A Beautiful Offering

We live in a day in which we are warned against religious extremism. The term came onto my radar when I was in the 10th grade as I watched live on television the collapse of the twin towers in NYC on September 11. We’ve seen these attacks more and more frequently as extremists have blown up others and themselves, all in the name of their alleged gods and their definition of righteousness and justice. And, I think that we’ve even begun to apply those same thoughts to our own Christian faith. Many want to consider themselves Christians, but not extremists, not those that eat, breathe, and sleep religion. We want to be considered balanced. It’s not a stretch to say that what each of us most want to be in the eyes of others is just ‘normal.’ We want everyone to consider us to be normal and not extreme.

But, when we begin to consider the extent of what Jesus taught the gospel to be and it’s bearings on the Christian life, then we must realize that there is not extreme too great for the true, born-again Christian. For you cannot be too repentant or too humble. You cannot be too joyful or too loving. You cannot be too kind or too patient. If you believe Jesus’ teachings on eternal reward, you cannot be too sacrificial or too self-denying. You cannot be too forgiving or too merciful. You cannot live too generously or too faithfully. For the Christian, the world is not put at risk by our extremism, rather the world is preserved by it, the world is illumined by it. And, for you personally, you cannot be too extreme in your Christian life for the very fact that you cannot trust God too much.

This morning, we’re going to see a disciple of Jesus who many of his other disciples believed was too extreme in her offerings to Christ.

God’s Word

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An Extreme Savior

“the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified” In chapters 24 and 25, Jesus has shared with his disciples about a glorious future that He will enjoy and that they will enjoy with him. Now, He brings them back to the grim present. Before He returns in power and glory, He must first die in agony and humiliation. The path to future glory goes through a very present cross. And, Jesus has taught us that this is not only the pattern of his life but the pattern of the lives of all those who will follow him. After announcing his impending suffering to his disciples in chapter 16, he had told them, “Anyone who will come after me, must deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow me.” That is, for all of us who bear the name of Christ, a day of reward is coming, but first is the day of suffering. We will bear the cross before we receive the crown.

“You know that after two days the Passover is coming” For us to understand all the full glory of this passage, it’s important for us to think about the timeline. First, I want you to consider that Jesus went to Jerusalem knowing He would die there. Matthew makes it clear to us that Jesus knew the timing and method of his execution before his executioners did. He announces for the first time in the Gospels that ‘after two days’ He ‘will be delivered up to be crucified.’ The only thing worse than a terrible experience is the dread of one that you know is coming. Can you imagine how difficult it would be to face cancer if you knew the exact day that you were to be diagnosed? Can you imagine the psychological toll it would take on you if you knew the day of your child's death? Imagine knowing that on a particular day that you are going to be tortured and murdered for a crime that you didn't commit. This is Jesus. Jesus isn't just to be crucified; He lives every day with the dread of crucifixion. And yet, knowing the hardship of what was ahead, He pressed on toward the cross anyway.

Is there any clearer evidence of Jesus' obedience than his knowledge of what was to come and yet his unwavering willingness to face it any way? He welcomed Judas into his inner circle knowing that he was Benedict Arnold. He rode into Jerusalem on Sunday knowing that He would be marching up a hill called Golgotha with his own cross strapped to his back on Friday. He ministered and cared for his disciples, knowing that they would all abandon him and that they didn't really understand him.

Is there any clearer evidence of the extremity Jesus' obedience than his knowledge of what was to come and yet his unwavering willingness to face it any way? He welcomed Judas into his inner circle knowing that he was Benedict Arnold. He rode into Jerusalem on Sunday knowing that He would be marching up a hill called Golgotha with his own cross strapped to his back on Friday. He ministered and cared for his disciples, knowing that they would all abandon him and that they didn't really understand him.

Jesus Calls Us to Extreme Obedience

APPLICATION: This is why Jesus tells those interested in following him to count the costs first. He knew that it would be extreme. He has promised that it will bring temporary hardship and pain into your life. Everyone who truly comes to Jesus must know that things are going to get harder before they get better. Jesus calls his disciples to follow him in extreme obedience to his Father’s will, even if the costs are your very lives. Are you willing to go where God is sending you even if you know that going will make your life harder and not easier? It is too often our assumption that life is supposed to get easier as it goes along. It's too often our assumption that following Jesus will make things easier over time. It's too often our assumption that we will have more and make more as time goes on, but God never promises us that. If Jesus' life is the standard of our expectation, Jesus' life was filled with suffering and hardship and so we should expect the same. In fact, think of where Jesus' disciples will end up. Their lives aren't going to get easier. Their lives are going to get harder, and they will get harder, each one of them, unto death.

APPLICATION: Our aversion to all things difficult betrays the lack of extremity and devotion in our obedience. Why don't more adopt? It will make their lives harder. Why don't more go on mission? It will make their lives harder. Why don't more share their faith with family, friends, and co-workers? It will make their live more difficult. Why don't more people teach and serve and commit themselves to the church? It will make their lives more complicated. Why don't more people teach their children and teenagers the gospel and hold them accountable to it? It makes their lives more complicated. We must stop using the difficulty level as our determining factor and start asking whether or not it's what God would have for us to do. If it's what God would have us to do, then we can do it, though difficult and impossible for us, knowing that it is not too difficult nor impossible for God to do. When we determine our faithfulness based upon our ability or inability, based upon what is easier or more difficult, then we eliminate God from our decision-making. We have ceased to live by faith. For all intents and purposes, we have begun to live like an atheist even though we claim to have the Spirit of God. Let us follow Christ instead! As extreme as He is and as extreme as He calls us to be, may we follow him any way by the power and grace He offers!

This is why Jesus tells those interested in following him to count the costs first. He knew that it would be extreme. He has promised that it will bring temporary hardship and pain into your life. Everyone who truly comes to Jesus must know that things are going to get harder before they get better.

Our aversion to all things difficult betrays the lack of extremity and devotion in our obedience. Why don't more adopt? It will make their lives harder. Why don't more go on mission? It will make their lives harder. Why don't more share their faith with family, friends, and co-workers? It will make their live more difficult. Why don't more people teach and serve and commit themselves to the church? It will make their lives more complicated. Why don't more people teach their children and teenagers the gospel and hold them accountable to it? It makes their lives more complicated. We must stop using the difficulty level as our determining factor and start asking whether or not it's what God would have for us to do. If it's what God would have us to do, then we can do it, though difficult and impossible for us, knowing that it is not too difficult nor impossible for God to do. When we determine our faithfulness based upon our ability or inability, based upon what is easier or more difficult, then we eliminate God from our decision-making. We have ceased to live by faith. For all intents and purposes, we have begun to live like an atheist even though we claim to have the Spirit of God. Let us follow Christ instead! As extreme as He is and as extreme as He calls us to be, may we follow him any way by the power and grace He offers!

Extreme Sovereignty

“Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people” As Jesus meets with his disciples, there is another meeting taking place. Jesus is preparing to face the cross, and the leaders of Israel are conspiring about how to nail him there. And, the timeline continues to be a significant part of the storyline here. Notice that they want to wait until after the seven day Passover festival. Jerusalem was swollen up to five times it’s normal size and many Galileans that held Jesus is very high esteem were in town. So, they plan to wait until afterward to have Jesus arrested and executed to avoid any potential riots with the crowd. But, remember what Jesus told his disciples. Jesus told his disciples that He would be crucified in two days during the Passover. You see, the Passover was the most significant Jewish festival of the year. It was the celebration of when God sent the angel of death over Egypt, and only those Jews who obeyed God, slaughtered a lamb, and painted its blood over the door of the house would be passed over. And then, God delivered them from slavery to the Egyptians so that they could take their rightful place as the blessed people of God in the Promised Land. And, here was Jesus, the unblemished Lamb of God, the fulfillment of those Passover lambs 1500 years earlier. He would be delivered up to the altar of the cross so that by his blood all of the people of God who repented of their sins and placed their trust in him might be delivered from their slavery to sin.

“delivered up” So, we have two different timelines in play here. The temple leaders say after the Passover, but Jesus says that it will be in two days during the Passover. And so, it is. On Thursday night, Jesus is betrayed by Judas and arrested in the Garden to be crucified the next morning. But, it’s important for you to see that He isn’t taken; He’s delivered up. He is given to the chief priests and the elders, not against the Father's will, but according to it. He isn't taken against his will or against the Father's plan. The cross doesn't surprise Jesus, and it doesn't surprise God the Father. The cross isn't a divine miscalculation. It is divine intervention. Jesus knew before his executers knew. This happened on his timeline, and not theirs.

APPLICATION: What a powerful reminder that God is sovereign over the wicked of this world! He will frustrate their plans and manipulate their schemes so that they become subservient to his own glory. They intended to do evil by killing God’s very own Son, but instead they sacrificed the great Passover Lamb according to the will of God so that you and I can have our sins and our death covered by his blood! There is no evil that you know in your life right now that won’t ultimately be proven as a servant of God’s glory! God will turn your anxiety into faith. He will transform your broken heart into contentment. He will mold your loneliness into intimacy. And, ultimately, He will take even the worst of your sin and use them as eternal billboards of his grace. Even the timeline of the cross sings of the sovereignty of God over the evil in the world. God isn’t surprised by your hardship, your heartbreak, or your sin, and He’s going to use it in your life as a testimony of his own sovereign grace!

He isn't taken; He is delivered. He is given to the chief priests and the elders, not against the Father's will, but according to it. He isn't taken against his will or against the Father's plan. The cross doesn't surprise Jesus, and it doesn't surprise God the Father. The cross isn't a divine miscalculation. It is divine intervention.

Extreme Generosity

“Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper” Matthew tells us that Jesus is found resting in the home of a man known as Simon the leper. It’s likely that this is a man that Jesus healed from his leprosy, as none of the Jews would have been able to be in his house if he were still afflicted by leprosy and he likely would have been too disabled to serve as host. John identifies the woman in our story as Martha and Lazarus’ sister, Mary, and many believe that this is the home where they lived with Simon possibly being their dad or brother. Nonetheless, we are given a front-row seat for a marvelous scene. As Jesus is reclining at the table and eating, Mary comes up to him, and she breaks the alabaster jar off at the tip, and pours over Jesus an ointment that is worth an average man’s entire year worth of wages. She’s anointing Jesus with a fragrance so exquisite and exclusive that it would be reserved only for royalty.

“she poured it on his head” She took what she had, and she gave it all to Jesus. She 'poured' it out on him. She didn't measure it carefully or hold some back for herself. In that alabaster flask was likely her most prized possession. It was probably a family heirloom that had been passed down to her. And, she poured it all out on Jesus. Through her life and actions, she demonstrated that Jesus was more precious than the most precious thing she had. She brought him her very best and gave it all to him without looking back. She’s anointing him as the King that she recognizes in him to be.

She took what she had, and she gave it all to Jesus. She 'poured' it out on him. She didn't measure it carefully or hold some back for herself. In that alabaster flask was likely her most prized possession. It's very likely that it was a family heirloom that had been passed down to her. And, she poured it all out on Jesus. Through her life and actions, she demonstrated that Jesus was more precious than the most precious thing she had. She brought him her very best and gave it all to him without looking back.

APPLICATION: She could give to Jesus the things that she treasured because Jesus was her greater treasure. And, this is how you will know how much you treasure Jesus. You will know how much you value Jesus by looking at how carefully you measure out your offerings. You will know the quality of your faith by how tight-fisted your offerings are. When it comes to your time, do you put serving Christ on the clock, determined to only serve him on certain days or for a certain amount of time? Or, will you find yourself losing track of the time that you've served him? When it comes to your money, do you find yourself justifying ways to hold on to it, or do you find yourself giving away generously? With Christ, you cannot be excessive, you cannot be too extreme in your offerings. His gift to you cannot be matched.

No Excessive Offerings

She could give to Jesus the things that she treasured because Jesus was her greater treasure.

“Why this waste?” And, the disciples totally miss it. This woman understood Jesus better than his own disciples. They watch the extravagance of her unmeasured offering, and they are offended by it. They feel like they understand Jesus and his mission better than her. They know that Jesus has great concern for the poor and unfortunate, people like Simon whose house they were in. So, why would she waste such a valuable resource as this just pouring it over Jesus' head? How foolish! She could sell it by meals, clothes, and shelter for the pour. After all, isn't this what Jesus had just taught them? "If you do for the least of one of these, you are doing it for me." They think she's missed what's going on. Obviously Jesus wouldn't want her to use such a valuable resource so wastefully.

This woman understood Jesus better than his own disciples. They watch the extravagance of her unmeasured offering, and they are offended by it. They feel like they understand Jesus and his mission better than her. They know that Jesus has great concern for the poor and unfortunate, people like Simon whose house they were in. So, why would she waste such a valuable resource as this just pouring it over Jesus' head? How foolish! She could sell it by meals, clothes, and shelter for the pour. After all, isn't this what Jesus had just taught them? "If you do for the least of one of these, you are doing it for me." They think she's missed what's going on. Obviously Jesus wouldn't want her to use such a valuable resource so wastefully.

“she has done a beautiful thing to me” Jesus responds in a way that almost makes us uncomfortable, doesn’t he? What Jesus’ disciples called waste Jesus calls worship. Though He was homeless and though He was humble and though He was soon to be crucified, Jesus is the King of glory. But, his own people are going to reject him as their king in just two days. Rather than a crown of gold, he’ll receive a crown of thorns. Rather than a the scepter of the universe in his hand will be a nail. He will be mocked and spat upon, not praised. But, Mary saw the truth. He was the anointed king who deserved the best from his people, and so she honors him with her best, giving him the honorable burial the world will refuse him. This wasn’t waste; it was worship. Oh, brothers and sisters, you cannot be too excessive in your offerings to Jesus!

Nothing Given to Jesus is Wasted

APPLICATION: Nothing that you give to Jesus is wasted. There is no offering given to Jesus that you'll want back when you get to eternity. If you give away everything so that your left homeless and penniless, you'll praise God when you see the rewards of heaven. If you give away an easy life here and an esteemed education for your children to live in Haiti with malaria infested mosquitoes, you'll not think it a poor investment. If you drive a car that runs hot with an air conditioner that doesn't work so that one more child enters into the Kingdom of Heaven, you'll rejoice forever that so small an investment brought so great a return. Even if you are like Peter, and you are executed beside your wife because of your missionary endeavors, you will instantly awaken in the presence of Jesus filled with a glorious shout that you had made a worthy offering. Brothers and sisters, when it comes to Jesus, not a single, cheerful, sincere offering will be wasted.

May We Be Christian Extremists

Oh, and I think of so many in our church family. I think of the brother in my office this week who thinks God may be calling him to plant a church in his retirement. I think of Dale and Rhonda who are looking working now so that they can go to the mission field when they retire. I think of Josh giving up his final years in his twenties to seminary so that he can serve our Lord. I think of John and Holly opening up their home every Friday night so that one more teenager might be loved. I think of college students giving up the normal college experience and young parents sacrificing so that they can go on mission. Brothers and sister, none of it will be wasted! None of it. It is beautiful in the eyes of our Lord. And, when you are in the presence of our Lord, no matter how much it hurts now, you will celebrate it then. Praise God, may we be Christian extremists giving excessively that more may live.

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