Pricey Jesus

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

*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

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

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

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

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