WEBVTT

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 I love biographies. A good biography is both inspirational, it makes you want to do more for the Lord, it makes you want to pray more, it makes you want to serve the Lord more.

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 But there's another element, isn't there, in a good biography, you wonder how on earth did they get it all done?

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 And when it comes to people who are heroes, I think there's a really fine line between inspiration and encouragement.

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 People can be deeply inspiring, but they can also leave us mere mortals feeling a little discouraged, can't they?

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 Why aren't we more like them?

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 And what I often feel about heroes is often how I feel when I read about this woman in Matthew 26.

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 She is a woman who pays a terribly high price to honour Jesus.

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 She too is devoted to Jesus in an outstanding, super-Christian kind of way.

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 She too is prepared to make huge sacrifices in order to serve Jesus.

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 And I wonder how you react to her.

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 Does she inspire you?

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 Or does she just leave you feeling discouraged at the weakness of your own faith and your love for Christ?

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 And that's what I want us to explore this morning.

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 Now, before we get to the woman,

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 first we hear Jesus reminding us that he is going to die.

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 Firstly, that he is going to pay the price.

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 So look with me at Matthew 26 and verse 1.

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 Jesus is bringing his public teaching in Matthew's gospel to a close.

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 And now the attention moves to preparing his disciples for what is about to take place.

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 And he says to them,

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 Jesus has predicted his death, hasn't he, on several occasions.

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 But now he adds a crucial detail.

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 He tells them when.

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 He tells them when he will be handed over to be crucified during the Passover.

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 The Passover, we know, was that Jewish festival,

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 which recalled the exodus from Egypt.

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 That great moment when God brought his people out of Egypt.

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 When he sent that plague on the firstborn son of the Egyptians,

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 but he literally passed over the firstborn son of the Israelites.

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 And those Israelite houses were distinguished, weren't they,

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 by the blood of the lamb on the door.

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 And so there was this annual reminder of God's kindness and deliverance,

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 secured by the blood of the lamb.

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 And here you find Jesus telling his disciples that it's during that time,

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 the time of the Passover,

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 that he will give his life, he will pay the price.

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 He's beginning to suggest to them, isn't he,

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 that he is the new Passover lamb.

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 He is the new way to be safe in the face of death.

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 His blood will protect them.

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 Jesus dropped the hint, doesn't he?

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 In a couple of days, during that first Lord's Supper,

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 he'll explain it further.

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 But at this point, Matthew doesn't stop to explain it.

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 He just simply tells us what Jesus is predicting.

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 And what Jesus is predicting is exactly what the Jewish leaders are plotting.

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 It's striking, isn't it?

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 In verse 3, he uses the word then.

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 If this was a film,

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 I think we'd have a scene where Jesus tells his disciples

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 he's about to be crucified,

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 and then we'd cut straight to the palace of the high priest.

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 And the camera would zoom in on this conversation taking place.

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 And we'd hear them planning and plotting Jesus' arrest and crucifixion.

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 It's a stunning reminder to you and I, I think,

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 that Jesus is not going to be caught by surprise.

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 What is about to happen is about to happen

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 because God has planned it,

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 and Jesus foreknows it.

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 The chief priests and the elders,

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 they're in their headquarters.

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 They no doubt think that they are in the process

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 of taking control of the situation.

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 But they're not, are they?

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 Jesus is in control of it.

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 And what they are planning is exactly what Jesus has predicted.

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 And ironically, I think Matthew tells us they are in the palace.

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 They're behaving as if they've got some kind of sovereignty.

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 But in reality, Jesus is sovereign here.

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 And we see this even in what they said.

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 Look at verses 4 and 5.

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 And they plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him.

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 But they said, not during the feast,

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 lest there should be an uproar among the people.

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 They wanted to avoid killing Jesus during the Passover

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 because they didn't want to stir up trouble

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 for themselves among Jesus' followers.

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 The population of Jerusalem,

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 it swelled enormously during the Passover festival.

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 So politics is always a little bit more risky around that time.

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 But of course, Jesus already told us, isn't it,

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 that he would be killed during the Passover time.

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 It was then he would be handed over.

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 And so it proved to be that Jewish leaders are not in control.

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 They can't even do what they propose to do.

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 The events that are about to unfold will unfold exactly as God wants

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 and exactly as Jesus predicts.

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 But having reminded us so explicitly of the price that Jesus is soon to pay,

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 Matthew then chooses to tell us of the price this nameless woman pays.

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 Look at verse 6.

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 Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper,

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 a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask,

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 a very expensive ointment,

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 and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table.

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 It is nothing if not extravagant.

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 And Matthew tells us, doesn't he,

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 that it was very expensive.

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 Expert reckon it was some kind of heirloom,

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 an alabaster jar that had been handed down.

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 People say that it was the equivalent to a year's wages.

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 And so whichever way you look at it,

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 this wasn't some bottle of perfume that you pick up at the chemist.

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 It was an extremely generous gesture.

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 You notice that's how the disciples saw it.

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 They thought it was a waste.

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 And they take the moral high ground by pointing out

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 what could have been done with the money.

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 Look at verse 8.

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 And when the disciples saw it,

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 they were indignant, saying,

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 why this waste?

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 For this could have been sold for a large sum

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 and given to the poor.

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 They think the woman's actions are bizarre and unnecessary,

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 even frivolous.

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 And it's hard for you and I

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 not to sympathize with the disciples.

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 It's a pretty strange thing for this woman to do.

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 If someone spends a lot of money

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 buying a present for me,

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 I'd prefer if it was something that I could use,

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 wouldn't you?

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 And I reckon that is how the disciples felt

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 about this gift to Jesus.

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 It's not as if Jesus was any richer

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 walking away from this moment.

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 But nevertheless, the money has been spent, as it were.

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 And you can't help thinking,

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 they've made a good point, haven't they?

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 About how the poor may well have benefited

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 from the equivalent in cash.

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 But Jesus thinks they're missing the point.

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 They call it a waste.

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 He calls it beautiful.

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 Verse 10.

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 But Jesus, aware of this,

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 aware of what they were thinking,

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 said to them,

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 why do you trouble the woman?

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 For she has done a beautiful thing to me.

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 And verse 13.

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 Truly, I say to you,

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 wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world,

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 what she has done

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 will be told in memory of her.

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 Jesus is honoured

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 by the actions of this woman.

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 He's honoured by the extravagance of her action.

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 And it says something about how much she values Jesus.

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 What she thinks that Jesus is worth.

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 What he deserves.

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 It is not economically rational,

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 but it is something that transcends economics.

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 But I hasten to add,

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 it doesn't transcend reason.

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 This is a thoughtful and well-judged action,

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 even if it is extravagant.

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 And the woman believes in her heart

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 that Jesus' presence is a rare jewel.

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 And this moment of history,

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 and this moment of her life and his life,

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 honouring him,

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 is actually more important than giving to the poor.

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 And amazingly, Jesus agrees.

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 And that's why he says,

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 what she has done

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 will be told in her memory.

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 She has honoured him.

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 And now he says,

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 I will honour her.

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 She too will be honoured.

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 And indeed,

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 the fact that we are reading about her today,

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 as literally millions have done so throughout history,

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 is evidence Jesus was right.

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 And it's fascinating that Jesus honours her

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 in this way.

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 When you think of all the people

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 down throughout history,

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 all the people in the New Year's honours list

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 that you can't remember who they are,

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 all the great titles,

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 and all the great achievements,

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 and all the letters after their name,

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 and many of them have been completely forgotten.

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 And she is known.

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 This woman,

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 who in Matthew's account

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 doesn't even have a name,

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 she is remembered by every generation

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 who reads these words.

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 Known and remembered

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 for what she did to Jesus.

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 And that is why I think

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 she is nameless here.

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 Because what Jesus wants to honour

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 is not who she is,

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 but what she's done.

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 Because what she did

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 gives honour to Jesus.

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 It alerts us to Jesus' worth.

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 It tells us that Jesus

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 is someone

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 worth paying a very high price for indeed.

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 And that is why Jesus sees

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 her extravagant act of devotion

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 as a thing of beauty.

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 But Jesus sees, doesn't he,

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 an even deeper significance

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 in her actions.

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 Possibly a significance

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 that the woman

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 didn't even grasp herself.

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 Look at verse 12.

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 In pouring this ointment on my body,

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 she has done it

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 to prepare me for burial.

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 Jesus sees her act of anointing

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 as a special kind of anointing,

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 the kind of anointing

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 that dead bodies were given.

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 The pouring out of the perfume

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 was like Jesus being embalmed.

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 And Jesus sees this

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 beautiful moment

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 as a step

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 in his preparation

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 for that moment

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 to which his whole life

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 has been heading.

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 The moment when he would

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 pay the price,

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 when he would lay down his life

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 for his people.

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 And in a way,

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 she couldn't have understood that

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 at this point.

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 that even this woman

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 would be saved

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 by the death

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 that her anointing

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 prepared him for.

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 The last three verses

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 of our passage,

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 Matthew brings

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 into the foreground

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 this issue

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 that has been in the shadows

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 for this whole section.

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 He tells us,

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 matter of factly,

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 that Judas was one of

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 Jesus' 12 disciples.

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 And Judas goes

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 to the Jewish leaders

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 and he offers

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 to hand Jesus

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 over to them.

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 And the question

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 that he asks

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 in verse 15

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 gets to the heart

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 of the point

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 of this section.

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 Do you see what he asks?

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 What will you give me

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 if I deliver

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 him over to you?

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 What is Jesus worth

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 to you?

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 What is his cost?

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 He asks.

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 And their answer,

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 if you look at it,

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 is 30 silver coins.

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 So what a slave

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 was worth

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 in the Old Testament

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 is what shepherds

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 were paid.

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 Either way,

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 it's not a lot of money.

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 But Judas agrees

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 with the sum.

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 And so Judas

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 plays the part

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 of the economic realist.

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 Except that his act

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 is not really

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 rational at all.

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 Because in agreeing

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 with the sum,

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 he agrees

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 with the chief priests.

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 What was Jesus worth?

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 Not very much.

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 And of course,

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 this is what

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 the disciples

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 were struggling with

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 in verse 8,

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 weren't they?

00:12:40.399 --> 00:12:41.460
 They were not convinced

00:12:41.460 --> 00:12:43.000
 that Jesus was worth

00:12:43.000 --> 00:12:44.500
 what the women did.

00:12:45.360 --> 00:12:46.419
 The whole section

00:12:46.419 --> 00:12:47.240
 is about people

00:12:47.240 --> 00:12:48.820
 who undervalue Jesus.

00:12:49.320 --> 00:12:50.100
 The disciples

00:12:50.100 --> 00:12:51.539
 who thought

00:12:51.539 --> 00:12:52.240
 that the woman's

00:12:52.240 --> 00:12:53.840
 beautiful extravagance

00:12:53.840 --> 00:12:54.440
 was a waste.

00:12:54.899 --> 00:12:55.200
 Judas,

00:12:55.440 --> 00:12:56.580
 who would rather

00:12:56.580 --> 00:12:57.120
 profit

00:12:57.120 --> 00:12:58.259
 from Jesus' death

00:12:58.259 --> 00:12:59.120
 than prevent it.

00:12:59.639 --> 00:13:00.740
 And the Jewish leaders

00:13:00.740 --> 00:13:01.600
 who were

00:13:01.600 --> 00:13:03.639
 not only willing,

00:13:03.799 --> 00:13:04.779
 who were only willing

00:13:04.779 --> 00:13:05.220
 to part with

00:13:05.220 --> 00:13:06.360
 some loose change

00:13:06.360 --> 00:13:07.679
 to get what they wanted

00:13:07.679 --> 00:13:08.399
 all along.

00:13:09.519 --> 00:13:10.679
 In their own way,

00:13:10.840 --> 00:13:12.080
 all these characters

00:13:12.080 --> 00:13:13.220
 undervalue

00:13:13.220 --> 00:13:14.399
 Jesus.

00:13:16.139 --> 00:13:17.019
 And so together,

00:13:17.120 --> 00:13:18.159
 they provide the backdrop,

00:13:18.320 --> 00:13:18.519
 don't they?

00:13:18.539 --> 00:13:19.100
 The contrast

00:13:19.100 --> 00:13:20.620
 to this nameless woman.

00:13:22.060 --> 00:13:22.779
 That she alone,

00:13:22.860 --> 00:13:24.580
 of all the key players

00:13:24.580 --> 00:13:25.400
 in the story,

00:13:25.940 --> 00:13:27.040
 values Jesus

00:13:27.040 --> 00:13:28.660
 for what he's really worth.

00:13:29.360 --> 00:13:30.280
 She alone

00:13:30.280 --> 00:13:31.620
 sees Jesus

00:13:31.620 --> 00:13:33.139
 for who he truly is.

00:13:34.200 --> 00:13:34.960
 She alone

00:13:34.960 --> 00:13:36.020
 seems eager

00:13:36.020 --> 00:13:36.620
 that Jesus

00:13:36.620 --> 00:13:37.960
 gets what he deserves.

00:13:39.040 --> 00:13:40.940
 She is extravagant

00:13:40.940 --> 00:13:42.580
 while all the others

00:13:42.580 --> 00:13:43.000
 around her

00:13:43.000 --> 00:13:43.580
 are stingy

00:13:43.580 --> 00:13:44.180
 or worse.

00:13:45.960 --> 00:13:46.800
 And worst of all

00:13:46.800 --> 00:13:47.220
 is Judas.

00:13:48.620 --> 00:13:50.120
 He was one of the twelve,

00:13:50.460 --> 00:13:50.960
 one of Jesus'

00:13:51.100 --> 00:13:51.780
 closest friends,

00:13:51.779 --> 00:13:53.659
 those he confided in.

00:13:54.620 --> 00:13:54.919
 And yet,

00:13:55.019 --> 00:13:55.519
 he decides

00:13:55.519 --> 00:13:56.039
 that following

00:13:56.039 --> 00:13:57.600
 a so-called king

00:13:57.600 --> 00:13:58.779
 who was only

00:13:58.779 --> 00:13:59.419
 going to surrender

00:13:59.419 --> 00:14:00.120
 his life,

00:14:00.500 --> 00:14:00.759
 well,

00:14:00.799 --> 00:14:01.519
 it wasn't worth it.

00:14:02.839 --> 00:14:04.279
 Thirty pieces

00:14:04.279 --> 00:14:04.939
 of silver

00:14:04.939 --> 00:14:07.199
 would be worth

00:14:07.199 --> 00:14:07.779
 more than that.

00:14:08.959 --> 00:14:09.519
 And in verse two,

00:14:09.620 --> 00:14:11.079
 do you just notice

00:14:11.079 --> 00:14:11.919
 Jesus predicted

00:14:11.919 --> 00:14:13.059
 the words?

00:14:13.100 --> 00:14:13.339
 He says,

00:14:13.620 --> 00:14:14.679
 he would be handed

00:14:14.679 --> 00:14:16.120
 over to be crucified.

00:14:17.459 --> 00:14:18.100
 And at that point,

00:14:18.159 --> 00:14:19.120
 we didn't know

00:14:19.120 --> 00:14:19.559
 who by,

00:14:19.659 --> 00:14:20.519
 but by the time

00:14:20.519 --> 00:14:21.500
 we come to verse 16,

00:14:21.500 --> 00:14:22.539
 we make the discovery,

00:14:22.679 --> 00:14:22.980
 don't we,

00:14:23.080 --> 00:14:23.879
 that Jesus

00:14:23.879 --> 00:14:26.019
 will be handed

00:14:26.019 --> 00:14:26.899
 over,

00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:29.340
 will betray him.

00:14:31.039 --> 00:14:31.500
 You notice,

00:14:31.639 --> 00:14:31.879
 Matthew,

00:14:32.259 --> 00:14:32.840
 the ESV

00:14:32.840 --> 00:14:34.519
 doesn't bring this out,

00:14:35.480 --> 00:14:36.340
 but the words

00:14:36.340 --> 00:14:37.340
 should be there again

00:14:37.340 --> 00:14:38.399
 that sought

00:14:38.399 --> 00:14:39.279
 to hand him

00:14:39.279 --> 00:14:39.899
 over.

00:14:41.179 --> 00:14:42.200
 It turns out

00:14:42.200 --> 00:14:42.779
 that Judas

00:14:42.779 --> 00:14:44.120
 is the handover man.

00:14:45.200 --> 00:14:45.860
 And so,

00:14:45.960 --> 00:14:46.779
 the chain of events

00:14:46.779 --> 00:14:47.580
 has been started

00:14:47.580 --> 00:14:48.320
 that will lead

00:14:48.320 --> 00:14:49.440
 to Jesus' death,

00:14:50.100 --> 00:14:50.679
 the fulfillment

00:14:50.679 --> 00:14:51.739
 of his prediction.

00:14:53.179 --> 00:14:53.639
 And we see

00:14:53.639 --> 00:14:54.079
 something else

00:14:54.079 --> 00:14:54.679
 that these three

00:14:54.679 --> 00:14:55.419
 short sections

00:14:55.419 --> 00:14:56.219
 have in common.

00:14:56.579 --> 00:14:57.639
 Not only is Jesus

00:14:57.639 --> 00:14:58.879
 worth being debated,

00:14:59.599 --> 00:15:00.739
 but Jesus' death

00:15:00.739 --> 00:15:01.219
 is on view

00:15:01.219 --> 00:15:01.839
 at every point.

00:15:02.159 --> 00:15:02.319
 So,

00:15:02.459 --> 00:15:03.079
 verse four,

00:15:03.459 --> 00:15:04.439
 the Jewish leaders

00:15:04.439 --> 00:15:05.799
 are plotting

00:15:05.799 --> 00:15:06.620
 Jesus' death.

00:15:07.439 --> 00:15:08.000
 And then you have

00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:08.299
 the woman

00:15:08.299 --> 00:15:09.719
 with the alabaster jar

00:15:09.719 --> 00:15:10.759
 who is preparing

00:15:10.759 --> 00:15:12.239
 Jesus for death.

00:15:12.959 --> 00:15:13.759
 And then we see

00:15:13.759 --> 00:15:15.319
 Judas receiving money

00:15:15.319 --> 00:15:16.319
 to bring about

00:15:16.319 --> 00:15:17.319
 Jesus' death.

00:15:17.320 --> 00:15:20.180
 each in their own way.

00:15:20.540 --> 00:15:21.060
 These people

00:15:21.060 --> 00:15:22.180
 are participating.

00:15:23.760 --> 00:15:24.960
 But only one

00:15:24.960 --> 00:15:27.280
 had any hint

00:15:27.280 --> 00:15:29.740
 that Jesus' death

00:15:29.740 --> 00:15:30.879
 was part of what

00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:32.160
 Jesus made

00:15:32.160 --> 00:15:32.879
 Jesus worthy.

00:15:33.720 --> 00:15:34.480
 And only one

00:15:34.480 --> 00:15:35.040
 would benefit

00:15:35.040 --> 00:15:36.000
 from Jesus' death

00:15:36.000 --> 00:15:36.680
 and one would be

00:15:36.680 --> 00:15:37.640
 enriched far more

00:15:37.640 --> 00:15:38.740
 generously than she

00:15:38.740 --> 00:15:39.320
 had been generous

00:15:39.320 --> 00:15:39.700
 to him.

00:15:40.700 --> 00:15:41.560
 And it really is

00:15:41.560 --> 00:15:42.060
 the difference

00:15:42.060 --> 00:15:43.120
 between this nameless

00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:44.040
 woman and everyone

00:15:44.040 --> 00:15:45.080
 else in the story

00:15:45.080 --> 00:15:46.080
 that I think is at the

00:15:46.080 --> 00:15:46.840
 heart of this section

00:15:46.840 --> 00:15:47.240
 of Matthew.

00:15:48.480 --> 00:15:49.860
 Surrounded by people

00:15:49.860 --> 00:15:51.420
 who are participating

00:15:51.420 --> 00:15:52.520
 in killing Jesus,

00:15:53.040 --> 00:15:54.420
 this woman lovingly

00:15:54.420 --> 00:15:55.280
 prepares his body

00:15:55.280 --> 00:15:57.320
 for what he says

00:15:57.320 --> 00:15:58.160
 he must undergo.

00:15:59.240 --> 00:16:00.280
 And surrounded by people

00:16:00.280 --> 00:16:01.620
 who undervalue Jesus,

00:16:01.920 --> 00:16:03.740
 she sees his true worth

00:16:03.740 --> 00:16:04.660
 and she treats him

00:16:04.660 --> 00:16:05.100
 accordingly.

00:16:06.420 --> 00:16:08.120
 And so it is her action

00:16:08.120 --> 00:16:10.020
 that shines like a floodlight

00:16:10.020 --> 00:16:11.320
 against the dark backdrop

00:16:11.320 --> 00:16:12.600
 that these other

00:16:12.600 --> 00:16:13.740
 characters provide.

00:16:16.080 --> 00:16:16.960
 But as I said

00:16:16.960 --> 00:16:17.440
 at the start

00:16:17.440 --> 00:16:17.980
 of this sermon,

00:16:18.120 --> 00:16:18.759
 I am in danger

00:16:18.759 --> 00:16:20.280
 of finding this woman's

00:16:20.280 --> 00:16:22.040
 act more discouraging

00:16:22.040 --> 00:16:22.879
 than inspiring.

00:16:24.480 --> 00:16:25.500
 I'm left wondering

00:16:25.500 --> 00:16:25.960
 to myself,

00:16:26.200 --> 00:16:27.400
 what would I have done

00:16:27.400 --> 00:16:27.960
 if I'd have been

00:16:27.960 --> 00:16:28.780
 at that dinner party?

00:16:30.400 --> 00:16:31.460
 I'm left feeling

00:16:31.460 --> 00:16:32.560
 it's pretty unlikely

00:16:32.560 --> 00:16:33.160
 I would have done

00:16:33.160 --> 00:16:34.160
 what the woman did.

00:16:35.120 --> 00:16:36.420
 I'm left feeling

00:16:36.420 --> 00:16:37.200
 that her devotion

00:16:37.200 --> 00:16:38.440
 is hard to match.

00:16:38.780 --> 00:16:39.680
 Maybe my faith

00:16:39.680 --> 00:16:41.080
 is weak by comparison.

00:16:42.060 --> 00:16:43.100
 My love for Christ

00:16:43.100 --> 00:16:44.820
 is paltry compared

00:16:44.820 --> 00:16:45.700
 to hers.

00:16:46.360 --> 00:16:47.060
 And though I feel

00:16:47.060 --> 00:16:47.519
 in my heart

00:16:47.519 --> 00:16:48.820
 I should be inspired

00:16:48.820 --> 00:16:49.540
 by her,

00:16:49.980 --> 00:16:50.940
 in actual fact,

00:16:51.139 --> 00:16:51.980
 I can walk away

00:16:51.980 --> 00:16:52.500
 from the sermon

00:16:52.500 --> 00:16:53.320
 feeling deflated

00:16:53.320 --> 00:16:54.860
 and discouraged.

00:16:56.320 --> 00:16:57.399
 But what I've come to see

00:16:57.399 --> 00:16:57.940
 as I've studied

00:16:57.940 --> 00:16:58.879
 this passage this week

00:16:58.879 --> 00:17:00.159
 is if I walk away

00:17:00.159 --> 00:17:00.759
 like that,

00:17:00.820 --> 00:17:01.480
 I've completely

00:17:01.480 --> 00:17:02.480
 missed the whole point.

00:17:03.720 --> 00:17:04.519
 Because Matthew

00:17:04.519 --> 00:17:05.299
 doesn't want me

00:17:05.299 --> 00:17:06.019
 to be discouraged

00:17:06.019 --> 00:17:06.799
 by this woman

00:17:06.799 --> 00:17:08.059
 and nor does he want

00:17:08.059 --> 00:17:09.039
 me to be inspired

00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:09.779
 by this woman.

00:17:10.599 --> 00:17:11.460
 He wants me,

00:17:12.279 --> 00:17:13.079
 he wants you

00:17:13.079 --> 00:17:14.740
 to see Jesus.

00:17:16.960 --> 00:17:18.619
 He wants you

00:17:18.619 --> 00:17:19.240
 and me to see

00:17:19.240 --> 00:17:20.200
 what she saw.

00:17:21.339 --> 00:17:22.619
 That is the secret.

00:17:24.019 --> 00:17:25.079
 That's what makes

00:17:25.079 --> 00:17:26.139
 this woman willing

00:17:26.139 --> 00:17:27.059
 to honour Jesus

00:17:27.059 --> 00:17:28.639
 so extravagantly.

00:17:29.379 --> 00:17:30.839
 What makes this woman

00:17:30.839 --> 00:17:31.619
 so willing

00:17:31.619 --> 00:17:33.240
 to pay such a high price

00:17:33.240 --> 00:17:35.460
 to serve Jesus?

00:17:36.799 --> 00:17:38.480
 She sees

00:17:38.480 --> 00:17:39.039
 what Jesus

00:17:39.039 --> 00:17:39.940
 is worth

00:17:39.940 --> 00:17:41.019
 and because she

00:17:41.019 --> 00:17:41.720
 sees Jesus

00:17:41.720 --> 00:17:42.440
 clearly,

00:17:42.899 --> 00:17:43.940
 what she does

00:17:43.940 --> 00:17:45.000
 is the most natural

00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:45.639
 thing to her

00:17:45.639 --> 00:17:46.220
 in the world.

00:17:47.980 --> 00:17:48.579
 And what I want

00:17:48.579 --> 00:17:49.799
 to impress upon you

00:17:49.799 --> 00:17:50.319
 today

00:17:50.319 --> 00:17:51.359
 is that it is

00:17:51.359 --> 00:17:52.740
 a massive mistake

00:17:52.740 --> 00:17:53.480
 to see something

00:17:53.480 --> 00:17:54.139
 like this

00:17:54.139 --> 00:17:55.960
 and see something

00:17:55.960 --> 00:17:56.599
 like this woman

00:17:56.599 --> 00:17:57.059
 does

00:17:57.059 --> 00:17:57.779
 and marvel

00:17:57.779 --> 00:17:58.619
 at her faith.

00:17:58.960 --> 00:17:59.859
 It's a mistake

00:17:59.859 --> 00:18:01.019
 because it falsely

00:18:01.019 --> 00:18:02.039
 assumes that what

00:18:02.039 --> 00:18:02.859
 makes this woman

00:18:02.859 --> 00:18:04.259
 different to me

00:18:04.259 --> 00:18:05.059
 and you

00:18:05.059 --> 00:18:05.700
 is that she has

00:18:05.700 --> 00:18:06.319
 more faith.

00:18:06.799 --> 00:18:08.639
 stronger faith

00:18:08.639 --> 00:18:08.940
 or something

00:18:08.940 --> 00:18:09.440
 like that

00:18:09.440 --> 00:18:10.740
 and that's the

00:18:10.740 --> 00:18:11.180
 very thing

00:18:11.180 --> 00:18:11.879
 that creates

00:18:11.879 --> 00:18:12.839
 discouragement

00:18:12.839 --> 00:18:13.859
 but in fact

00:18:13.859 --> 00:18:15.399
 if there is

00:18:15.399 --> 00:18:15.919
 a difference

00:18:15.919 --> 00:18:16.779
 between me

00:18:16.779 --> 00:18:17.799
 and her

00:18:17.799 --> 00:18:19.159
 it's simply

00:18:19.159 --> 00:18:19.960
 that she sees

00:18:19.960 --> 00:18:20.539
 Jesus more

00:18:20.539 --> 00:18:21.419
 clearly than I do.

00:18:23.359 --> 00:18:24.359
 That she has

00:18:24.359 --> 00:18:25.059
 seen Jesus

00:18:25.059 --> 00:18:25.940
 more clearly

00:18:25.940 --> 00:18:27.019
 than I do

00:18:27.019 --> 00:18:27.460
 and that is

00:18:27.460 --> 00:18:28.159
 the mistake

00:18:28.159 --> 00:18:29.980
 I think I make

00:18:29.980 --> 00:18:30.879
 with biographies

00:18:30.880 --> 00:18:33.480
 and heroes

00:18:33.480 --> 00:18:33.820
 of the faith

00:18:33.820 --> 00:18:34.420
 I think that

00:18:34.420 --> 00:18:35.600
 it's the amount

00:18:35.600 --> 00:18:36.180
 of faith they

00:18:36.180 --> 00:18:36.880
 had or the

00:18:36.880 --> 00:18:37.340
 strength of

00:18:37.340 --> 00:18:37.860
 their love

00:18:37.860 --> 00:18:38.440
 for Jesus

00:18:38.440 --> 00:18:39.460
 but in actual

00:18:39.460 --> 00:18:40.000
 fact

00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:41.680
 their lives

00:18:41.680 --> 00:18:42.480
 are simply

00:18:42.480 --> 00:18:43.220
 a product

00:18:43.220 --> 00:18:43.840
 of the fact

00:18:43.840 --> 00:18:44.220
 that they

00:18:44.220 --> 00:18:44.780
 have seen

00:18:44.780 --> 00:18:45.220
 Jesus

00:18:45.220 --> 00:18:45.900
 more clearly

00:18:45.900 --> 00:18:48.700
 and they

00:18:48.700 --> 00:18:49.300
 know deep

00:18:49.300 --> 00:18:49.740
 in their

00:18:49.740 --> 00:18:50.120
 soul

00:18:50.120 --> 00:18:50.740
 what Jesus

00:18:50.740 --> 00:18:51.680
 is worth

00:18:51.680 --> 00:18:53.860
 and that is

00:18:53.860 --> 00:18:54.100
 the way

00:18:54.100 --> 00:18:54.680
 with everyone

00:18:54.680 --> 00:18:55.259
 who pays a

00:18:55.259 --> 00:18:55.780
 great price

00:18:55.780 --> 00:18:56.259
 to serve

00:18:56.259 --> 00:18:56.640
 Jesus

00:18:56.640 --> 00:18:57.160
 and honour

00:18:57.160 --> 00:18:57.360
 him

00:18:57.360 --> 00:18:58.060
 extravagantly

00:18:58.059 --> 00:18:59.519
 there are

00:18:59.519 --> 00:19:00.359
 no

00:19:00.359 --> 00:19:01.200
 super

00:19:01.200 --> 00:19:01.779
 Christians

00:19:01.779 --> 00:19:04.299
 but there

00:19:04.299 --> 00:19:04.879
 is a

00:19:04.879 --> 00:19:05.139
 super

00:19:05.139 --> 00:19:05.659
 Christ

00:19:05.659 --> 00:19:08.619
 and there

00:19:08.619 --> 00:19:09.079
 are Christians

00:19:09.079 --> 00:19:09.419
 who see

00:19:09.419 --> 00:19:09.659
 that

00:19:09.659 --> 00:19:12.159
 who see

00:19:12.159 --> 00:19:12.919
 Jesus

00:19:12.919 --> 00:19:13.460
 for all

00:19:13.460 --> 00:19:13.980
 he's worth

00:19:13.980 --> 00:19:15.759
 and there

00:19:15.759 --> 00:19:16.259
 are Christians

00:19:16.259 --> 00:19:16.859
 whose vision

00:19:16.859 --> 00:19:17.279
 of Jesus

00:19:17.279 --> 00:19:18.319
 is blurred

00:19:18.319 --> 00:19:20.639
 and they

00:19:20.639 --> 00:19:21.059
 are therefore

00:19:21.059 --> 00:19:21.879
 pretty stingy

00:19:21.879 --> 00:19:22.419
 or worse

00:19:22.419 --> 00:19:25.039
 and what

00:19:25.039 --> 00:19:25.740
 would it

00:19:25.740 --> 00:19:26.019
 take

00:19:26.019 --> 00:19:26.639
 I wonder

00:19:26.640 --> 00:19:29.740
 for you

00:19:29.740 --> 00:19:30.000
 and I

00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:30.720
 to give

00:19:30.720 --> 00:19:31.259
 a year's

00:19:31.259 --> 00:19:31.580
 salary

00:19:31.580 --> 00:19:33.140
 to the

00:19:33.140 --> 00:19:33.360
 work of

00:19:33.360 --> 00:19:33.600
 the kingdom

00:19:33.600 --> 00:19:34.060
 of God

00:19:34.060 --> 00:19:35.800
 what would

00:19:35.800 --> 00:19:35.980
 it take

00:19:35.980 --> 00:19:36.240
 for you

00:19:36.240 --> 00:19:36.400
 and I

00:19:36.400 --> 00:19:36.980
 to surrender

00:19:36.980 --> 00:19:37.600
 a life

00:19:37.600 --> 00:19:38.120
 of comfort

00:19:38.120 --> 00:19:38.480
 and to

00:19:38.480 --> 00:19:39.000
 sacrifice

00:19:39.000 --> 00:19:39.560
 greatly

00:19:39.560 --> 00:19:41.080
 for Christ

00:19:41.080 --> 00:19:41.480
 church

00:19:41.480 --> 00:19:43.259
 what would

00:19:43.259 --> 00:19:43.500
 it take

00:19:43.500 --> 00:19:43.960
 for you

00:19:43.960 --> 00:19:44.160
 and I

00:19:44.160 --> 00:19:44.640
 to hand

00:19:44.640 --> 00:19:45.020
 over

00:19:45.020 --> 00:19:45.440
 our

00:19:45.440 --> 00:19:46.020
 biggest

00:19:46.020 --> 00:19:46.520
 fears

00:19:46.520 --> 00:19:47.160
 to Jesus

00:19:47.160 --> 00:19:48.380
 and to

00:19:48.380 --> 00:19:49.460
 go wherever

00:19:49.460 --> 00:19:49.840
 he wanted

00:19:49.840 --> 00:19:50.160
 and to

00:19:50.160 --> 00:19:50.540
 speak

00:19:50.540 --> 00:19:50.880
 in the way

00:19:50.880 --> 00:19:51.080
 that he

00:19:51.080 --> 00:19:51.400
 wants us

00:19:51.400 --> 00:19:51.580
 to

00:19:51.580 --> 00:19:54.680
 what would

00:19:54.680 --> 00:19:54.880
 it take

00:19:54.880 --> 00:19:55.180
 this

00:19:55.180 --> 00:19:55.820
 nameless

00:19:55.820 --> 00:19:56.180
 woman

00:19:56.180 --> 00:19:56.880
 would tell

00:19:56.880 --> 00:19:57.180
 us one

00:19:57.180 --> 00:19:57.420
 thing

00:19:57.420 --> 00:19:57.640
 this

00:19:57.640 --> 00:19:57.940
 morning

00:19:57.940 --> 00:19:59.259
 she

00:19:59.259 --> 00:19:59.400
 would

00:19:59.400 --> 00:19:59.519
 tell

00:19:59.519 --> 00:19:59.640
 us

00:19:59.640 --> 00:19:59.960
 to see

00:19:59.960 --> 00:20:00.360
 Jesus

00:20:00.360 --> 00:20:02.039
 to know

00:20:02.039 --> 00:20:02.299
 who he

00:20:02.299 --> 00:20:02.600
 is

00:20:02.600 --> 00:20:04.200
 to know

00:20:04.200 --> 00:20:04.440
 him as

00:20:04.440 --> 00:20:04.799
 the king

00:20:04.799 --> 00:20:05.400
 who died

00:20:05.400 --> 00:20:05.860
 who is

00:20:05.860 --> 00:20:06.320
 worthy

00:20:06.320 --> 00:20:08.100
 and when

00:20:08.100 --> 00:20:08.580
 you know

00:20:08.580 --> 00:20:09.380
 his true

00:20:09.380 --> 00:20:09.700
 worth

00:20:09.700 --> 00:20:10.400
 deep in

00:20:10.400 --> 00:20:10.920
 your soul

00:20:10.920 --> 00:20:11.200
 there'll

00:20:11.200 --> 00:20:12.480
 be nothing

00:20:12.480 --> 00:20:14.460
 you'd rather

00:20:14.460 --> 00:20:15.120
 hang on to

00:20:15.120 --> 00:20:15.640
 than him

00:20:15.640 --> 00:20:17.120
 and there'll

00:20:17.120 --> 00:20:17.620
 be nothing

00:20:17.620 --> 00:20:18.140
 at all

00:20:18.140 --> 00:20:18.860
 to fear

00:20:18.860 --> 00:20:20.000
 in surrendering

00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:20.360
 yourself

00:20:20.360 --> 00:20:20.900
 to him

00:20:20.900 --> 00:20:23.799
 come to think

00:20:23.799 --> 00:20:23.940
 of it

00:20:23.940 --> 00:20:24.380
 what would

00:20:24.380 --> 00:20:24.780
 it take

00:20:24.780 --> 00:20:27.060
 to just

00:20:27.060 --> 00:20:27.300
 give a

00:20:27.300 --> 00:20:27.640
 tenth of

00:20:27.640 --> 00:20:28.120
 your salary

00:20:28.120 --> 00:20:28.440
 to the

00:20:28.440 --> 00:20:28.660
 work of

00:20:28.660 --> 00:20:29.000
 the church

00:20:29.000 --> 00:20:31.180
 or simply

00:20:31.180 --> 00:20:31.640
 to pray

00:20:31.640 --> 00:20:32.340
 more

00:20:32.340 --> 00:20:34.000
 what would

00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:34.280
 it take

00:20:34.280 --> 00:20:34.560
 for us

00:20:34.560 --> 00:20:35.020
 to repent

00:20:35.020 --> 00:20:35.720
 of those

00:20:35.720 --> 00:20:36.020
 sins

00:20:36.020 --> 00:20:36.340
 that we

00:20:36.340 --> 00:20:37.200
 constantly

00:20:37.200 --> 00:20:37.700
 battle

00:20:37.700 --> 00:20:38.120
 with

00:20:38.120 --> 00:20:40.000
 what would

00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:40.300
 it take

00:20:40.300 --> 00:20:40.820
 for you

00:20:40.820 --> 00:20:40.980
 and I

00:20:40.980 --> 00:20:41.340
 to speak

00:20:41.340 --> 00:20:41.620
 more

00:20:41.620 --> 00:20:42.740
 enthusiastically

00:20:42.740 --> 00:20:43.360
 about Jesus

00:20:43.360 --> 00:20:43.860
 to family

00:20:43.860 --> 00:20:44.300
 and friends

00:20:44.300 --> 00:20:44.860
 what would

00:20:44.860 --> 00:20:45.200
 it take

00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:45.500
 for us

00:20:45.500 --> 00:20:45.980
 to love

00:20:45.980 --> 00:20:46.240
 more

00:20:46.240 --> 00:20:46.820
 graciously

00:20:46.820 --> 00:20:47.460
 those we

00:20:47.460 --> 00:20:47.940
 find it

00:20:47.940 --> 00:20:48.460
 really

00:20:48.460 --> 00:20:48.840
 difficult

00:20:48.840 --> 00:20:49.340
 to love

00:20:49.339 --> 00:20:49.619
 love

00:20:49.619 --> 00:20:51.339
 and this

00:20:51.339 --> 00:20:51.699
 nameless

00:20:51.699 --> 00:20:52.039
 woman

00:20:52.039 --> 00:20:53.679
 would say

00:20:53.679 --> 00:20:53.980
 the same

00:20:53.980 --> 00:20:54.439
 thing to us

00:20:54.439 --> 00:20:54.879
 this morning

00:20:54.879 --> 00:20:55.379
 see

00:20:55.379 --> 00:20:56.119
 Jesus

00:20:56.119 --> 00:20:58.819
 you see

00:20:58.819 --> 00:20:59.740
 this passage

00:20:59.740 --> 00:21:00.679
 isn't really

00:21:00.679 --> 00:21:01.099
 about the

00:21:01.099 --> 00:21:01.339
 woman

00:21:01.339 --> 00:21:03.720
 it's about

00:21:03.720 --> 00:21:04.199
 the man

00:21:04.199 --> 00:21:04.720
 whose head

00:21:04.720 --> 00:21:05.299
 she covers

00:21:05.299 --> 00:21:05.939
 with perfume

00:21:05.939 --> 00:21:07.839
 she is

00:21:07.839 --> 00:21:08.439
 nameless

00:21:08.439 --> 00:21:09.839
 he is not

00:21:09.839 --> 00:21:11.879
 and at the

00:21:11.879 --> 00:21:12.159
 end of the

00:21:12.159 --> 00:21:12.359
 day we

00:21:12.359 --> 00:21:12.699
 don't need

00:21:12.699 --> 00:21:12.939
 to know

00:21:12.939 --> 00:21:13.439
 her name

00:21:13.439 --> 00:21:15.419
 but we

00:21:15.419 --> 00:21:15.699
 do need

00:21:15.699 --> 00:21:15.980
 to know

00:21:15.980 --> 00:21:16.720
 what compels

00:21:16.720 --> 00:21:17.500
 her to act

00:21:17.500 --> 00:21:18.119
 in the way

00:21:18.119 --> 00:21:18.400
 that she

00:21:18.400 --> 00:21:18.720
 did

00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:19.220
 and what

00:21:19.220 --> 00:21:19.740
 this passage

00:21:19.740 --> 00:21:20.640
 keeps thrusting

00:21:20.640 --> 00:21:21.279
 before us

00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:21.819
 is what

00:21:21.819 --> 00:21:22.400
 is Jesus

00:21:22.400 --> 00:21:23.019
 worth

00:21:23.019 --> 00:21:25.660
 and the

00:21:25.660 --> 00:21:26.079
 answer

00:21:26.079 --> 00:21:26.779
 is that

00:21:26.779 --> 00:21:27.099
 Jesus

00:21:27.099 --> 00:21:28.000
 is worthy

00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:28.460
 of what

00:21:28.460 --> 00:21:28.920
 this woman

00:21:28.920 --> 00:21:29.539
 did for him

00:21:29.539 --> 00:21:30.059
 and much

00:21:30.059 --> 00:21:30.740
 much more

00:21:30.740 --> 00:21:32.740
 Jesus name

00:21:32.740 --> 00:21:33.220
 is a name

00:21:33.220 --> 00:21:33.500
 that we

00:21:33.500 --> 00:21:34.119
 do know

00:21:34.119 --> 00:21:34.920
 because at

00:21:34.920 --> 00:21:35.259
 the end

00:21:35.259 --> 00:21:35.460
 of the

00:21:35.460 --> 00:21:35.740
 day

00:21:35.740 --> 00:21:36.680
 we do

00:21:36.680 --> 00:21:36.980
 need to

00:21:36.980 --> 00:21:37.319
 know him

00:21:37.319 --> 00:21:38.720
 and the

00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:39.019
 more we

00:21:39.019 --> 00:21:39.660
 know him

00:21:39.660 --> 00:21:40.019
 the more

00:21:40.019 --> 00:21:40.319
 we are

00:21:40.319 --> 00:21:41.579
 more likely

00:21:41.579 --> 00:21:41.920
 we are

00:21:41.920 --> 00:21:42.279
 to see

00:21:42.279 --> 00:21:42.579
 that what

00:21:42.579 --> 00:21:43.059
 the world

00:21:43.059 --> 00:21:43.500
 regards

00:21:43.500 --> 00:21:43.759
 as a

00:21:43.759 --> 00:21:44.700
 total waste

00:21:44.700 --> 00:21:45.900
 being as

00:21:45.900 --> 00:21:46.299
 a Christian

00:21:46.299 --> 00:21:47.000
 living as

00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:47.460
 a Christian

00:21:47.460 --> 00:21:48.180
 Christian

00:21:48.180 --> 00:21:48.740
 priorities

00:21:48.740 --> 00:21:50.059
 even giving

00:21:50.059 --> 00:21:50.840
 of ourselves

00:21:50.840 --> 00:21:51.360
 to kingdom

00:21:51.360 --> 00:21:51.860
 ministry

00:21:51.860 --> 00:21:52.860
 the world

00:21:52.860 --> 00:21:53.319
 sees that

00:21:53.319 --> 00:21:53.819
 those things

00:21:53.819 --> 00:21:54.819
 are a waste

00:21:54.819 --> 00:21:57.180
 but actually

00:21:57.180 --> 00:21:57.579
 they are

00:21:57.579 --> 00:21:58.120
 beautiful

00:21:58.120 --> 00:21:59.240
 in the

00:21:59.240 --> 00:21:59.620
 sight of

00:21:59.620 --> 00:21:59.980
 God

00:21:59.980 --> 00:22:03.640
 more to

00:22:03.640 --> 00:22:04.100
 the point

00:22:04.100 --> 00:22:05.840
 the more

00:22:05.840 --> 00:22:06.240
 that we

00:22:06.240 --> 00:22:06.819
 know him

00:22:06.819 --> 00:22:08.420
 the more

00:22:08.420 --> 00:22:09.160
 likely we

00:22:09.160 --> 00:22:09.559
 are to

00:22:09.559 --> 00:22:10.059
 see

00:22:10.059 --> 00:22:11.160
 that what

00:22:11.160 --> 00:22:11.980
 we sometimes

00:22:11.980 --> 00:22:13.059
 regard as a

00:22:13.059 --> 00:22:13.480
 waste

00:22:13.480 --> 00:22:14.440
 is beautiful

00:22:14.440 --> 00:22:15.059
 to him

00:22:15.059 --> 00:22:17.639
 and I

00:22:17.639 --> 00:22:17.799
 want to

00:22:17.799 --> 00:22:18.059
 bring you

00:22:18.059 --> 00:22:18.500
 this message

00:22:18.500 --> 00:22:18.740
 today

00:22:18.740 --> 00:22:19.379
 because as

00:22:19.379 --> 00:22:20.159
 you seek

00:22:20.159 --> 00:22:20.839
 to share

00:22:20.839 --> 00:22:21.500
 the gospel

00:22:21.500 --> 00:22:22.339
 with those

00:22:22.339 --> 00:22:22.960
 around you

00:22:22.960 --> 00:22:25.159
 you and I

00:22:25.159 --> 00:22:25.500
 need to

00:22:25.500 --> 00:22:26.119
 remember that

00:22:26.119 --> 00:22:26.679
 what people

00:22:26.679 --> 00:22:28.200
 don't need

00:22:28.200 --> 00:22:29.240
 them need

00:22:29.240 --> 00:22:29.799
 us to tell

00:22:29.799 --> 00:22:30.139
 them is

00:22:30.139 --> 00:22:30.779
 kind of how

00:22:30.779 --> 00:22:31.399
 much faith

00:22:31.399 --> 00:22:31.720
 they ought

00:22:31.720 --> 00:22:32.159
 to have

00:22:32.159 --> 00:22:33.599
 they don't

00:22:33.599 --> 00:22:34.220
 really need

00:22:34.220 --> 00:22:35.259
 us to tell

00:22:35.259 --> 00:22:35.740
 them how

00:22:35.740 --> 00:22:37.119
 empty their

00:22:37.119 --> 00:22:38.000
 lives are

00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:39.740
 if they're not

00:22:39.740 --> 00:22:40.179
 Christians

00:22:40.180 --> 00:22:42.100
 they don't

00:22:42.100 --> 00:22:43.200
 primarily need

00:22:43.200 --> 00:22:43.940
 me to tell

00:22:43.940 --> 00:22:44.200
 them about

00:22:44.200 --> 00:22:44.700
 a Christian

00:22:44.700 --> 00:22:45.820
 worldview or

00:22:45.820 --> 00:22:46.360
 about a

00:22:46.360 --> 00:22:46.660
 Christian

00:22:46.660 --> 00:22:47.180
 ethical

00:22:47.180 --> 00:22:47.960
 standpoint

00:22:47.960 --> 00:22:49.480
 they don't

00:22:49.480 --> 00:22:50.500
 even need

00:22:50.500 --> 00:22:51.120
 I think a

00:22:51.120 --> 00:22:51.400
 kind of

00:22:51.400 --> 00:22:52.480
 basic set of

00:22:52.480 --> 00:22:52.779
 Christian

00:22:52.779 --> 00:22:53.519
 propositions

00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:53.940
 that we

00:22:53.940 --> 00:22:54.180
 want them

00:22:54.180 --> 00:22:54.580
 to believe

00:22:54.580 --> 00:22:54.860
 in

00:22:54.860 --> 00:22:55.660
 but what

00:22:55.660 --> 00:22:55.799
 they

00:22:55.799 --> 00:22:56.320
 primarily

00:22:56.320 --> 00:22:56.779
 need

00:22:56.779 --> 00:22:57.180
 and what

00:22:57.180 --> 00:22:57.900
 in fact

00:22:57.900 --> 00:22:58.080
 they

00:22:58.080 --> 00:22:58.640
 desperately

00:22:58.640 --> 00:22:59.180
 desperately

00:22:59.180 --> 00:22:59.720
 need you

00:22:59.720 --> 00:23:00.140
 to do

00:23:00.140 --> 00:23:00.759
 is to

00:23:00.759 --> 00:23:01.100
 introduce

00:23:01.100 --> 00:23:01.440
 them to

00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:01.820
 Jesus

00:23:01.820 --> 00:23:05.019
 and they

00:23:05.019 --> 00:23:05.340
 need you

00:23:05.340 --> 00:23:05.880
 to introduce

00:23:05.880 --> 00:23:06.279
 them to

00:23:06.279 --> 00:23:06.580
 Jesus

00:23:06.580 --> 00:23:07.100
 with all

00:23:07.100 --> 00:23:07.640
 the passion

00:23:07.640 --> 00:23:08.299
 and conviction

00:23:08.299 --> 00:23:09.299
 and earnestness

00:23:09.299 --> 00:23:09.680
 of those

00:23:09.680 --> 00:23:09.960
 who know

00:23:09.960 --> 00:23:10.240
 Jesus

00:23:10.240 --> 00:23:10.700
 well

00:23:10.700 --> 00:23:14.399
 and can

00:23:14.399 --> 00:23:14.879
 know about

00:23:14.879 --> 00:23:15.299
 how much

00:23:15.299 --> 00:23:15.619
 he is

00:23:15.619 --> 00:23:16.159
 worth

00:23:16.159 --> 00:23:18.079
 and so

00:23:18.079 --> 00:23:18.579
 you don't

00:23:18.579 --> 00:23:19.240
 need me

00:23:19.240 --> 00:23:19.799
 to primarily

00:23:19.799 --> 00:23:20.399
 tell you

00:23:20.399 --> 00:23:21.059
 how important

00:23:21.059 --> 00:23:22.119
 evangelism

00:23:22.119 --> 00:23:22.419
 is or

00:23:22.419 --> 00:23:23.159
 what method

00:23:23.159 --> 00:23:23.460
 you ought

00:23:23.460 --> 00:23:24.019
 to use

00:23:24.019 --> 00:23:24.619
 or how

00:23:24.619 --> 00:23:25.119
 to answer

00:23:25.119 --> 00:23:25.759
 all the

00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:26.059
 difficult

00:23:26.059 --> 00:23:26.519
 questions

00:23:26.519 --> 00:23:26.859
 that people

00:23:26.859 --> 00:23:27.379
 ask you

00:23:27.379 --> 00:23:27.799
 of course

00:23:27.799 --> 00:23:28.680
 those things

00:23:28.680 --> 00:23:29.240
 are important

00:23:29.240 --> 00:23:31.460
 but if we

00:23:31.460 --> 00:23:32.559
 get trained

00:23:32.559 --> 00:23:32.879
 in those

00:23:32.879 --> 00:23:33.299
 things without

00:23:33.299 --> 00:23:34.000
 pointing people

00:23:34.000 --> 00:23:34.500
 to Jesus

00:23:34.500 --> 00:23:35.279
 actually what

00:23:35.279 --> 00:23:35.720
 we produce

00:23:35.720 --> 00:23:36.039
 is more

00:23:36.039 --> 00:23:36.639
 discouragement

00:23:36.639 --> 00:23:37.339
 than inspiration

00:23:37.339 --> 00:23:40.000
 and what

00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:40.379
 you need

00:23:40.379 --> 00:23:40.679
 more than

00:23:40.679 --> 00:23:41.139
 anything else

00:23:41.139 --> 00:23:41.419
 is to

00:23:41.419 --> 00:23:42.220
 see Jesus

00:23:42.220 --> 00:23:43.679
 clearly

00:23:43.679 --> 00:23:44.879
 and to be

00:23:44.879 --> 00:23:45.359
 absolutely

00:23:45.359 --> 00:23:46.039
 gripped by

00:23:46.039 --> 00:23:46.799
 a compelling

00:23:46.799 --> 00:23:48.240
 sense of

00:23:48.240 --> 00:23:48.699
 what he is

00:23:48.699 --> 00:23:49.019
 worth

00:23:49.019 --> 00:23:49.359
 and that is

00:23:49.359 --> 00:23:49.619
 what I

00:23:49.619 --> 00:23:50.139
 most need

00:23:50.139 --> 00:23:52.619
 and what I

00:23:52.619 --> 00:23:53.099
 most need

00:23:53.099 --> 00:23:53.559
 is not

00:23:53.559 --> 00:23:54.419
 more time

00:23:54.419 --> 00:23:55.779
 not more

00:23:55.779 --> 00:23:56.159
 resources

00:23:56.159 --> 00:23:56.559
 not more

00:23:56.559 --> 00:23:57.279
 generous

00:23:57.279 --> 00:23:57.579
 donors

00:23:57.579 --> 00:23:58.019
 not more

00:23:58.019 --> 00:23:58.899
 ministry

00:23:58.899 --> 00:23:59.359
 partners

00:23:59.359 --> 00:23:59.799
 I need

00:23:59.799 --> 00:24:00.119
 all those

00:24:00.119 --> 00:24:00.359
 things

00:24:00.359 --> 00:24:00.659
 but what

00:24:00.659 --> 00:24:01.119
 will really

00:24:01.119 --> 00:24:01.919
 sustain me

00:24:01.919 --> 00:24:02.599
 for the

00:24:02.599 --> 00:24:03.099
 tiring

00:24:03.099 --> 00:24:04.919
 and responsible

00:24:04.919 --> 00:24:05.559
 work of

00:24:05.559 --> 00:24:06.720
 Christian service

00:24:06.720 --> 00:24:08.120
 what do

00:24:08.120 --> 00:24:08.360
 we need

00:24:08.360 --> 00:24:08.640
 more than

00:24:08.640 --> 00:24:09.079
 anything

00:24:09.079 --> 00:24:10.059
 you need

00:24:10.059 --> 00:24:10.319
 to see

00:24:10.319 --> 00:24:10.799
 Jesus

00:24:10.799 --> 00:24:12.839
 you need

00:24:12.839 --> 00:24:13.100
 to see

00:24:13.100 --> 00:24:13.339
 him for

00:24:13.339 --> 00:24:13.600
 what he's

00:24:13.600 --> 00:24:13.839
 worth

00:24:13.839 --> 00:24:16.480
 and at

00:24:16.480 --> 00:24:16.700
 the end

00:24:16.700 --> 00:24:16.880
 of the

00:24:16.880 --> 00:24:17.240
 day

00:24:17.240 --> 00:24:17.960
 I have

00:24:17.960 --> 00:24:18.259
 found

00:24:18.259 --> 00:24:19.140
 that the

00:24:19.140 --> 00:24:19.799
 only thing

00:24:19.799 --> 00:24:20.539
 that sustains

00:24:20.539 --> 00:24:21.079
 Christians

00:24:21.079 --> 00:24:21.960
 through trials

00:24:21.960 --> 00:24:23.220
 and temptations

00:24:23.220 --> 00:24:24.500
 and exhaustion

00:24:24.500 --> 00:24:26.120
 and exhilaration

00:24:26.120 --> 00:24:26.860
 of living

00:24:26.860 --> 00:24:28.220
 as a Christian

00:24:28.220 --> 00:24:28.559
 is a

00:24:28.559 --> 00:24:29.000
 worshipful

00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:29.400
 heart

00:24:29.400 --> 00:24:32.299
 and there's

00:24:32.299 --> 00:24:32.960
 only one

00:24:32.960 --> 00:24:33.500
 thing that

00:24:33.500 --> 00:24:34.500
 creates a

00:24:34.500 --> 00:24:34.759
 proper

00:24:34.759 --> 00:24:35.360
 worshipful

00:24:35.360 --> 00:24:35.700
 heart

00:24:35.700 --> 00:24:35.980
 and that

00:24:35.980 --> 00:24:36.160
 is

00:24:36.160 --> 00:24:36.660
 knowing

00:24:36.660 --> 00:24:37.220
 Jesus

00:24:37.220 --> 00:24:39.480
 because

00:24:39.480 --> 00:24:39.940
 when we

00:24:39.940 --> 00:24:40.460
 know him

00:24:40.460 --> 00:24:41.740
 we'll

00:24:41.740 --> 00:24:42.279
 appreciate

00:24:42.279 --> 00:24:42.759
 him

00:24:42.759 --> 00:24:44.080
 and we'll

00:24:44.080 --> 00:24:44.700
 value him

00:24:44.700 --> 00:24:46.039
 and we'll

00:24:46.039 --> 00:24:47.019
 pay great

00:24:47.019 --> 00:24:47.480
 costs

00:24:47.480 --> 00:24:48.440
 and we'll

00:24:48.440 --> 00:24:49.160
 make great

00:24:49.160 --> 00:24:49.740
 sacrifices

00:24:49.740 --> 00:24:50.240
 because we

00:24:50.240 --> 00:24:50.539
 know that

00:24:50.539 --> 00:24:51.000
 he is

00:24:51.000 --> 00:24:51.279
 worthy

00:24:51.279 --> 00:24:51.779
 of it

00:24:51.779 --> 00:24:53.000
 and we'll

00:24:53.000 --> 00:24:53.680
 pay small

00:24:53.680 --> 00:24:54.059
 costs

00:24:54.059 --> 00:24:55.000
 and we'll

00:24:55.000 --> 00:24:55.840
 take small

00:24:55.840 --> 00:24:56.620
 steps of

00:24:56.620 --> 00:24:56.960
 Christian

00:24:56.960 --> 00:24:57.500
 progress

00:24:57.500 --> 00:24:57.819
 for the

00:24:57.819 --> 00:24:58.019
 same

00:24:58.019 --> 00:24:58.380
 reason

00:24:58.380 --> 00:24:59.140
 and we

00:24:59.140 --> 00:24:59.299
 will

00:24:59.299 --> 00:24:59.720
 appreciate

00:24:59.720 --> 00:25:00.319
 Jesus

00:25:00.319 --> 00:25:00.920
 even when

00:25:00.920 --> 00:25:01.200
 we're not

00:25:01.200 --> 00:25:01.500
 doing

00:25:01.500 --> 00:25:01.819
 anything

00:25:01.819 --> 00:25:04.279
 it will

00:25:04.279 --> 00:25:05.039
 simply be

00:25:05.039 --> 00:25:06.159
 the settled

00:25:06.159 --> 00:25:06.639
 conviction

00:25:06.639 --> 00:25:07.059
 of our

00:25:07.059 --> 00:25:07.500
 souls

00:25:07.500 --> 00:25:08.019
 that there

00:25:08.019 --> 00:25:08.419
 is no

00:25:08.419 --> 00:25:08.859
 higher

00:25:08.859 --> 00:25:09.439
 privilege

00:25:09.439 --> 00:25:11.059
 and there

00:25:11.059 --> 00:25:11.639
 is no

00:25:11.639 --> 00:25:12.359
 greater

00:25:12.359 --> 00:25:12.939
 blessing

00:25:12.939 --> 00:25:13.259
 than

00:25:13.259 --> 00:25:13.759
 knowing

00:25:13.759 --> 00:25:14.279
 Jesus

00:25:14.279 --> 00:25:16.500
 and it'll

00:25:16.500 --> 00:25:16.919
 be a joy

00:25:16.919 --> 00:25:17.259
 that we're

00:25:17.259 --> 00:25:17.779
 absolutely

00:25:17.779 --> 00:25:18.480
 gripped by

00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:20.039
 and the

00:25:20.039 --> 00:25:21.240
 most faithful

00:25:21.240 --> 00:25:21.799
 Christians

00:25:21.799 --> 00:25:22.559
 are those

00:25:22.559 --> 00:25:22.960
 who've been

00:25:22.960 --> 00:25:23.679
 gripped by

00:25:23.679 --> 00:25:24.359
 the joy

00:25:24.359 --> 00:25:25.019
 of knowing

00:25:25.019 --> 00:25:25.599
 Jesus

00:25:25.599 --> 00:25:27.579
 and that

00:25:27.579 --> 00:25:27.959
 is because

00:25:27.959 --> 00:25:28.579
 those who

00:25:28.579 --> 00:25:29.019
 know

00:25:29.019 --> 00:25:29.439
 Jesus

00:25:29.439 --> 00:25:30.119
 best

00:25:30.119 --> 00:25:31.839
 are those

00:25:31.839 --> 00:25:32.319
 who know

00:25:32.319 --> 00:25:32.919
 the price

00:25:32.919 --> 00:25:33.359
 that he

00:25:33.359 --> 00:25:33.899
 has paid

00:25:33.899 --> 00:25:35.359
 the most

00:25:35.359 --> 00:25:35.899
 expensive

00:25:35.899 --> 00:25:36.459
 and the

00:25:36.459 --> 00:25:37.119
 most generous

00:25:37.119 --> 00:25:37.719
 price that

00:25:37.719 --> 00:25:38.259
 ever could

00:25:38.259 --> 00:25:38.779
 be paid

00:25:38.779 --> 00:25:41.000
 and those

00:25:41.000 --> 00:25:41.399
 who know

00:25:41.399 --> 00:25:41.719
 Jesus

00:25:41.719 --> 00:25:42.419
 best

00:25:42.419 --> 00:25:43.579
 know that

00:25:43.579 --> 00:25:43.879
 this

00:25:43.879 --> 00:25:44.599
 nameless

00:25:44.599 --> 00:25:45.399
 woman's

00:25:45.399 --> 00:25:46.439
 extravagance

00:25:46.439 --> 00:25:47.319
 towards him

00:25:47.319 --> 00:25:48.659
 was just

00:25:48.659 --> 00:25:49.259
 a shadow

00:25:49.259 --> 00:25:50.019
 of his

00:25:50.019 --> 00:25:50.839
 extravagance

00:25:50.839 --> 00:25:51.480
 towards us

00:25:51.480 --> 00:25:53.579
 and in the

00:25:53.579 --> 00:25:54.359
 light of that

00:25:54.359 --> 00:25:54.939
 nothing we

00:25:54.939 --> 00:25:55.459
 could ever

00:25:55.460 --> 00:25:56.100
 do for him

00:25:56.100 --> 00:25:56.840
 will ever

00:25:56.840 --> 00:25:57.180
 be too

00:25:57.180 --> 00:25:57.460
 high a

00:25:57.460 --> 00:25:57.799
 price

00:25:57.799 --> 00:26:00.380
 those who

00:26:00.380 --> 00:26:00.960
 know Jesus

00:26:00.960 --> 00:26:01.779
 best know

00:26:01.779 --> 00:26:02.200
 that there

00:26:02.200 --> 00:26:02.840
 is no

00:26:02.840 --> 00:26:03.680
 cost so

00:26:03.680 --> 00:26:04.200
 great that

00:26:04.200 --> 00:26:04.519
 they wouldn't

00:26:04.519 --> 00:26:05.120
 gladly pay

00:26:05.120 --> 00:26:05.380
 it

00:26:05.380 --> 00:26:07.620
 for he

00:26:07.620 --> 00:26:08.299
 was

00:26:08.299 --> 00:26:09.640
 and he

00:26:09.640 --> 00:26:10.100
 is

00:26:10.100 --> 00:26:10.980
 and he

00:26:10.980 --> 00:26:11.620
 always will

00:26:11.620 --> 00:26:12.039
 be worthy

00:26:12.039 --> 00:26:12.380
 of it

00:26:12.380 --> 00:26:15.100
 and as I

00:26:15.100 --> 00:26:15.460
 thought about

00:26:15.460 --> 00:26:15.920
 this story

00:26:15.920 --> 00:26:16.279
 this week

00:26:16.279 --> 00:26:16.720
 I think

00:26:16.720 --> 00:26:17.059
 it's become

00:26:17.059 --> 00:26:17.460
 a favourite

00:26:17.460 --> 00:26:17.960
 of mine

00:26:17.960 --> 00:26:19.700
 not because

00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:20.180
 this woman

00:26:20.180 --> 00:26:21.340
 inspires me

00:26:21.340 --> 00:26:23.299
 but because

00:26:23.299 --> 00:26:23.900
 this act

00:26:23.900 --> 00:26:24.460
 reminds me

00:26:24.460 --> 00:26:24.880
 of how

00:26:24.880 --> 00:26:25.340
 worthy

00:26:25.339 --> 00:26:26.039
 my Lord

00:26:26.039 --> 00:26:26.359
 is

00:26:26.359 --> 00:26:28.980
 and this

00:26:28.980 --> 00:26:29.279
 woman

00:26:29.279 --> 00:26:30.019
 reminds me

00:26:30.019 --> 00:26:31.019
 that every

00:26:31.019 --> 00:26:31.980
 sacrifice

00:26:31.980 --> 00:26:33.519
 that you

00:26:33.519 --> 00:26:34.019
 have made

00:26:34.019 --> 00:26:34.699
 for Christ

00:26:34.699 --> 00:26:35.639
 is utterly

00:26:35.639 --> 00:26:36.959
 sensible

00:26:36.959 --> 00:26:39.439
 and this

00:26:39.439 --> 00:26:40.220
 woman encourages

00:26:40.220 --> 00:26:40.939
 me to keep

00:26:40.939 --> 00:26:42.199
 surrendering to

00:26:42.199 --> 00:26:42.539
 Jesus

00:26:42.539 --> 00:26:45.000
 and she

00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:45.419
 does that

00:26:45.419 --> 00:26:45.799
 not by

00:26:45.799 --> 00:26:46.399
 pointing to

00:26:46.399 --> 00:26:47.019
 herself

00:26:47.019 --> 00:26:49.919
 but by

00:26:49.919 --> 00:26:50.359
 pointing to

00:26:50.359 --> 00:26:50.740
 Christ

00:26:50.740 --> 00:26:51.420
 God

00:26:51.420 --> 00:26:54.200
 and that

00:26:54.200 --> 00:26:54.400
 is a

00:26:54.400 --> 00:26:54.539
 very

00:26:54.539 --> 00:26:54.819
 different

00:26:54.819 --> 00:26:55.099
 kind of

00:26:55.099 --> 00:26:55.539
 inspiration

00:26:55.539 --> 00:26:58.059
 and I

00:26:58.059 --> 00:26:58.279
 don't know

00:26:58.279 --> 00:26:58.660
 about you

00:26:58.660 --> 00:26:58.940
 but I

00:26:58.940 --> 00:26:59.259
 know what

00:26:59.259 --> 00:26:59.660
 this woman

00:26:59.660 --> 00:27:00.200
 says to

00:27:00.200 --> 00:27:00.299
 me

00:27:00.299 --> 00:27:00.779
 she says

00:27:00.779 --> 00:27:01.140
 that I

00:27:01.140 --> 00:27:01.440
 need to

00:27:01.440 --> 00:27:01.880
 pray this

00:27:01.880 --> 00:27:02.900
 simple

00:27:02.900 --> 00:27:03.259
 prayer

00:27:03.259 --> 00:27:03.960
 that Jesus

00:27:03.960 --> 00:27:05.519
 would open

00:27:05.519 --> 00:27:06.620
 my eyes

00:27:06.619 --> 00:27:09.539
 so that

00:27:09.539 --> 00:27:09.619
 I

00:27:09.619 --> 00:27:09.959
 would see

00:27:09.959 --> 00:27:10.059
 him

00:27:10.059 --> 00:27:10.199
 more

00:27:10.199 --> 00:27:10.479
 clearly

00:27:10.479 --> 00:27:15.159
 when

00:27:15.159 --> 00:27:15.419
 Jesus

00:27:15.419 --> 00:27:15.979
 was at

00:27:15.979 --> 00:27:16.339
 Bethany

00:27:16.339 --> 00:27:17.639
 in the

00:27:17.639 --> 00:27:17.959
 house

00:27:17.959 --> 00:27:18.399
 of

00:27:18.399 --> 00:27:19.000
 Simon

00:27:19.000 --> 00:27:19.199
 the

00:27:19.199 --> 00:27:19.459
 leper

00:27:19.459 --> 00:27:19.859
 a woman

00:27:19.859 --> 00:27:20.359
 came up

00:27:20.359 --> 00:27:20.579
 to him

00:27:20.579 --> 00:27:20.819
 with an

00:27:20.819 --> 00:27:21.239
 alabaster

00:27:21.239 --> 00:27:21.719
 flask

00:27:21.719 --> 00:27:22.339
 of very

00:27:22.339 --> 00:27:22.759
 expensive

00:27:22.759 --> 00:27:23.299
 ointment

00:27:23.299 --> 00:27:24.680
 and she

00:27:24.680 --> 00:27:25.139
 poured it

00:27:25.139 --> 00:27:25.419
 on his

00:27:25.419 --> 00:27:25.700
 head

00:27:25.700 --> 00:27:25.960
 as he

00:27:25.960 --> 00:27:26.279
 reclined

00:27:26.279 --> 00:27:26.419
 at

00:27:26.419 --> 00:27:26.720
 table

00:27:26.720 --> 00:27:28.200
 and when

00:27:28.200 --> 00:27:28.299
 the

00:27:28.299 --> 00:27:28.599
 disciples

00:27:28.599 --> 00:27:28.980
 saw it

00:27:28.980 --> 00:27:29.259
 they were

00:27:29.259 --> 00:27:29.680
 indignant

00:27:29.680 --> 00:27:29.919
 saying

00:27:29.919 --> 00:27:30.379
 why this

00:27:30.379 --> 00:27:30.799
 waste

00:27:30.799 --> 00:27:32.099
 for this

00:27:32.099 --> 00:27:32.339
 could have

00:27:32.339 --> 00:27:32.839
 been sold

00:27:32.839 --> 00:27:33.079
 for a

00:27:33.079 --> 00:27:33.500
 large sum

00:27:33.500 --> 00:27:33.759
 and given

00:27:33.759 --> 00:27:33.980
 to the

00:27:33.980 --> 00:27:34.180
 poor

00:27:34.180 --> 00:27:35.799
 but Jesus

00:27:35.799 --> 00:27:36.919
 aware of

00:27:36.919 --> 00:27:37.180
 this

00:27:37.180 --> 00:27:37.659
 said to

00:27:37.659 --> 00:27:37.899
 them

00:27:37.899 --> 00:27:39.839
 why do

00:27:39.839 --> 00:27:40.299
 you trouble

00:27:40.299 --> 00:27:40.759
 the woman

00:27:40.759 --> 00:27:42.839
 for she

00:27:42.839 --> 00:27:43.480
 has done

00:27:43.480 --> 00:27:45.019
 a beautiful

00:27:45.019 --> 00:27:45.440
 thing to

00:27:45.440 --> 00:27:45.680
 me