Wholehearted Devotion (Westmont)

Being fully committed.

Jesus may not met with the approval of others there will always be some who think your wasting your time or your talent. But how does God see today on Truth for Life.

Alistair Begg examines one woman's act of wholehearted devotion and the lasting impression leaves were in Mark chapter 14 places anchor events in our lives if we have the opportunity to be in the company of anyone who was present on this particular occasion, recorded here by Mark is very difficult to imagine that they would say that of all the things they remembered in terms of their following and being in the presence of Jesus.

This one I was not right there at the top. I would be surprised if that were the case and what Mark tells us in this little section is that the ongoing drama, which is taking place as described in verses one and two of the Pharisees describes the religious leaders moving inexorably to the place where they're going to finally get a hold of Jesus of Nazareth and from their perspective be done with them once and for all against all that darkness and blackness. If you like of that agenda. We have the magnificent light that shines out from there from the house of Simon the leper, but I want to look at it just by noticing the way in which the story unfolds.

First of all, will consider just one little phrase there in verse three, a woman came a woman came in looking that will will consider her actions and then a inverse for some of those present were saying indignantly to one another in the English standard version which I was reading in preparation for this.

It actually says they scolded her, a woman came they scolded her and then thirdly and finally the explanation and the commendation of Jesus. She did what she could very straightforward, even for an intelligent group such as yourself.

You need something to hang your hat on and here you have it. First of all, then a woman came. Let us consider our action. Why did she come because she wanted to she comes carrying something she comes with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume made of pure nard and it would be foolish for me as well to try to impress you with the that the depth of my understanding of the way in which she had the plants of the foothills of the Himalayas were used in the production of this because you would save yourself, you must of got out of a book. Of course I get what you think you got it unless you were just wandering around the foothills of the Himalayas weekly and did your own research shall be a complete waste of time. You shouldn't and said this is just a sidebar for those of you want to teach. Don't waste your time on stuff like that.

Everybody knows you don't know anything about it so you're not impressing on your annoying so believe that all we need to know is very expensive. That's all we don't know what it came from really and they did it.

Suffice it to say it wasn't something that the average lady would've had in her purse is not something that you have picked up in Nordstrom on the way for an evening at the house of Simon the leper and he is very, very careful to describe for us both. The container and the content and the cost is an alabaster jar or an alabaster flask, translucent material that in itself would be fragile and important in relatively precious not as precious as what was inside it, but was incited as we see is this ointment this embalming loyalist perfume, whatever you want to think of it, and that is established is significant on account of its cost. So it was the cost of what was taking place year. That was the occasion for the disapproval of some verse four were present perfume that costs a year's wages certainly could never be regarded as ordinary monetary value was probably the least part of this because an item like this would be something that may actually have been a family heirloom, the kind of thing that may have been in a holding from one generation to another or something that had been secured by a father and given to his daughter for a very very special purpose, so that I she looked at that alabaster jar. Let's say in her bedroom or in a place of prominence in the house she looked at it and imagined using it. Hopefully, on the occasion of her wedding as a dowry, or perhaps on the occasion of her dad used by someone to prepare her for her burial. In other words, that alabaster jar represented her future in some measure represented her destiny in some measure represented in some measure her security. The kind of thing you could actually say what if I use my job and everything goes south. I always have the alabaster jar because I could live for a year on the strength of so to purposefully remove that jar from its location and take it with her on this occasion to the house of Simon the leper was and it was a significant decision is wrong isn't too elaborate to suggest that by this action, she was pouring away her future on the head of the Lord Jesus, that by her action. She was surrendering in some measure our own personal plans and ambitions are aspirations for the future, and judging from the reaction here.

She was also sacrificing her social acceptability in the present.

What a strange thing for this lady to do all it was customary for anointing to take place. It was routine for hosts and hostesses to be extending this kind of courtesy to their friends. But this was far more dramatic than anything they had ever known. Because you will notice that were told that she chooses not to pour out a little drop of it, but she actually broke the jar. It's almost as if it's an expression of complete abandonment is made, it would be one thing if you do the long and you do the little top officer was one and then you said not to be very very careful this because this is a very important for my future.

I don't mind giving a little bit of this to Jesus, but I certainly don't want to to have too much of it so I don't want to break off a good night say well I suppose so. No notes an active extravagant generosity is an expression of peculiar commitment, having served his purpose. The jar would never be used again. The archaeologists tell us that these jars are often found in the tombs where people have embalmed bodies preparing them for their entombment and then they have left the jar, lying, or the broken pieces of the jar were actually laid out on the bodies of the deceased as an expression of what is taken place and that is the kind of framework that is for us here. It is an act of peculiar commitment. It is an impulsive gesture of self forgetfulness that emerges from a decision that was premeditated. Did you get that soloist. It's not that she has abandoned her mind know let's put it in Romans 12 12 terms. Therefore, I beseech you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice to go.

So if you like, in the privacy of our own thinking. She has already considered who Jesus is. I think this lady has an understanding of who Jesus is, but is beyond even the fathead disciples were present in the room she moves to this appointment, in the privacy of our own heart, recognizing that for her to make this commitment in full view of others may well incur their displeasure as it dies. But the premeditation that is given rise to the action does not diminish the fact that she gestures in such an extravagant fashion. Note, here's a thought. Jesus received this when you read to John or Matthew or Luke. The parallel passages, you realize that some says it was on his feet or whatever it just it just descended on Jesus. I remember outside in the dark.

Jesus can no longer move around freely before the Jews. That's why in the next section. He's going to have this strange direction to his disciples to find a guy carrying a waterpark. The secrecy that is attached.

That is not because Jesus is fearful, but because he is moving according to God's predetermined plan and he is making plans in that way, and outside in the darkness.

All of this plot is unfolding in here as Jesus faces what he knows is is the giving up of his life. This lady comes and blesses him. This is conjecture on my part. I imagine Jesus because the Psalm so much saying father you prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies you anoint my head with oil my cup runs over.

As a result of the engagement of this woman who is anonymous and Mark and identified by John taking the extreme risk of incurring the disapproval of those who are present on that occasion because in the secrecy of our own life.

She is determined.

I am going to give my future.

I'm going to give my everything to this. Jesus of Nazareth. So we leave.

Her action in the awareness of the fact that it was unique in its thoughtfulness. It was generous in his bestowal. It was timely in his provision. How well did it go over well were told and some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, but a lot of the wrong thing and snorting going on a lot of growling. You notice these people always talk to one another. Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another that he scolded her as the ESV puts it, no jaundice, careful enough to tell us that Judas was the leader in this charge and you can see that for yourself. If you read there. The record in John but the group together engaged within grumbling to themselves and growling at the lady an expression of their anger and displeasure. Now she becomes the occasion of angry glances and the whispers of shocked disapproval because they regard interaction is extravagant which it was and is wasteful, which of course it wasn't. And they regarded as a misuse of resources which wasn't either their expressed concern for the poor was disingenuous. It was a thin disguise for the fight of the cold hearts, and that the typeface the disciples are now once again making it clear that they haven't understood the volumes of the kingdom at all. Judas in particular was following Jesus for what he could get.

He had no concept at all of what it might mean to give himself a way to God like this jealousy combines with their stinginess. DC Ryle in the 19th century is a wonderful quote on a brighter use it now so pinned by your ears. The spirit of these narrowminded fault finders is unhappily all too common.

Their followers and successors are to be found in every part of Christ's visible church. There is never wanting a generation of people who deny what they call quote extremes in religion and are incessantly recommending what the term quotes moderation in the service of Christ. If a man devotes his time, money and affection to the pursuit of worldly things they do not blame him if she gives herself up to the service of money, pleasure or politics.

They find no fault but if the same individual devotes themselves and all they have to Christ, they can scarcely find words to express their sense of falling there besides themselves. They're out of their minds. There an enthusiast than a fanatic but you see the broken jar and the fragrance which John tells us filled the entire house. The fragrance and the brokenness testified against their calculated pragmatism. If this lady had waited for the approval of the group. She would've never done what she did. If you come in and said not listen guys I got with me an alabaster jar. I was thinking might be a nice time Jesus is here. Simon the leper is a nice evening and so on.

I was thinking I'm just gonna smash it and and anoint Jesus never had 100 reasons to tell now that that's not a known nonowner is not a smart move.

Don't be doing that now few few people. Few people who have amounted to anything for God have amounted to something for God. As a result of sitting down and waiting for their friends on the misty flats to get a picture if you're going to go for it.

You're going to have to go for and there is no alternative but to go for. Think about it, the philanthropy of gates and buffet which is wonderful to give away the all that money. The ecology that is concern for the welfare of the world in which we live is understandable to Cleveland is littered with medical facilities bearing the names of generous people.

No one has a problem with that.

But the idea that lady would give it all up for the sake of Jesus of Nazareth. I never heard of such a crazy thing and so realize this if we like this woman do our best, and with proper motives seek to serve Jesus, don't be surprised if you meet with the disapproval of your friends.

But remember this at the end of the day is normal we say about ourselves or what others say about us that matters is what God says about us is for that reason that we know the name of Jim Elliott. He was like all his classmates like you seek they get it good education at a good college admittedly not as good as this one, but nevertheless a good college sweetens pretty good.

I say that this sort can go back to my friend the president, Phil Reich and you send me a note that's by the way, I just being facetious, but remember he writes in his journal. He says that that he wasn't really trying to get a bachelor of arts he was trying to get any UG study and to show himself approved unto God what brings us to the third and final phrase and I'll just note it for you and then were done. Jesus says listen leave her alone. She's done what she could. The disciples can know are quite a group Monday me that they they are just such a like I died I don't mean to be smug or anything, but they really are. Other than a hopeless bunch.

I know they were chosen by Jesus by their hopeless punch him in the wrong the wrong side of the equation almost every afternoon. Go through the Gospels and look at Jesus, we saw man casting out demons in your name and we told him to stop. He said don't tell on the stall. One of them scored. See I told you not to say that this was stupid. Like I was telling do it know you are not you said stop as well be quiet. Jesus says what a bunch could you move the kids. Please get the kids out here were trying to do evangelism with Jesus of Nazareth get them not just move them just more than that's always say pardon, pardon all we know you want to bring them up so they can stay on your knee all you see I told you that I told you that that's what he wants. He wants that kind of thing I would just buy from a Samaritan village. Jesus didn't go very well. Not a good response know one of our better campaigns and fiber were downright nasty. Would you like us to call down fire from heaven. Not only so now this afternoon at least know and are you really are. They scolded Jesus Jesus, six guys leave her alone. She's done what she could and he explains the poor are our responsibility.

There are obligation all day every day, but this he says is a one-off. She either does it today or she doesn't do it. She's done something beautiful were there in Greek is calluses not I thought I got those as intrinsically good calluses, beautifully good. She's done something that is beautifully good. She's anointed my body and active, costly and humble devotion.

All the commentators without exception say that when Jesus says she is anointed my body for burial.

She was doing something that she didn't know she was doing because she couldn't. I'm not convinced by the why couldn't she know why couldn't she have an insight that others didn't have. How did the thief on the cross. Finally, say we are a peer getting what we deserve for this man is done nothing wrong. Where did that come from is impossible that a June day in lady with a huge big heart and a generosity of spirit saw something that these disciples never got God does that for people may do that for you but know this, the self contained people the sensible people the score holders will fade into obscurity. It is the rash extravagance of the humble that will be remembered whenever the gospel is proclaimed and long after human eloquence and human brilliance are forgotten. When the deed and send the titles of emperors and kings and presidents have been buried in the dust. Jesus says this beautiful significant timely act will be remembered. The pathway to lasting owner is to honor Christ hurt Jester was unique in its thoughtfulness. Costly in its bestowal, timely in its provision challenging in its impact and lasting in its memory, and the very fiber were thinking about it here in this beautiful place in the 21st century is testimony to what Jesus said we have heard today the story of one woman's extravagant devotion, generosity. This is Truth for Life with Alistair Begg. Please keep listening. Alister will return in just a minute to close with prayer messages this week are part of a series called lessons for life. These are messages originally delivered to college students. So, to go along with Alister's teaching. We will offer you a book that will be particularly helpful if you have high school or college students in your family. It's called surviving religion 101 letters to a Christian student on keeping the faith in college. This is a book written by a father who wants to prepare his children for college knowing that their Christian beliefs will be put to the test. Each letter is filled with advice and caution about interacting in a world where Christianity is countercultural requester copy of the book surviving religion 101 when you donate online giving is easy. You can just click the image you see in the app or visit our website Truth for Life.org/donate. You may also elect your college student know about the Truth for Life app. The app provides access each day to this program and the daily devotional. Plus it includes a complete ESV Bible along with access to Alister's entire teaching archive. Now let's join Alister in prayer.

Father, thank you that the Bible is a lien for our feet and a light for our path confirmed and is all that is off yourself banished from my recollection. Anything that is untrue, unhelpful, pour out your spirit upon this place and increasing measure meet with us in the secret places of our life's so that our public displays of affection and and commitment to you may not be acts of hypocrisy may emerge from the reality of a life wholly given over to you. Thank you for this day, which we now commend to you in Christ's name. Amen. It's unthinkable that one of Jesus disciples would betray him.

How could a devoted follower of Christ choose such people tomorrow. Alister delivers a chilling warning to all purpose Christ Bible teaching of Alistair Begg is furnished by Truth for Life where the Learning is for Living