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April 28, 2022 4:00 am
People often respond to extravagant one of two ways. Some people think of it as a wasteful indulgence. Others see it as lavish generosity today on Truth for Life will hear about a dramatic act of worship that brought both admiration and astonishment. Alastair begs teaching from the first 11 verses in Mark chapter 14 and finally at this encounter between Jesus and this particular lady so first of all, then a woman came that service introduced while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper he was there having a meal, a woman came to know if your Bible is open there. You will notice that chapter 13 is essentially the Olivet discourse, but it is quite interesting… Particular discourse in chapter 13 is framed on either side by the introduction of two women at the end of chapter 12.
Remember the widows offering that Jesus has observed and to which he has drawn his disciples.
Attention. So in verse 43 he says to them, truly, truly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box why because he was measuring by sacrifice, not by amount he was measuring by proportion. So this lady had actually done something quite dramatic in Jesus disciples were very slow to grasp the values of the kingdom and you will notice actually died a few of your Bible is open, that it goes from Jesus pointed to this lady and saying let me show you what it really means to be committed to the kingdom and to be involved in sacrifice. This is an as they came out of the temple, one of his disciples said look, teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings we are listening to me are what it's like they say the Sunday morning services not the pastor preaches his heart out and something comes out and says you want to go to Denny's or shall we go to such and such. What did you hear what the man said yeah but we're finished with what the man said with yes or something about a lady she put in our money, but would rather talk about the architectural and face the challenge of Jesus words would rather talk about just about anything other than face the challenge that Jesus brings in so here we are on the far side of it the very next thing were introduced to is another lady engaged in sacrifice and Mark tells us in a fairly straightforward way she's gone. A woman came with an alabaster flask alabaster that sells the container would be expensive and the content all it was obviously very very costly.
In other words one the kind of thing that a lady would have in her purse know it was the cost of the material that brought about the extreme response of disapproval on the part of some, perhaps a year's wages would have been involved in the purchase nor the material fact upon she got enough to fill the house with fragrance but you see the monetary value of it was probably the smallest part of the cost because this kind of alabaster flask would have been in a whole good being in a home, even for a generation or two cats in the hall for one of two reasons either to be used as a dowry on the occasion of marriage or to be used to anoint the individual's body in preparation for their burial and when you put it in those terms. And you say, here comes a lady and she carries with her diet, which would've been for her. An expression of promise and of extravagance in marriage or she brings with her that which would be used for her in the prospect of her death than what we discover what we discover that Mark is describing a lady who is essentially pulling away her future on the head of Jesus Christ say whatever whole streams, plans, ambitions, convictions I had. I am bringing them here and at the risk of being disregarded or being disapproved of not being socially acceptable going to pour this out on the Lord Jesus Christ.
She chooses not to pour out a little. Just squeeze the top off squeeze rebid out, but rather she chooses instead to break the flask. Adjust your if you like of complete abandonment because after the flask was broken it. It served its purpose, it wasn't going to be used for anything again.
Now the brokenness is actually significant. Even if the brokenness of the flask could be regarded as an impulsive gesture in the heat of the moment.
The fact that she brought it indicates that it was a premeditated act that she had already determined that this was something that she was going to do. She may have actually expressed it in a way that even to her by surprise, but nevertheless somewhere in the privacy of our own home in the hidden place of her own heart and of her own mind, she had decided this is what I'm going to do and so she did and the impacts was felt by all. She ported over his head again in our 21st century context. This, it doesn't necessarily appeal doors does it we have to contextualize it in some way if someone came to your house and started boring stuff you would a reason to be concerned it will usually be a bucket of cold water. In any case, it wouldn't be something like this but in the context of the day, it's perfectly clear.
The Bible has a lot to say about oil and the pouring out of oil. I actually wonder when this event took place. If Jesus did not set the IRS. The lady acted in this way.
I wonder did they say you prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies you anoint my head with oil my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life because remember the way in which the passage opens the chief priests and the scribes are looking for a way to kill him. The way the passage closes Judas Iscariot immediately goes out and asked how much cash he can get for himself by betraying his master, and here among them in the context of the darkness on either side is the radiant light of this self forgetfulness on the part of an unnamed woman is wonderful picture Jesus knew his Bible, and therefore he would've received this ministry in light of what he knew while we can leave her action in the awareness of the fight that it was unique in its thoughtfulness. It was generous in its bestowal and it was as we will see timely in its provision. First of all, then a woman came.
Secondly, verse four, they scolded her.
There were some of said to themselves indignantly. Note John actually tells us in his rendition of this that it was that it was Judas Iscariot, who led the charge in this respect that he was the one who gave grave, who mouth the response but in much the same way as Peter's denial where Peter is the one who makes the denial by the were also told that all of the disciples said the same thing as Peter and so when you take John and you apply it in relationship to Mark you realize that although Judas may have been the mouthpiece. He clearly wasn't alone in the sort of overwhelming reaction of those who were the avowed devoted followers of Jesus was not to actually bow down humbled by what it taken place but was actually to scold the woman for what she had done so.
Mark tells us that the grumbled and he growled of the woman. The word in Greek actually is is is closer to snorting the snorted at her as an expression of anger and displeasure she has, in an instant. Become the object of angry glances. Why is this what he regarded her action is extravagant regarded it as a misuse of resources. Why was the arm and wasted like that. And then of course they try and take the high ground for this ointment could have been sold for more than 300 denarii. That's a tremendous amount of money and given to the poor are well are we going to respond to that is that that's a tough one. Is it since we played that card.
Another expressed concern for the poor is a thin disguise for their cold hearts, and further typefaces.
This is an attempt on their part to justify their indignation see the disciples make it clear again and again and again all the way along that they failed to understand the volumes of the kingdom of God. They don't understand the values of the kingdom of God. That's why Jesus said to them in the upper room discourse. It is important for you that I go away. I know you don't like the idea of me going away, but it is very important that I go away, because when I go away. I will send you the father will send you another counselor and comforter and he will bring you into an understanding of all the things that I have told you things that frankly you haven't got his is a remarkable thing is is that how ineffective Jesus is as a teacher for so long with the people who are with them every single day. At the end of the corpse. The all deserted him and they fled.
They went all their stand and say hey it's good Friday.
This is fantastic is going to be Easter Sunday. Nor they were all gone.
Why because they didn't get and so a lady comes along here and exposes them for what they are and they realize once again it's not clear so that they can find. They were probably jealous of the fact that the lady had acted in this way, JC Ryle of an earlier era. He says the spirit of these narrowminded folk finders is unhappily only two, 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 decry what they call extremes in religion and are incessantly recommending what they term moderation in the service of Christ. If a man devotes his time, money and affections to the pursuit of worldly things they do not blame him if he gives himself up to the service of money, pleasure or politics. They find no fault but if the same man devotes himself and all that he has two Christ they can scarcely find words to express their sense of his folly he was beside himself. They say he is out of his mind. He is an enthusiast.
He is a fanatic. Nothing about that in our day. Philanthropy is the big deal.
Erasers will fall down before the philanthropists you can go down that road.
Any do you want and make sure that the building that you build with all your money is green. That way you get a double while me, but if you let me know that you are prepared to sacrifice your life, your future, your career in the cause of the kingdom of Jesus Christ would say to you, you've got to be absolutely nuts. What are you talking about that was Ryle and here we are. We haven't moved on very far. You see the broken flask here in the fragrant send testified against their calculated pragmatism. If this lady had shown up at the house and called a little meeting in the anteroom said no. I know a number of your your with Jesus and I was looking forward to coming. Jesus, I thought we were just going here and I'd let you know what I'm planning to do tonight if she had done that we would have no record of her extravagant devotion because they would've talked her out of it. You don't have to do that. That's rather extreme is majorly you've got other kind of massage oil or perfume or or something else that would be good enough for Jesus immediately doesn't really want and want the whole, the whole kit and caboodle AMI you never sacrifice your your marriage or your burial in the strength you see this lady scolded on account of the fact that her gratitude to Jesus caused her to give up her treasured possession or gratitude to Jesus caused her to give up her treasured possessions you seek. Judas Judas thought of following Jesus was about what he was going to get. So he went out and said to them, what will you give me. She understood the following Jesus was about what she was able to give us why you see missionary biographies. I've always had the impact that they tried. Sadly, many of them of fallen into the catalog listserv out-of-print tales of for another either and on. You know, one of the one of the things that might be done is the unearthing of many of these old stories and good books so that the heroes of the past might become contemporary for the new generations so that for example CT started to give up a fortune. That was his by inheritance and went off to Africa with the story of the good news. His father had been converted as a result of the visit of Moody and Sankey's father was phenomenally wealthy.
Start went to Cambridge. He played cricket for England. He was it was that it was far better than the great Gatsby. That's where you live. That was his whole experience, and he actually turned his back on all of that in order to go to Africa but he gave away his fortune and Bike for His Wife. His Wife Found out about It. She Was Really Angry Because He Had Given Her a Little Poem She Was Supposed to Say in the Morning with Her Devotions. She Was Supposed to Say. Dear Lord Jesus, You Are to Me. Deirdre Than Charlie Ever Could Be. You Wanted Her to Understand Also That When He Died She Would Know That Her Best Friend Was Jesus and She Said Light. Why Do You Keep All That Money Back for Me so I Wanted You to Be Okay. She Said You Think Jesus Can Only Look after You and He Can Look after Me, Give My Part Away As Well so They Give It to Be Given to the General Birth of the Salvation Army.
I Will Long As the Kingdom Logic Here Goes. This Is CT Start. If Jesus Christ Be God and Died for Me, That No Sacrifice That I Could Ever Make for Him Could Ever Be Too Great Is the Logic of the King. We Go to Work out Our Own Salvation with Fear and Trembling, While Esters Go to Our Final Point, the Response of People Was to Scold Her. Verse Eight Jesus.
Jesus Says She Has Done What She Could so Wonderful Phrases and It Jesus Is Right When He Just Leave Her Alone Why You Troubling or She's Done a Beautiful Thing.
You Will Always Have the Poor with You What What Is Jesus Doing Here. Well, He's Just Making It Clear What the Law Had Taught in the Law Had Taught That There Will Never Cease to Be Poor in the Latin Law Had Made Provision for the Poor and the Land Surveys I Believe You Have That in the Story of Ruth, Don't You Where Naomi Allows Ruth to Gloat and to Gather up on the Fringes of the Field As It Turns out in the Field of Boaz in a Fantastic Story.
What Is Happening There. That Is Due To the Provision of the Law. The Law Said That the Owner of the Land Was, Not to Go to the Entire Perimeter of the Land and He Harvested His Crop Was to Leave the Borders of the Perimeter so That Poor People Could Buy Their Endeavors Become the Beneficiaries of Their Largesse.
Jesus Is Actually Courting the Law and the Response Year When He Says the Poor You Will Always Have Is Not in Any Sentence Disregarding the Poor When He's Pointing out Is That the Poor Represent an Ongoing Opportunity and an Ongoing Obligation, but What Happens Here in Relationship to Me. He Says It Is a One Time Opportunity Because You Will Not Always Have Me Go down to Verse 41 or so in the Passage Arise.
In Verse 42 Rise Letters regarding My Betrayer Is at Hand and They All Left Him and Sledge Are Not Always Going to Have Me. So Why Are You Scolding or She's Done Something Really Beautiful. The Word in Greek Is Callous. Now There Are Two Words in Greek, Largely for Good. One Is I Got Thoughts Which Means Intrinsically Good and Callous Means of You like Beautifully Good Lesson Where the Users What She's Done Is Generous, Self Forgetful.
It's Wonderful. She's Anointed My Body before Hand for Burial. That's the Real Significance. It Is Significant That Is Directly Related to His Death You Think about This. The Law Demanded No and You Would've Been Very without the Preparatory Rights of Anointing Jesus Was Going to Be Captured in the Garden Taken Away, Beaten, Crucified in the Providence of God Here in an Unusual Place in the House of Simon the Leper, the Anointing in Preparation for His Burial Takes Place in the Commentators All Say Almost without Exception, Died As She Was Doing What She Was Doing but She Didn't Really Know What She Was Doing and Jesus Explains the Real Significance of What She Was Doing and That May Well Be Right That May Well Be Right, but It Also May Well Be Right As You Did Know What She Was Doing Goal of Female Intuition, Whatever You Want to Call This Lady Saw What Others Miss. This Lady Who Proceeded to the House. On This Particular Evening, Did so in the Awareness of the Unfolding Drama of Redemption Because Think about It.
How Do You Explain the One Thief on the Other Side of Them Saying, Lord, Remember Me When You Come into Your Kingdom, and the Other One Still Cussing about What Happened There Who Open the Eyes of the One so Would Open the Eyes of a Lady to Proceed in the Darkness of the Night to Shine the Light on for Self-Sacrifice Show Facial Love. Verily, Verily, I Say to You, This Poor Widow Has Now Done Something That Will Serve As a Perpetual Memorial of the Response to the One Who Became Poor in Order That We Might Become Rich. Truly I Say to You, Whatever the Gospel Is Proclaimed in the Whole World, What She Has Done Will Be Told in Memory Offer Self-Contained Sensible Scolding Onlookers Fade into Obscurity While the Rash Extravagance of This Humble Woman Is Known Whatever the Gospel Is Proclaimed Long after Human Eloquence and Human Brilliance Are Forgotten.
When the Deeds and Titles of Emperors and Kings and Presidents Are Completely Buried This Beautiful Significant and Timely Act Will Be Remembered Because the Pathway to Lasting Owner Is to Honor Christ the Pathway to Lasting Owner Is to Honor Christ. She Gave Him All She Had.
A Woman Came Devoted Unique in Its Thoughtfulness. Costly in Its Crystal Timely in Its Provision Challenging and Its Impact Lasting in Its Memory, and They Scolded and Jesus Said She Has Done What She Could the End of the Day It's Not What You Say about Yourself That Matters. It's Not Even What Others Say about You That Matters at the End of the Day It's Only What God Says about You That Matters.
So Then May Say Well Done Good and Faithful Servant Is Not Possible for Us to Be Too Extravagant Comes to Honoring Christ Listening to Truth for Life with Alister Bragg Final Message in a Series Titled an Extraordinary Encounter. If You Enjoyed the Stories You Could like to Learn More about How People with Different Backgrounds and Needs Encounter Jesus in the Gospels, Then You Want to Request Nancy Guthrie's Book Titled Saints and Scoundrels in the Story of Jesus Cures My Request Would Make a Donation Online That Truth for Life.org/Donate When You Call Us at 888588788. You May Have Heard Me Talk on This Program about Becoming a Truth Trick Partner Is a Listener Who Supports Truth for Life Each Month, Prayerfully and Financially.
I Mention It Because True Partners Are an Essential Part of This List Are Funded Ministering without Their Faithful Giving This Program Would Not Be so If You Were Inspired by Today's Message about the Generosity of the Woman with the Alabaster Jar. Maybe Today Is the Day You Will Become a Truth Can Do It by Calling Us at 888587884. Go Online to Truth for Life.org/about Peen You Believe the Bible Has Absolute Authority. Join Us Tomorrow to Find out Why Your Answer to This Question Will Significantly Impact Every Aspect of Your Life. The Bible Teaching of Alister Bragg Is Furnished by Truth for Life with the Learning is for Living