> 00:38:27.879
 perpetually remembered

00:38:27.879 --> 00:38:29.119
 wherever the gospel

00:38:29.119 --> 00:38:29.699
 is preached

00:38:29.699 --> 00:38:30.759
 through the whole world.

00:38:32.519 --> 00:38:33.719
 Now memorializing Mary

00:38:33.719 --> 00:38:34.839
 wasn't about Mary.

00:38:36.359 --> 00:38:37.259
 It was meant

00:38:37.259 --> 00:38:38.119
 to bring our thoughts

00:38:38.119 --> 00:38:39.179
 back to the cross

00:38:39.179 --> 00:38:41.460
 because Jesus says

00:38:41.460 --> 00:38:42.279
 what she's done

00:38:42.279 --> 00:38:43.799
 really has a lot

00:38:43.799 --> 00:38:44.779
 to do with my death.

00:38:44.780 --> 00:38:47.019
 And when we think

00:38:47.019 --> 00:38:47.360
 of Mary

00:38:47.360 --> 00:38:48.040
 we're not supposed

00:38:48.040 --> 00:38:48.640
 to just think

00:38:48.640 --> 00:38:49.160
 about Mary

00:38:49.160 --> 00:38:49.880
 we're supposed

00:38:49.880 --> 00:38:50.900
 to think about Jesus

00:38:50.900 --> 00:38:51.760
 what he has done

00:38:51.760 --> 00:38:52.180
 for us.

00:38:52.580 --> 00:38:53.519
 Jesus takes this

00:38:53.519 --> 00:38:54.300
 act of devotion

00:38:54.300 --> 00:38:55.540
 and he connects it

00:38:55.540 --> 00:38:56.220
 to the gospel

00:38:56.220 --> 00:38:57.060
 of his death

00:38:57.060 --> 00:38:57.700
 and resurrection

00:38:57.700 --> 00:38:58.880
 which screams

00:38:58.880 --> 00:38:59.580
 off the page

00:38:59.580 --> 00:39:00.000
 to us

00:39:00.000 --> 00:39:01.160
 this truth

00:39:01.160 --> 00:39:02.519
 that Christian

00:39:02.519 --> 00:39:03.080
 devotion

00:39:03.080 --> 00:39:03.900
 begins

00:39:03.900 --> 00:39:04.920
 and ends

00:39:04.920 --> 00:39:06.140
 with the gospel

00:39:06.140 --> 00:39:07.060
 of Jesus.

00:39:08.000 --> 00:39:09.040
 It begins

00:39:09.040 --> 00:39:09.580
 and ends

00:39:09.580 --> 00:39:10.980
 with the crucifixion

00:39:10.980 --> 00:39:12.019
 and resurrection

00:39:12.019 --> 00:39:13.119
 of our Lord.

00:39:14.000 --> 00:39:14.880
 Think about it.

00:39:15.679 --> 00:39:16.280
 What did Jesus

00:39:16.280 --> 00:39:17.320
 do on the cross?

00:39:18.300 --> 00:39:19.539
 He makes a full

00:39:19.539 --> 00:39:20.199
 atonement

00:39:20.199 --> 00:39:20.900
 for the sin

00:39:20.900 --> 00:39:21.940
 of all who will believe.

00:39:22.759 --> 00:39:23.659
 He suffers

00:39:23.659 --> 00:39:24.759
 our death.

00:39:25.219 --> 00:39:25.780
 He suffers

00:39:25.780 --> 00:39:26.800
 our hell.

00:39:27.199 --> 00:39:27.759
 He takes

00:39:27.759 --> 00:39:28.239
 the wrath

00:39:28.239 --> 00:39:28.739
 of God

00:39:28.739 --> 00:39:30.259
 in our place.

00:39:30.599 --> 00:39:30.840
 And then

00:39:30.840 --> 00:39:31.599
 his resurrection

00:39:31.599 --> 00:39:32.300
 shows

00:39:32.300 --> 00:39:33.679
 that his atonement

00:39:33.679 --> 00:39:34.759
 was satisfactory

00:39:34.759 --> 00:39:36.099
 to God the Father

00:39:36.099 --> 00:39:37.539
 and that he alone

00:39:37.539 --> 00:39:38.380
 has power

00:39:38.380 --> 00:39:39.320
 over life

00:39:39.320 --> 00:39:39.719
 and death.

00:39:39.719 --> 00:39:41.139
 Why do we gather

00:39:41.139 --> 00:39:41.919
 on Sunday?

00:39:42.259 --> 00:39:43.819
 Not to feel better

00:39:43.819 --> 00:39:44.679
 about all the stuff

00:39:44.679 --> 00:39:45.399
 we did wrong

00:39:45.399 --> 00:39:46.059
 during the week.

00:39:46.179 --> 00:39:46.879
 We gather

00:39:46.879 --> 00:39:47.679
 to celebrate

00:39:47.679 --> 00:39:48.759
 the crucifixion

00:39:48.759 --> 00:39:49.299
 and resurrection

00:39:49.299 --> 00:39:50.000
 of Jesus.

00:39:50.959 --> 00:39:52.339
 Why do we express

00:39:52.339 --> 00:39:53.599
 devotion to the Lord

00:39:53.599 --> 00:39:54.279
 on Sunday

00:39:54.279 --> 00:39:55.179
 or any other day?

00:39:55.259 --> 00:39:56.859
 Because of the cross

00:39:56.859 --> 00:39:57.799
 and the resurrection.

00:39:58.139 --> 00:39:59.539
 It's all about

00:39:59.539 --> 00:40:00.779
 the gospel of Jesus.

00:40:01.079 --> 00:40:02.500
 Everything brings us

00:40:02.500 --> 00:40:04.039
 back to him

00:40:04.039 --> 00:40:05.659
 and to what he has done

00:40:05.659 --> 00:40:06.679
 for us

00:40:06.679 --> 00:40:07.619
 and it provides

00:40:07.619 --> 00:40:08.399
 the motivation

00:40:08.400 --> 00:40:09.340
 for us

00:40:09.340 --> 00:40:10.380
 every day.

00:40:10.860 --> 00:40:12.220
 Why will I live

00:40:12.220 --> 00:40:13.180
 holy today?

00:40:13.340 --> 00:40:14.519
 Because Jesus

00:40:14.519 --> 00:40:15.680
 died for me.

00:40:16.539 --> 00:40:17.660
 Why will I go

00:40:17.660 --> 00:40:18.820
 to church today?

00:40:19.019 --> 00:40:20.059
 Because Jesus

00:40:20.059 --> 00:40:21.180
 died for me.

00:40:21.700 --> 00:40:22.940
 Why will I teach

00:40:22.940 --> 00:40:24.059
 my kids the Bible?

00:40:24.400 --> 00:40:25.300
 Because Jesus

00:40:25.300 --> 00:40:26.380
 died for me.

00:40:26.539 --> 00:40:27.780
 Why will I live

00:40:27.780 --> 00:40:28.920
 my life for him?

00:40:29.079 --> 00:40:30.099
 Because Jesus

00:40:30.099 --> 00:40:31.639
 has done so much

00:40:31.639 --> 00:40:32.740
 for me.

00:40:32.740 --> 00:40:34.240
 It all comes back

00:40:34.240 --> 00:40:36.119
 to the gospel.

00:40:36.119 --> 00:40:37.940
 It's the gospel

00:40:37.940 --> 00:40:38.639
 we proclaim.

00:40:39.039 --> 00:40:39.799
 It's the gospel

00:40:39.799 --> 00:40:40.460
 we believe

00:40:40.460 --> 00:40:41.859
 and it's the motivation

00:40:41.859 --> 00:40:43.279
 for our total devotion

00:40:43.279 --> 00:40:45.219
 as faithful followers.

00:40:45.500 --> 00:40:46.159
 Now in conclusion

00:40:46.159 --> 00:40:46.880
 let's look at these

00:40:46.880 --> 00:40:47.699
 last two verses.

00:40:47.960 --> 00:40:48.119
 Okay.

00:40:49.019 --> 00:40:49.639
 I don't want any

00:40:49.639 --> 00:40:50.179
 Eutychuses

00:40:50.179 --> 00:40:51.099
 falling out of the window

00:40:51.099 --> 00:40:51.659
 this morning.

00:40:51.839 --> 00:40:52.079
 All right.

00:40:53.460 --> 00:40:54.259
 Burst in.

00:40:57.059 --> 00:40:58.480
 Then Judas Iscariot

00:40:58.480 --> 00:41:00.880
 who was one of the twelve

00:41:00.880 --> 00:41:03.099
 went to the chief priest

00:41:03.099 --> 00:41:04.319
 in order to betray him

00:41:04.319 --> 00:41:04.860
 to them.

00:41:05.860 --> 00:41:07.059
 And when they heard it

00:41:07.059 --> 00:41:08.339
 they were glad

00:41:08.339 --> 00:41:10.019
 and they promised

00:41:10.019 --> 00:41:10.900
 to give him money

00:41:10.900 --> 00:41:13.360
 and sought an opportunity

00:41:13.360 --> 00:41:15.460
 to betray him.

00:41:16.420 --> 00:41:17.339
 Here's the back half

00:41:17.339 --> 00:41:18.360
 of the Mark and Sandwich

00:41:18.360 --> 00:41:19.319
 here in Mark 14.

00:41:22.139 --> 00:41:23.440
 He began with the chief

00:41:23.440 --> 00:41:24.400
 priest and scribes

00:41:24.400 --> 00:41:25.259
 trying to figure out

00:41:25.259 --> 00:41:25.839
 how they're going

00:41:25.839 --> 00:41:26.500
 to kill Jesus.

00:41:28.079 --> 00:41:29.099
 He ends with how

00:41:29.099 --> 00:41:29.860
 Judas betrayed

00:41:29.860 --> 00:41:30.679
 the Lord to them.

00:41:30.679 --> 00:41:34.139
 Matthew and Mark

00:41:34.139 --> 00:41:34.940
 both sandwich

00:41:34.940 --> 00:41:35.879
 Mary's story

00:41:35.879 --> 00:41:37.039
 in between

00:41:37.039 --> 00:41:38.039
 these two things.

00:41:39.359 --> 00:41:40.339
 Could it be

00:41:40.339 --> 00:41:42.319
 that Jesus'

00:41:42.619 --> 00:41:43.719
 response to Mary

00:41:43.719 --> 00:41:45.259
 is what finally

00:41:45.259 --> 00:41:46.279
 pushed Judas

00:41:46.279 --> 00:41:47.079
 over the edge?

00:41:49.480 --> 00:41:50.679
 Had he finally

00:41:50.679 --> 00:41:52.019
 had enough?

00:41:52.679 --> 00:41:53.519
 I think so.

00:41:55.739 --> 00:41:56.819
 Sinclair Ferguson

00:41:56.819 --> 00:41:58.639
 again points this out.

00:41:58.699 --> 00:41:59.779
 He says it's significant

00:41:59.780 --> 00:42:01.660
 that this particular event

00:42:01.660 --> 00:42:02.800
 seemed to act

00:42:02.800 --> 00:42:03.700
 as the catalyst

00:42:03.700 --> 00:42:05.060
 to bring Judas

00:42:05.060 --> 00:42:05.960
 and the chief priest

00:42:05.960 --> 00:42:06.400
 together.

00:42:07.100 --> 00:42:08.040
 The one thing

00:42:08.040 --> 00:42:08.860
 that he could not

00:42:08.860 --> 00:42:09.480
 tolerate

00:42:09.480 --> 00:42:11.400
 was such wholehearted

00:42:11.400 --> 00:42:12.640
 devotion to Jesus

00:42:12.640 --> 00:42:14.180
 which had no other

00:42:14.180 --> 00:42:14.620
 motive

00:42:14.620 --> 00:42:15.640
 than love

00:42:15.640 --> 00:42:16.600
 for him.

00:42:18.620 --> 00:42:19.280
 And I think

00:42:19.280 --> 00:42:20.060
 part of Mark's

00:42:20.060 --> 00:42:20.680
 motive here

00:42:20.680 --> 00:42:22.340
 is to contrast

00:42:22.340 --> 00:42:23.760
 the difference

00:42:23.760 --> 00:42:24.740
 between true

00:42:24.740 --> 00:42:26.140
 and counterfeit

00:42:26.140 --> 00:42:27.320
 discipleship.

00:42:27.320 --> 00:42:30.340
 I believe

00:42:30.340 --> 00:42:30.920
 Judas

00:42:30.920 --> 00:42:32.340
 truly believed

00:42:32.340 --> 00:42:32.800
 that Jesus

00:42:32.800 --> 00:42:33.580
 was the Messiah.

00:42:35.700 --> 00:42:36.519
 I think

00:42:36.519 --> 00:42:36.940
 Judas

00:42:36.940 --> 00:42:37.640
 was unwilling

00:42:37.640 --> 00:42:38.519
 to accept

00:42:38.519 --> 00:42:40.019
 what Jesus

00:42:40.019 --> 00:42:40.380
 taught

00:42:40.380 --> 00:42:40.940
 was the true

00:42:40.940 --> 00:42:41.380
 purpose

00:42:41.380 --> 00:42:42.039
 of the Messiah

00:42:42.039 --> 00:42:44.420
 so that

00:42:44.420 --> 00:42:45.180
 in following

00:42:45.180 --> 00:42:45.700
 Jesus

00:42:45.700 --> 00:42:47.080
 he was looking

00:42:47.080 --> 00:42:47.820
 to gain

00:42:47.820 --> 00:42:48.519
 something from

00:42:48.519 --> 00:42:48.860
 Jesus

00:42:48.860 --> 00:42:49.360
 that he

00:42:49.360 --> 00:42:50.059
 wasn't actually

00:42:50.059 --> 00:42:50.480
 offering.

00:42:52.100 --> 00:42:53.160
 Track with me.

00:42:54.480 --> 00:42:54.760
 Judas

00:42:54.760 --> 00:42:55.140
 thinks

00:42:55.139 --> 00:42:55.759
 Jesus

00:42:55.759 --> 00:42:56.460
 is Messiah

00:42:56.460 --> 00:42:57.339
 that means

00:42:57.339 --> 00:42:58.379
 power and wealth

00:42:58.379 --> 00:42:59.099
 for all who

00:42:59.099 --> 00:42:59.799
 follow him.

00:43:00.159 --> 00:43:00.519
 I'm going to

00:43:00.519 --> 00:43:01.319
 stick in close

00:43:01.319 --> 00:43:01.940
 to this guy

00:43:01.940 --> 00:43:03.420
 because when he

00:43:03.420 --> 00:43:04.400
 rises to the top

00:43:04.400 --> 00:43:05.279
 I want to be

00:43:05.279 --> 00:43:06.079
 right there with him.

00:43:06.920 --> 00:43:07.839
 And for three years

00:43:07.839 --> 00:43:08.779
 he patiently

00:43:08.779 --> 00:43:09.960
 endures the teaching

00:43:09.960 --> 00:43:10.879
 he patiently

00:43:10.879 --> 00:43:11.920
 endures the hardship

00:43:11.920 --> 00:43:12.940
 thinking

00:43:12.940 --> 00:43:13.839
 that when they

00:43:13.839 --> 00:43:14.579
 finally get

00:43:14.579 --> 00:43:15.239
 to Jerusalem

00:43:15.239 --> 00:43:16.699
 this is what's

00:43:16.699 --> 00:43:17.440
 going to unfold

00:43:17.440 --> 00:43:17.960
 and I'm going to

00:43:17.960 --> 00:43:18.659
 be a part of that

00:43:18.659 --> 00:43:19.159
 process.

00:43:19.519 --> 00:43:20.099
 But as they

00:43:20.099 --> 00:43:20.779
 got closer

00:43:20.779 --> 00:43:21.259
 and closer

00:43:21.259 --> 00:43:21.960
 to Jerusalem

00:43:21.960 --> 00:43:22.879
 in this third year

00:43:22.879 --> 00:43:23.599
 he quickly

00:43:23.599 --> 00:43:24.199
 begins to

00:43:24.199 --> 00:43:24.579
 realize

00:43:24.579 --> 00:43:25.440
 that Jesus

00:43:25.440 --> 00:43:25.940
 is not

00:43:25.940 --> 00:43:26.279
 who I

00:43:26.279 --> 00:43:26.699
 think he

00:43:26.699 --> 00:43:27.039
 is

00:43:27.039 --> 00:43:27.799
 or at least

00:43:27.799 --> 00:43:28.360
 not he's

00:43:28.360 --> 00:43:28.719
 not the

00:43:28.719 --> 00:43:29.239
 Messiah

00:43:29.239 --> 00:43:29.639
 that I

00:43:29.639 --> 00:43:30.019
 think he

00:43:30.019 --> 00:43:30.299
 is.

00:43:31.659 --> 00:43:32.299
 I'm not

00:43:32.299 --> 00:43:32.539
 going to

00:43:32.539 --> 00:43:32.960
 get from

00:43:32.960 --> 00:43:33.380
 him what

00:43:33.380 --> 00:43:33.960
 I thought

00:43:33.960 --> 00:43:34.339
 I was

00:43:34.339 --> 00:43:34.619
 going to

00:43:34.619 --> 00:43:34.980
 get.

00:43:35.679 --> 00:43:36.639
 So Judas

00:43:36.639 --> 00:43:37.579
 cuts his

00:43:37.579 --> 00:43:37.980
 losses

00:43:37.980 --> 00:43:39.219
 and he

00:43:39.219 --> 00:43:39.759
 gets whatever

00:43:39.759 --> 00:43:40.559
 he can

00:43:40.559 --> 00:43:41.639
 out of it

00:43:41.639 --> 00:43:43.039
 which ends

00:43:43.039 --> 00:43:43.480
 up being

00:43:43.480 --> 00:43:44.119
 just 30

00:43:44.119 --> 00:43:44.739
 pieces of

00:43:44.739 --> 00:43:45.079
 silver

00:43:45.079 --> 00:43:45.940
 the cost

00:43:45.940 --> 00:43:46.179
 of a

00:43:46.179 --> 00:43:46.579
 slave

00:43:46.579 --> 00:43:48.380
 and he

00:43:48.380 --> 00:43:49.019
 betrays the

00:43:49.019 --> 00:43:49.279
 Lord

00:43:49.279 --> 00:43:49.940
 and he

00:43:49.940 --> 00:43:50.420
 runs away.

00:43:50.799 --> 00:43:51.019
 Why?

00:43:51.440 --> 00:43:51.900
 Because he

00:43:51.900 --> 00:43:52.400
 thought Jesus

00:43:52.400 --> 00:43:52.799
 was an

00:43:52.799 --> 00:43:53.279
 imposter?

00:43:53.760 --> 00:43:54.180
 No.

00:43:55.260 --> 00:43:55.720
 Couldn't

00:43:55.720 --> 00:43:56.060
 have.

00:43:56.580 --> 00:43:56.980
 He

00:43:56.980 --> 00:43:57.320
 witnessed

00:43:57.320 --> 00:43:57.760
 all the

00:43:57.760 --> 00:43:58.120
 stuff.

00:43:59.040 --> 00:43:59.320
 He

00:43:59.320 --> 00:43:59.740
 knew there

00:43:59.740 --> 00:43:59.900
 was

00:43:59.900 --> 00:44:00.180
 something

00:44:00.180 --> 00:44:00.780
 significant

00:44:00.780 --> 00:44:01.120
 about

00:44:01.120 --> 00:44:01.500
 Jesus.

00:44:01.700 --> 00:44:02.080
 What he

00:44:02.080 --> 00:44:02.700
 refused to

00:44:02.700 --> 00:44:03.260
 accept is

00:44:03.260 --> 00:44:03.720
 what Jesus

00:44:03.720 --> 00:44:04.300
 was offering.

00:44:05.900 --> 00:44:06.240
 Jesus

00:44:06.240 --> 00:44:06.700
 wasn't

00:44:06.700 --> 00:44:07.220
 ending up

00:44:07.220 --> 00:44:07.500
 going to

00:44:07.500 --> 00:44:08.220
 do for

00:44:08.220 --> 00:44:08.840
 Judas

00:44:08.840 --> 00:44:09.280
 what Judas

00:44:09.280 --> 00:44:09.640
 actually

00:44:09.640 --> 00:44:10.060
 wanted.

00:44:11.700 --> 00:44:12.360
 So he

00:44:12.360 --> 00:44:12.860
 follows that

00:44:12.860 --> 00:44:13.120
 as a

00:44:13.120 --> 00:44:13.700
 disciple for

00:44:13.700 --> 00:44:14.060
 a while

00:44:14.060 --> 00:44:14.640
 and eventually

00:44:14.640 --> 00:44:15.780
 he runs

00:44:15.780 --> 00:44:16.100
 away.

00:44:17.300 --> 00:44:17.640
 Mary

00:44:17.640 --> 00:44:18.360
 stands in

00:44:18.360 --> 00:44:19.280
 stark contrast

00:44:19.280 --> 00:44:19.780
 to this.

00:44:21.300 --> 00:44:21.720
 Here

00:44:21.720 --> 00:44:22.380
 Mary out

00:44:22.380 --> 00:44:23.039
 love for

00:44:23.039 --> 00:44:23.559
 Jesus

00:44:23.559 --> 00:44:25.579
 gives up

00:44:25.579 --> 00:44:26.079
 the thing

00:44:26.079 --> 00:44:26.440
 that is

00:44:26.440 --> 00:44:27.099
 most precious

00:44:27.099 --> 00:44:27.619
 to her

00:44:27.619 --> 00:44:28.119
 probably.

00:44:29.380 --> 00:44:29.880
 Judas

00:44:29.880 --> 00:44:30.260
 on the

00:44:30.260 --> 00:44:30.780
 other hand

00:44:30.780 --> 00:44:32.140
 runs away

00:44:32.140 --> 00:44:33.000
 from Jesus

00:44:33.000 --> 00:44:34.320
 because he

00:44:34.320 --> 00:44:34.840
 did not

00:44:34.840 --> 00:44:35.660
 receive

00:44:35.660 --> 00:44:36.900
 some precious

00:44:36.900 --> 00:44:37.400
 thing

00:44:37.400 --> 00:44:38.880
 from Jesus

00:44:38.880 --> 00:44:39.599
 in a material

00:44:39.599 --> 00:44:40.539
 sense that is.

00:44:41.000 --> 00:44:41.480
 Do you see the

00:44:41.480 --> 00:44:41.960
 difference here?

00:44:43.320 --> 00:44:44.160
 One is a

00:44:44.160 --> 00:44:44.680
 true follower

00:44:44.680 --> 00:44:45.160
 of Jesus.

00:44:45.840 --> 00:44:46.380
 One is a

00:44:46.380 --> 00:44:46.860
 counterfeit.

00:44:46.860 --> 00:44:48.840
 one has

00:44:48.840 --> 00:44:49.579
 truly come

00:44:49.579 --> 00:44:50.300
 to faith

00:44:50.300 --> 00:44:51.079
 in who

00:44:51.079 --> 00:44:51.740
 Jesus is

00:44:51.740 --> 00:44:52.079
 and what

00:44:52.079 --> 00:44:52.360
 Jesus

00:44:52.360 --> 00:44:52.740
 actually

00:44:52.740 --> 00:44:53.140
 came to

00:44:53.140 --> 00:44:53.360
 do.

00:44:53.640 --> 00:44:54.300
 One has

00:44:54.300 --> 00:44:54.480
 been

00:44:54.480 --> 00:44:54.840
 entertained

00:44:54.840 --> 00:44:55.559
 by Jesus

00:44:55.559 --> 00:44:56.120
 intrigued

00:44:56.120 --> 00:44:56.680
 by him

00:44:56.680 --> 00:44:56.940
 for a

00:44:56.940 --> 00:44:57.039
 little

00:44:57.039 --> 00:44:57.400
 while

00:44:57.400 --> 00:44:57.800
 but

00:44:57.800 --> 00:44:58.220
 eventually

00:44:58.220 --> 00:44:58.660
 falls

00:44:58.660 --> 00:44:59.019
 away.

00:45:00.220 --> 00:45:00.700
 That's

00:45:00.700 --> 00:45:01.140
 the difference

00:45:01.140 --> 00:45:01.640
 between the

00:45:01.640 --> 00:45:01.860
 two.

00:45:02.140 --> 00:45:02.400
 I think

00:45:02.400 --> 00:45:02.680
 Mark's

00:45:02.680 --> 00:45:03.120
 pointing that

00:45:03.120 --> 00:45:03.460
 out to

00:45:03.460 --> 00:45:03.780
 us here

00:45:03.780 --> 00:45:04.059
 in this

00:45:04.059 --> 00:45:04.400
 story.

00:45:05.360 --> 00:45:05.620
 Judas

00:45:05.620 --> 00:45:06.180
 represents

00:45:06.180 --> 00:45:06.640
 a host

00:45:06.640 --> 00:45:07.039
 of people

00:45:07.039 --> 00:45:07.380
 in each

00:45:07.380 --> 00:45:07.880
 generation

00:45:07.880 --> 00:45:08.340
 I think

00:45:08.340 --> 00:45:09.720
 who come

00:45:09.720 --> 00:45:10.160
 to Jesus

00:45:10.160 --> 00:45:10.740
 not in

00:45:10.740 --> 00:45:11.400
 faith

00:45:11.400 --> 00:45:12.639
 but in

00:45:12.639 --> 00:45:13.139
 hopes of

00:45:13.139 --> 00:45:13.720
 leveraging

00:45:13.720 --> 00:45:14.760
 his power

00:45:14.760 --> 00:45:15.920
 and his

00:45:15.920 --> 00:45:16.680
 compassion

00:45:16.680 --> 00:45:17.840
 into a

00:45:17.840 --> 00:45:18.460
 better life

00:45:18.460 --> 00:45:19.099
 for themselves

00:45:19.099 --> 00:45:21.240
 and eventually

00:45:21.240 --> 00:45:21.760
 when they

00:45:21.760 --> 00:45:22.900
 realize that

00:45:22.900 --> 00:45:23.539
 Jesus is

00:45:23.539 --> 00:45:24.119
 different than

00:45:24.119 --> 00:45:24.500
 what they

00:45:24.500 --> 00:45:25.180
 supposed

00:45:25.180 --> 00:45:26.360
 they betray

00:45:26.360 --> 00:45:26.860
 him to

00:45:26.860 --> 00:45:27.280
 pursue

00:45:27.280 --> 00:45:28.220
 some other

00:45:28.220 --> 00:45:28.559
 thing in

00:45:28.559 --> 00:45:28.900
 the world.

00:45:31.039 --> 00:45:32.059
 It's easy

00:45:32.059 --> 00:45:33.200
 to desire

00:45:33.200 --> 00:45:33.900
 the benefits

00:45:33.900 --> 00:45:34.400
 that may

00:45:34.400 --> 00:45:34.820
 come from

00:45:34.820 --> 00:45:35.119
 Jesus'

00:45:35.380 --> 00:45:35.740
 hand

00:45:35.740 --> 00:45:37.019
 more than

00:45:37.019 --> 00:45:38.300
 desiring

00:45:38.300 --> 00:45:38.720
 Jesus

00:45:38.720 --> 00:45:39.340
 himself

00:45:39.340 --> 00:45:41.380
 and I

00:45:41.380 --> 00:45:41.740
 think this

00:45:41.740 --> 00:45:42.059
 is the

00:45:42.059 --> 00:45:42.480
 key

00:45:42.480 --> 00:45:43.480
 difference

00:45:43.480 --> 00:45:43.960
 between

00:45:43.960 --> 00:45:44.740
 Mary

00:45:44.740 --> 00:45:45.440
 and Judas

00:45:45.440 --> 00:45:46.360
 between

00:45:46.360 --> 00:45:46.840
 the true

00:45:46.840 --> 00:45:47.300
 disciple

00:45:47.300 --> 00:45:47.720
 and

00:45:47.720 --> 00:45:48.340
 the

00:45:48.340 --> 00:45:48.980
 counterfeit

00:45:48.980 --> 00:45:50.019
 which leads

00:45:50.019 --> 00:45:50.300
 us to

00:45:50.300 --> 00:45:50.760
 ask a few

00:45:50.760 --> 00:45:51.400
 questions.

00:45:52.780 --> 00:45:53.460
 Is your

00:45:53.460 --> 00:45:54.260
 profession of

00:45:54.260 --> 00:45:54.720
 faith and

00:45:54.720 --> 00:45:55.220
 devotion

00:45:55.220 --> 00:45:56.760
 based on

00:45:56.760 --> 00:45:57.280
 who Jesus

00:45:57.280 --> 00:45:57.920
 is

00:45:57.920 --> 00:45:59.039
 and what

00:45:59.039 --> 00:45:59.380
 he has

00:45:59.380 --> 00:45:59.940
 accomplished

00:45:59.940 --> 00:46:00.380
 in his

00:46:00.380 --> 00:46:00.780
 death and

00:46:00.780 --> 00:46:01.320
 resurrection

00:46:01.320 --> 00:46:03.640
 or are you

00:46:03.640 --> 00:46:04.160
 coming to

00:46:04.160 --> 00:46:04.700
 Jesus for

00:46:04.700 --> 00:46:05.120
 some other

00:46:05.120 --> 00:46:06.160
 thing or

00:46:06.160 --> 00:46:06.559
 for some

00:46:06.559 --> 00:46:07.120
 other reason?

00:46:07.380 --> 00:46:07.840
 That's an

00:46:07.840 --> 00:46:08.640
 important question

00:46:08.640 --> 00:46:09.100
 we need to

00:46:09.099 --> 00:46:09.579
 ask.

00:46:11.319 --> 00:46:12.059
 Is my

00:46:12.059 --> 00:46:12.759
 devotion to

00:46:12.759 --> 00:46:13.380
 him based

00:46:13.380 --> 00:46:13.739
 on the

00:46:13.739 --> 00:46:14.880
 gospel or

00:46:14.880 --> 00:46:15.759
 something else?

00:46:18.299 --> 00:46:19.000
 Only the

00:46:19.000 --> 00:46:19.420
 one who

00:46:19.420 --> 00:46:19.940
 comes to

00:46:19.940 --> 00:46:20.739
 faith and

00:46:20.739 --> 00:46:21.619
 follow Jesus

00:46:21.619 --> 00:46:22.339
 as Lord

00:46:22.339 --> 00:46:23.279
 will actually

00:46:23.279 --> 00:46:23.880
 come to see

00:46:23.880 --> 00:46:24.319
 his true

00:46:24.319 --> 00:46:25.059
 worth and

00:46:25.059 --> 00:46:25.860
 will persevere

00:46:25.860 --> 00:46:26.420
 through that

00:46:26.420 --> 00:46:26.860
 hardship.

00:46:28.279 --> 00:46:29.000
 But then if

00:46:29.000 --> 00:46:29.239
 you're a

00:46:29.239 --> 00:46:29.799
 believer there's

00:46:29.799 --> 00:46:30.400
 other questions

00:46:30.400 --> 00:46:30.920
 we can ask

00:46:30.920 --> 00:46:31.420
 this morning.

00:46:32.619 --> 00:46:33.059
 Piercing

00:46:33.059 --> 00:46:34.139
 questions perhaps

00:46:34.139 --> 00:46:36.259
 that aren't

00:46:36.259 --> 00:46:37.219
 related so much

00:46:37.219 --> 00:46:37.679
 to whether or

00:46:37.679 --> 00:46:38.059
 not I'm a

00:46:38.059 --> 00:46:38.579
 true believer.

00:46:38.579 --> 00:46:39.099
 I know I'm a

00:46:39.099 --> 00:46:39.679
 true believer.

00:46:41.299 --> 00:46:41.779
 But is my

00:46:41.779 --> 00:46:42.519
 devotion to

00:46:42.519 --> 00:46:43.319
 Christ costing

00:46:43.319 --> 00:46:43.960
 me anything?

00:46:45.719 --> 00:46:46.699
 The passion that

00:46:46.699 --> 00:46:47.239
 I had for

00:46:47.239 --> 00:46:47.920
 Jesus in the

00:46:47.920 --> 00:46:49.039
 beginning hasn't

00:46:49.039 --> 00:46:50.299
 seemed to wear

00:46:50.299 --> 00:46:50.860
 down.

00:46:52.799 --> 00:46:53.679
 Am I as

00:46:53.679 --> 00:46:54.279
 faithful to

00:46:54.279 --> 00:46:55.119
 him as I

00:46:55.119 --> 00:46:56.000
 have always

00:46:56.000 --> 00:46:56.340
 been?

00:46:58.340 --> 00:46:59.159
 Am I

00:46:59.159 --> 00:47:00.159
 intentional,

00:47:01.599 --> 00:47:03.159
 calculated in

00:47:03.159 --> 00:47:03.779
 the way that I

00:47:03.779 --> 00:47:04.579
 live my life

00:47:04.579 --> 00:47:05.759
 for him?

00:47:06.059 --> 00:47:08.079
 Am I holding

00:47:08.079 --> 00:47:09.099
 anything back

00:47:09.099 --> 00:47:10.599
 from him?

00:47:10.599 --> 00:47:40.579
 Thank you.