Extravagant Worship and Petty Betrayal

Mark 14:1-11

Summary: This passage reveals a clash between the extravagance of true worship and the pragmatism often seen in the church. The woman who anoints Jesus reflects an unreserved love that goes against cultural expectations, while Judas represents those who value material gain over spiritual depth. The contrast emphasizes the importance of prioritizing our devotion to Christ over societal pressures or personal agendas.

Application: This sermon invites the audience to reflect on how they express their love for Jesus. It encourages believers to evaluate whether they are holding back their worship due to fear of judgment or a desire for practical financial stewardship, pressing them to engage in sacrificial acts of love that may not make sense to the world but profoundly impact their faith journey.

Teaching: The teaching focuses on understanding that true worship often requires personal sacrifice and defies human logic. It calls believers to not just worship in word but to demonstrate extravagant love through our actions, even if it attracts criticism or misunderstanding from others.

How this passage could point to Christ: This passage illustrates foreshadowing of Christ's burial and the ultimate sacrifice He would make. Jesus values the woman's action as He prepares to lay down His life, signifying that true worship aligns with His mission, teaching that loving and honoring God often involves sacrifice.

Big Idea: Genuine worship often calls for extravagant sacrifice, compelling believers to prioritize their love for Christ above all else, despite societal expectations.

Recommended Study: Consider exploring the cultural implications of anointing practices in the ancient Near East to illuminate the significance of this moment in Mark 14. You might find helpful resources in Logos that discuss the historical context of costly perfumes and the value placed on extravagant expressions of love in Jewish worship. Additionally, studying the mindset of Judas and the disciples can provide insights into the human tendency to rationalize our worship based on practicality over passion.

1. Profound Devotion Demonstrated

Mark 14:1-3

Perhaps you could begin by illustrating how the cultural context of anointing in the ancient Near East highlights the audacious nature of the woman's actions. Her willingness to break a costly alabaster jar underscores her unapologetic love and extravagant worship of Jesus, demonstrating a profound understanding of His worth. Consider prompting your audience to examine what jars they might break in their own lives, suggesting that true devotion means giving Jesus our best, even when it defies human logic or expectation.

2. Persistent Critics Dismissed

Mark 14:4-6

You might explain how critics often miss the heart behind true worship. The disciples questioned the woman's actions, but Jesus defended her, emphasizing that acts of sincere love align with His mission. This section could challenge listeners to consider how fear of criticism or financial practicality might be hindering their full expression of love for Christ. Encouraging them to ignore detractors and focus on what honors God will resonate with those struggling to balance societal expectations with faithful devotion.

3. Perpetual Legacy Ensured

Mark 14:7-9

Perhaps explore the eternal significance of sincere worship through Jesus' promise that the woman's deed would be remembered wherever the gospel is preached. This assurance invites believers to engage in acts of worship that echo beyond their immediate context. By focusing on the woman's legacy, you can suggest that our sacrifices for Christ hold lasting impact, eternally recorded in God's story. This point encourages your audience to consider what lasting legacy their own worship might establish.

4. Priorities Revealed: Love or Gain

Mark 14:10-11

In these verses, maybe juxtapose Judas' betrayal with the woman's devotion. Judas, motivated by material gain, contrasts starkly with her pure love, challenging the congregation to reflect on their priorities. This contrast could prompt honest introspection: Are we selling out our devotion for lesser gains? Highlighting the ultimate sacrifice Jesus made, encourage listeners to choose love and loyalty to Christ over fleeting, worldly temptations, inspiring a recommitment to genuine worship.

———

I. Exegetical Frame: The Markan Sandwich

Mark deliberately structures this text as a contrast—a sandwich where the outer layers interpret the inner scene.

A. The Outer Layers: Murderous Plot & Malicious Betrayal (vv. 1–2, 10–11)

The chief priests and scribes, representatives of Israel’s spiritual leadership, plot to destroy Jesus.

Judas, one of the Twelve, conspires to betray Him.

Their motivations are small, mean, utilitarian—driven by fear of the crowds, love of money, and political self-preservation.

It is calculated, cheap, cowardly, and cold.

B. The Inner Layer: Extravagant Devotion (vv. 3–9)

A woman—John identifies her as Mary—breaks an alabaster flask worth “more than 300 denarii.”

She breaks it (total abandonment; there’s no putting it back).

She pours it on His head (priestly, kingly, burial imagery).

Her act is profuse (extravagant love), pure (not seeking attention), precious (costly), and praiseworthy (Jesus defends her and immortalizes her act).

Mark’s point: When the world conspires to destroy Christ and the false disciple cheapens Him, the true disciple treasures Him above everything.

This “sandwich” confronts the reader: Which side of the story am I in? The plotting leaders? The betraying disciple? Or the adoring woman?

The structure forces a spiritual self-examination.

II. Theological Themes for the Sermon

1. The Suffering Mission of Jesus

Jesus knows the cross is hours away. Mary knows something—even if dimly—and aligns her devotion with His sacrifice.

Judas sees Jesus’ suffering mission as a liability.

Mary sees it as the center of her hope.

To accept Christ’s suffering mission is to say: “He gave all for me; I give all for Him.”

This is where your sermon’s theological focus comes in:

Disciples, accepting the suffering mission of Jesus, are willing to give their all to Him, a sacrifice that is profuse, pure, precious, and praiseworthy.

2. Antithesis: Worship vs. Usefulness

Van Til would note the sharp covenantal antithesis here:

Mary worships Christ.

Judas uses Christ.

The religious leaders oppose Christ.

Only two ways to live: Christ as Treasure or Christ as Tool.

Mary treats Jesus as infinitely worthy. Judas treats Jesus as a means to an end.

This applies strongly in established New England church settings, where Christianity can become more “functional” than “devotional.”

3. Postmillennial Confidence Hidden in a Burial Act

Mary’s act anticipates Jesus’ burial—but Jesus interprets it as a memorial that will travel with the gospel to the nations (v. 9).

This is astonishingly postmillennial: A single act of humble devotion in a quiet room becomes a worldwide memorial as the gospel progresses across the earth.

Small acts of love have global eschatological significance in God’s Kingdom.

III. Sermon Movements

You can structure the sermon around the four “P”s in your theological focus:

1. A Profuse Sacrifice (Extravagant Love)

She didn’t measure.

She didn’t hedge.

She didn’t calculate ROI.

She poured out.

Application to your congregation:

Many in New England congregations value modesty, frugality, and quiet service—good things. But this text invites them toward cheerful spiritual extravagance:

Extravagant time in prayer

Extravagant affection for Christ

Extravagant forgiveness

Extravagant joy in worship

Ask them: “When was the last time your love for Christ looked unreasonable to the world?”

2. A Pure Sacrifice (Undivided Heart)

Mary’s action is pure devotion—not performance. She’s not thinking of how it looks. She’s not competing. She’s not managing optics.

Application:

Encourage older saints who feel hidden or unused:

God sees the hidden acts.

Jesus defends the quiet, faithful offerings.

The world may miss them, but Christ never does.

In a small church, remind them: “Your unseen faithfulness is perfume in the house.”

3. A Precious Sacrifice (Costly Obedience)

Three hundred denarii is roughly a year’s wages. Her offering cost her something.

Judas’ betrayal also has a price—but a miserably low one.

Application:

Ask gently: “What costly obedience is Christ calling you to at this stage of your life?” Not everyone is called to do more work—but all are called to deeper devotion.

Examples appropriate for 60+:

Costly forgiveness of family hurts

Costly patience in declining health

Costly generosity when finances are tight

Costly witness to unbelieving grown children

Costly involvement in younger believers’ lives

These are precious offerings to Christ.

4. A Praiseworthy Sacrifice (Commended by Christ Himself)

Jesus publicly defends her, commends her, and memorializes her.

She is praised not because she understood everything—but because she loved Him rightly.

Application:

Remind your church: Christ Himself notices and values your love far more than the world’s applause.

This is freeing for older Christians who feel like their “usefulness” is diminishing. Their fragrant worship is still making the entire house smell like devotion.

IV. Pastoral Applications for a New England 60+ Congregation

A call to rekindle affection Many have been faithful for decades, but their affection needs refreshing. Mary’s act is not a duty—it is a delight. Encourage them to pray: “Lord, warm my heart again to Christ.”

A warning against Judas-like “useful religion” New England culture easily treats church as a stability mechanism. Challenge this lovingly. Judas followed Christ for pragmatic reasons—and they crumbled when the cost rose.

Encouragement that small acts matter greatly Jesus says Mary’s single act will accompany the gospel globally. Encourage older saints that the little things—prayers, phone calls, mentoring—echo in eternity.

Reassurance in times of decline Jesus is heading toward death—but He frames Mary’s devotion in terms of future global mission. For a small New England congregation that sometimes feels like it’s just surviving: Your faithfulness participates in the unstoppable advance of the Kingdom.

Revival through worship The difference between Mary and Judas is not information but affection. Renewed affection fuels renewed mission.

V. Closing Exhortation

Mark 14:1–11 confronts every disciple with a simple, searching question:

Is Jesus worthy of my all?

In the face of Christ’s suffering mission, Mary says Yes, Judas says No, and the chief priests say He must be stopped.

Tell your congregation: “Your life is telling a story in this Markan sandwich. Which layer are you in?”

But leave them with hope: Christ delights in the humble, costly love of His people—and He remembers it forever.

Thesis Statement:

Christ’s wholehearted sacrifice calls for our wholehearted devotion.

Sermon Outline

I. The Markan Sandwich: Extravagant Worship Surrounded by Extravagant Wickedness (vv. 1–2, 10–11)

A. The Plot of the Religious Leaders (vv. 1–2)

Leaders meant to shepherd Israel are plotting murder.

Motivations: fear, power preservation, political calculus.

Their religion is cold, utilitarian, and self-serving.

B. The Betrayal of Judas (vv. 10–11)

A disciple who walked with Christ becomes an enemy of Christ.

Motivations: greed, disillusionment, disappointment with Jesus’ mission.

Judas “seeks an opportunity”—calculating, measured, cautious.

C. The Purpose of the Sandwich Mark wants you to feel the contrast:

Plotting hatred outside

Extravagant love inside

Pastoral Application: Many in New England know respectable religion—but here we see its danger: it can coexist with hardness of heart. Judas shows that proximity to Jesus without affection for Jesus leads to spiritual ruin.

II. The Heart of the Sandwich: A Devotion that Delights the Lord (vv. 3–9)

1. A Profuse Devotion — She Poured It All Out (v. 3)

An alabaster flask was meant to be broken entirely—no holding back.

Not measured, not calculated.

A picture of extravagant love.

Application: Invite your people to consider where Christ is calling for fresh extravagance:

Worship that isn’t mechanical

Time in the Word that isn’t rushed

Forgiveness that isn’t stingy

Joy in Christ that isn’t muted

Ask gently: “Has your love for Christ grown careful rather than costly?”

2. A Pure Devotion — She Sought No Attention (vv. 4–5)

Some scold her—not for immorality but for wastefulness.

They see her devotion as impractical.

But her motives are pure: she’s not performing; she’s loving.

Application: Many older saints feel unnoticed. But Christ sees what others pass over. Your quiet prayers, your steady attendance, your hidden sacrifices—they rise as a sweet fragrance to Him.

3. A Precious Devotion — She Gave What Cost Her Much (v. 5)

300 denarii = about a year’s wages.

True discipleship always has a cost.

Application: For a congregation 60+:

Costly obedience now may mean forgiving old hurts, enduring trials with joy, or mentoring younger believers.

Christ values obedience that costs us pride, comfort, or ease.

Encourage them: “You have more to give in this season than you think. Not necessarily more activity, but deeper affection.”

4. A Praiseworthy Devotion — Jesus Defends and Memorializes Her (vv. 6–9)

Jesus rebukes the critics and honors her.

Her act will be remembered wherever the gospel goes.

A foretaste of gospel victory: a small act in a quiet home becomes globally significant.

Application (Postmillennial encouragement): Small acts of faith in a small New England church participate in the global triumph of Christ’s Kingdom. Nothing done for Christ is ever wasted. Hidden faithfulness has worldwide echoes.

III. The Final Contrast: The Price of Betrayal vs. the Cost of Worship (vv. 10–11)

Her sacrifice cost a year’s wages—Judas sold Jesus for a fraction of that.

She anoints Jesus for burial—Judas arranges Jesus’ death.

She breaks a flask—Judas breaks faith.

She offers her treasure—Judas trades away the Treasure of heaven.

Pastoral Application: There is no neutral ground:

We will either treasure Christ or use Him.

We will either pour out our lives for Him or hold back until something else buys our loyalty.

Invite the congregation to self-examination: “Which side of this sandwich describes my heart today? The plotting priests? The calculating Judas? Or the devoted woman?”

Conclusion: The Fragrance that Fills the House

Mary’s sacrifice filled the room with fragrance. A church that treasures Christ above all else fills the congregation, the neighborhood, and even the generations with the aroma of Christ.

Encourage your people: You may feel small, but your devotion is not small. You may feel weak, but your worship is not weak. You may feel unseen, but your Savior sees and cherishes every drop poured out for Him.

Call them to renewed devotion in light of Jesus’ suffering mission: He held nothing back from you—don’t hold back from Him.

———————

Many of us in this room are quite thrifty. We like a good sale.

In a week like this one, with Black Friday sales everywhere, our dopamine kicks into a whole different gear.

Some people like to brag about how much their stuff costs. But not us. We like to brag about how little we spent on certain items.

For example, my family got our couch from Goodwill and only spent $40! And it’s a pretty comfortable couch, too! Our dining room table, made out of solid wood — $25.

Whether it’s a thrift store, or something we found on Facebook marketplace, we love getting the best and most for the least cost.

We also don’t like to waste things. Many of us grew up with parents who lived through the Depression or hard financial times. We learned to stretch leftovers, reuse, repurpose, and hold onto things. And there’s some wisdom in that. Being careful with what we have can be a good thing.

But here’s the danger: being frugal with our possessions can quietly turn into being frugal with our devotion.

We can become careful — even stingy — not just with our money, but with our worship, our time, our affection — or even our obedience.

And yet the Gospel calls us to the opposite.

Christ’s wholehearted sacrifice calls for our wholehearted devotion.

And that brings us to Mark 14.

As we get ready to turn there, let’s first go to the Lord in prayer.

[prayer]

Mark, chapter 14, verses 1 through 11.

1 Now the Passover and Unleavened Bread were two days away; and the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how, after seizing Him in secret, they might kill Him;

2 for they were saying, “Not during the festival, lest there be a riot of the people.”

3 And while He was in Bethany at the home of Simon the leper, and reclining at the table, there came a woman with an alabaster jar of perfume of very costly pure nard; and she broke the jar and poured it over His head.

4 But some were indignantly remarking to one another, “Why has this perfume been wasted?

5 For this perfume might have been sold for over three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they were scolding her.

6 But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why do you bother her? She did a good work to Me.

7 For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them; but you do not always have Me.

8 She has done what she could; she anointed My body beforehand for the burial.

9 And truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what this woman did will also be spoken of in memory of her.”

10 Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went away to the chief priests in order to betray Him to them.

11 And when they heard this, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he began seeking how to betray Him at an opportune time.

—

This whole passage forces us to face the truth about how we really value Jesus. It draws a line between those who treat Him cheaply and those who prize Him as supremely worthy.

It holds up a mirror and asks, “What is Jesus worth to you?”

Is Christ our deepest love — or just a tool we use?

Mark helps us see this clearly by using one of his famous story sandwiches, where the inner story becomes the foil to the outer story.

The outer story — the first two verses and the last two — shows petty betrayal and hearts that devalue Jesus.

The inner story — verses 3 through 9 — reveals extravagant worship, so lavish, it shocks everyone in the room.

The difference between them couldn’t be more obvious.

And this contrast is key, because it shows us two very different responses to the same Savior: one that cheapens Him, and one that gives Him everything. Understanding this sets the stage for us to see what it truly means to follow Christ with wholehearted devotion.

Before we look at the beautiful worship found in our inner story, we first need to notice the frame Mark builds around it.

The outer story is unsettling — it shows hearts that treat Jesus as expendable. The religious leaders are plotting His death, and one of His own disciples is ready to hand Him over for a handful of coins. It’s petty, calculated, and cold — and it prepares us to understand just how precious true devotion really is.

. . .

Looking again at verses 1-2:

1 Now the Passover and Unleavened Bread were two days away; and the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how, after seizing Him in secret, they might kill Him;

2 for they were saying, “Not during the festival, lest there be a riot of the people.”

—

In the lead-up to the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread, crowds are swelling into Jerusalem, including a large following of Jesus. The religious leaders, charged with guiding God’s people, had already decided in their hearts to commit the ultimate evil — to murder Jesus.

Their motives are clear: fear, preservation of power, and cold political calculation. They seek to act in secret because they know that if the people knew what they were doing, it would spark a riot. Outwardly, they look respectable, but inside, their hearts are full of malice. Every action is cold, calculating, and self-serving.

They are looking for an opportunity to put Jesus to death — scheming and plotting away.

Then, as we see in verses 10–11:

10 Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went away to the chief priests in order to betray Him to them.

11 And when they heard this, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he began seeking how to betray Him at an opportune time.

—

Judas, a disciple who had walked with Jesus and witnessed His miracles, now aligns himself with the same hatred of the religious leaders. His motives are personal — greed, disappointment, and disillusionment with Jesus’ mission. Judas is careful, calculating, and patient, “seeking an opportunity” to hand over the Savior. To Judas, Jesus is just a means to an end. And when Jesus no longer serves that purpose, Judas discards Him.

Mark never softens Judas’ betrayal.

In chapter 3, when Judas is first introduced among the disciples, Mark notes plainly: “Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.”

Later, in Matthew’s account, we learn he received thirty pieces of silver — the standard Old Testament price of a slave. This number is not trivial — it fulfills Zechariah 11:12–13, where God’s appointed Shepherd is rejected and assigned a contemptible price. The people weigh out thirty shekels as if to say, “This is all you’re worth to us,” and the money is thrown to the potter in disgust. Judas reenacts that tragedy — in which Jesus, the True Shepherd, full of compassion and truth, is sold for slave money. Judas’ betrayal exposes the reality of a heart that has lost all love for Jesus — cold, careful, and petty.

And it’s tempting to look at Judas as an extreme villain. We wonder how anyone could betray Jesus so dramatically, especially someone who was that close to Him. But if we are honest, that same heart attitude can show up in quiet, subtle ways in our own lives. We may not sell Christ for silver coins, but we betray Him whenever we treat Him as secondary, optional, or expendable.

It shows up when we give Jesus what’s left over, only after we’ve spent everything else on ourselves. It shows up when we only obey Him when it’s convenient. It shows up when we ignore His Word in the busyness of life. It shows up in the small compromises, the half-hearted prayers, and when we measure out our devotion instead of pouring it out completely.

When we consistently treat Jesus this way, we are, in effect, saying He is worth far less than He truly is — the same way Judas valued the Savior at the price of a slave. Mark warns us here that proximity to Christ — without affection for Him — leads to spiritual ruin. Our faith may look impressive outwardly, but without wholehearted devotion, it is empty.

And this is exactly the point of Mark’s story sandwich. The outer story shows plotting hatred and cold calculation. But the inner story will show us something radically different.

If the outer story shows what it looks like to treat Christ as less than He is, the inner story shows what it looks like to treasure Him above all else.

And it’s a call for every disciple:

Christ’s wholehearted sacrifice demands our wholehearted response.

—

Let’s take another look at verses 3 through 9:

3 And while He was in Bethany at the home of Simon the leper, and reclining at the table, there came a woman with an alabaster jar of perfume of very costly pure nard; and she broke the jar and poured it over His head.

4 But some were indignantly remarking to one another, “Why has this perfume been wasted?

5 For this perfume might have been sold for over three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they were scolding her.

6 But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why do you bother her? She did a good work to Me.

7 For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them; but you do not always have Me.

8 She has done what she could; she anointed My body beforehand for the burial.

9 And truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what this woman did will also be spoken of in memory of her.”

—

Mark tells us that Jesus is in Bethany, “at the home of Simon the leper.”

It’s worth noting that Jesus is staying with someone whose reputation was marked by leprosy — a disease that made people outcasts, avoided by society, even after the infection had passed. But there’s more going on in this detail than just social curiosity.

Think about where Jesus had just come from in Mark’s Gospel — the temple.

In chapter 13, Jesus had spoken about the coming destruction of the temple. As the true High Priest, He had already pronounced judgment on the so-called “house of God” — treating it as a condemned house — much like a priest in the Old Testament would declare a leprous home unclean and destined for destruction.

Now, we see Jesus leaving that truly condemned house — the temple — and entering another place that, socially speaking, was also considered “condemned” — the home of Simon the leper.

In this, Mark shows a remarkable reversal. Jesus leaves a place that looks honored, but is corrupt inside — and enters a home that society scorns, yet where He will be honored and worshiped.

In other words, Jesus makes the home of Simon the leper a place of true worship. And that worship is about to be displayed in the most striking and unexpected way.

Right in the middle of this socially despised home, a woman comes forward with a jar of very expensive perfume. She doesn’t calculate the cost. She doesn’t hold back. She simply pours it out over Jesus’ head — an act so lavish, it shocks everyone in the room. To some, it looks wasteful — but to Jesus, it is worship.

The reason it seemed so excessive was because of its value. As verse 5 tells us, it could have been sold for over three hundred denarii — roughly a full year’s wages.

She doesn’t just pour a little. Mark uniquely notes that she broke the jar and poured it over Jesus’ head. By breaking it, there was no turning back — she would have to use it all. But that was her intention all along.

This was no ordinary perfume. It was a pound of spikenard, the most precious perfume of its kind, believed to include myrrh — the main ingredient in the anointing oil used for kings and priests. What she did was also highly symbolic. By pouring it on Jesus’ head, she physically anointed Him, recognizing Him as King and Messiah. After all, the word “Messiah” literally means “the Anointed One.”

Even more striking, she does this just days before Jesus’ death. As He says in verse 8, “She anointed My body beforehand for the burial.”

There’s a beautiful symmetry here. One of the first gifts Jesus received as an infant from the wise men was also myrrh — a gift of worship recognizing His kingship. And now, as He prepares to die, He receives another extravagant gift of myrrh, this time poured out in costly devotion by a humble, worshiping heart.

What this unnamed woman did was a noble thing, as Jesus Himself said. He defends her, even when everyone else thinks she’s foolish for offering something so valuable.

Notice what Jesus also says: “She has done what she could.”

Other translations render it, “What she had, she did.” That phrase should remind us of another unnamed woman back in chapter 12 — the one who gave her two small copper coins in the temple treasury. What she had, she gave. And like this woman, she was commended by Jesus.

Both of these women are powerful examples of discipleship. They show us what complete, wholehearted sacrifice looks like. It doesn’t matter if what we have to give is much or little — what matters is that we give it all. That’s the kind of stewardship God calls for when we worship Him, with hearts fully surrendered, and devotion that pours out without holding back.

It’s easy to think of devotion in terms of money. But this principle reaches far beyond our wallets. We may be generous with our finances, yet hold back our time, our talents, or our attention.

Wholehearted devotion touches every part of our lives — which also includes how we speak to others, serve our homes and communities, and how we use the gifts God has given us. Jesus doesn’t call us to give some things, or only what’s easy, or only what’s left over. He calls for everything—our all.

Jesus says that: “wherever the Gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what this woman did will also be spoken of in memory of her.” As we read these words today — nearly 2,000 years later — we are participating in the fulfillment of that promise.

In this statement, we also see that Jesus already anticipated the global spread of the Gospel. He knew His mission would succeed. And that ought to give us confidence and encouragement as we seek to share the hope of Christ with others, trusting that His work will not fail.

. . .

Mark places this story of the woman right between the leaders’ plotting and Judas’ betrayal — so the contrast hits like a hammer.

In the outer story, we see hearts that are cold, calculating, and self-serving.

But in this inner story, we see a heart overflowing with love, devotion, and costly worship.

It’s the same Jesus before both of them — the same miracles, the same teaching, the same love — but their hearts respond in completely different ways.

And this is exactly what Mark wants us to see. He isn’t just telling a story about a woman’s act of devotion — he’s holding up a mirror to our own hearts.

Every one of us has to answer this question:

Is Christ worth it all to me?

It’s easy to say yes in theory, but in daily life, that can sometimes be another story.

How do we spend our time? Where do we invest our energy? Are there parts of our lives where we’re holding back because it’s inconvenient, uncomfortable, or costly?

Those are the questions we have to ask ourselves.

We don’t have to be sellouts like Judas to be guilty of undervaluing Jesus.

But this passage should challenge us to take an honest look at our own devotion.

Is Jesus just part of our schedule, or is He our greatest treasure?

We will either treasure Christ — or use Him.

We will either pour out our lives for Him — or hold back until something else secures our loyalty.

. . .

[Conclusion — slow down]

This story isn’t just about extravagance or sacrifice — it’s about Jesus — the Savior who gave His all for us.

He held nothing back. He went to the cross, bore our sin, and paid the price for our redemption.

Jesus paid it all — with His life, His love, and His very own blood. Therefore, all that we are, and all that we have, belongs to Him.

Because Jesus gave us His all, He calls us to give our all. Not just part, not just the leftovers, not just what’s easy or convenient — but everything. Our time, our energy, our resources, our obedience, our love — our very own lives.

This is what it means to follow Christ with wholehearted devotion.

Jesus paid it all. Therefore, all to Him we owe.

[Let’s pray]