Pricey Jesus
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
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Intro
Intro
Clive Christian No.1 is the 2nd most expensive perfume: 2 ounce bottle is just over $27k, after tax.
Ridiculous and wasteful
Can you imagine what you would use $30k perfume for?
That is some precious liquid. Almost impossibly precious?
Like the last piece of Halloween candy: there is just never a good time to eat it
The reality is this story is going to show us two people with two very different hearts as they approach Jesus
One with the love of money
One with the love of God
Story
Story
*Read 12:1-8*
Context
Laz raised from the dead- BIG deal
Dinner, happy, guest of honor, MUCH celebration
Mary, in the midst of the party does this thing
Sacrifice is huge
Society, savings, safety net.
Reputation wise: this is so humiliating- using your hair (beauty, grace) to wash feet!
The highest, most beautiful thing she has, for the lowest thing he has
She gave up everything she had for Jesus in this moment
Opposition
Not a good idea- “wasteful, unnecessary”
Judas realizes that what is being given to God could buy a lot of nice stuff
Instead of giving that to God, it could make real difference
Leave Her Alone
She may keep it for the day of my burial
You always have the poor
You won’t always have me
You won’t always have me
Jesus was
Leave her alone so that she can keep being fully devoted to me in all things. In expensive things. In precious things. In things that make me look like the most wonderful thing in the world. In things that reveal her as low, broken, and someone who doesn’t deserve a spot at the table. Leave her alone with that temptation to love money, instead of seeing my sacrifice as precious. Careful so that you don’t draw her away from looking at my death on the cross. Don’t cause her to stop looking at my death Judas. Don’t you dare do or say something to her that would distract her from giving God the most glory, giving me the most of her life. Judas, I command you to leave her alone because nothing should ever be more important to her than me. Not money. Not what people think. Not even helping people.
Her devotion to me and her worship of me should be her highest priority. So, leave her alone Judas.
Judas- aiming for the love of money, the love of reputation, the love of self
I see Judas aiming for the love of money, the love of reputation, the love of self
I see Judas aiming for the love of money, the love of reputation, the love of self
He wants to buy for the poor people- make himself feel good
He wants people to see how holy he is- make himself feel good
He wants to steal the money- and make himself feel good
But doing good works should never eclipse WHY you are doing good works
Doing good works is not about you
Talk, give, sacrifice
In other words, the reason we help the poor is because we love Jesus
We shouldn’t try to help the poor if it doesn’t worship Jesus
Help with purpose: to worship God
Tell people, show people, truly care
We should be willing to spend money to worship Jesus
Time, money, energy, thoughts
We
Jesus should be the most expensive part of your life
Jesus’ System
Jesus’ System
When we give everything we can to Jesus, in every opportunity- Nothing is wasted.
He designed things so that we give to Him, and He takes care of everyone
Tithing, ministries, personal burdens
Faith
Example: New Youth Building
We could buy 300,000 cans of green beans instead of that building
But the church body and leadership decided that this is where God was taking the church
It is our worship to follow him, even if it seems like “wasted” resources
Jesus’ Priority
Jesus’ Priority
Its beautiful when we follow His priority
He is first. So, when we have the opportunity to worship and give directly to Him: we take that opportunity
“For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”
He is talking literally to them: Jesus was literally going to die in 5 days. This was her one and only opportunity to do this.
But, we have opportunities too. Some are once in a lifetime— (Mary didn’t do this with perfume daily…)
Camp, youth group, conversations, prayer times, devotion time, Sunday mornings, money, belongings, dinner with family, time with friends
We only get each moment once, and when God provides you with a moment to worship Him with everything: take it.
You might need to say something difficult
Say something merciful and kind
Say something challeging
Do something risky
Take a chance
Give up something precious for Jesus
It might literally cost you everything
You can miss an opportunity
Understand this: God IS asking you to sacrifice
Judas
Judas
Here Judas is about to sell Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. He doesn’t want Jesus, he wants money
7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out. 8 If we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. 9 But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Jesus is saying here: Judas, don’t chase money. E-Free Youth Group, don’t chase money. It’s suicide. You die and leave it all behind. Instead, you can use it to worship me and find joy forever. If you choose money over me, you’re choosing death over life.
Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
Don’t choose death. Don’t choose money. Don’t choose possessions.
And don’t try to tempt others to. Don’t distract anyone from the real reason for life: to worship and glorify God.
If someone is pulling you away from Jesus, toward this world— tell them no.
Tell them to leave you alone. Explain that you are captivated by Jesus
You will never regret true worship
It is the greatest experience
*Secret Church*
Mary
Mary
Here Mary is giving the most precious of what she owns to the one who is most precious
She is devoted to Jesus and Jesus wants her to stay devoted
As He is alive, dying, and as He is being raised from the dead
She needs to keep her devotion and not be infected by the disease of the money-loving
As she is willing to give everything to Jesus, He will use her.
Use her to care for the poor
Use her to teach us what a true Christian looks like
Use her to change the world