The Best Choice
January 24, 2021
27:29
Pastor and Evangelist Greg Laurie teaches the simple yet life changing message of the Gospel.
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The Best Choice
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- ♪ This is the day whenthe lost are found ♪
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- ♪ Oh can you hear allthe angels are singing ♪
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- ♪ This is the day theday where life begins. ♪
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- - Let's grab our Biblesand turn to Mark 14
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- as we come to theend of one year,
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- and now the beginning of another
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- this is a good time to reflect.
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- We'll look back and we'llthink about some things
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- we wish we would have done,
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- maybe we have regrets aboutthings that we did do,
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- but it's a good time to reflect.
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- I'm reminded of a statementthat Billy Graham made
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- not long before he wentto be with the Lord.
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- He was asked the question,
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- if he had any regrets in life,
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- and the response BillyGraham said, quote,
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- "I would study more,I would pray more,
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- "I would travel less,
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- "and I would take lessspeaking engagements.
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- "I took too many of them
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- "in too many placesaround the world."
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- Billy says,
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- "If I had it todo all over again
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- "I'd spend more time inmeditation and prayer
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- "and just telling theLord how much I adore Him
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- "and how much I'mlooking forward
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- "to the time we're going tospend together in eternity."
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- End quote.
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- Well, Billy is with theLord now spending that time
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- with Him in eternity,
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- but here before us in Mark 14
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- is a story of a womanwho did what Billy Graham
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- wish he had done more of,
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- she spent a lot oftime telling the Lord
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- how much she lovedand adored Him.
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- And then she did somethingvery special to Jesus.
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- And by the way, shedid something thatwas largely missed
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- by the other disciples,
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- but Jesus singles thisstory out in the Bible.
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- He wants us to knowthis story in particular
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- and I find thatfascinating because
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- we read in Mark 14:9,Jesus speaking He says,
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- "Assuredly I say,
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- "wherever the gospel ispreached in the whole world,
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- "what this woman hasdone will be told
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- "as a memorial to her."
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- Wow, okay.
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- Well, we better pay attention.
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- What exactly did this woman do?
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- Before I tell you what that is,
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- let's pick up where we lastleft off in the Gospel of Mark,
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- Jesus is headed to the cross,
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- He is plainly declaredthat to His disciples
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- at a place calledCaesarea Philippi.
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- He told them He wasgonna be betrayed,
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- He was gonna be crucified,
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- and He would riseagain on the third day.
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- And this came asbad news to His boys
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- because His popularitywas at its total peak.
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- The name of Jesus wason everyone's lips
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- He was trending on social media.
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- Well, He would have beenif this happened today.
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- Matthew 12:12 said,
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- "Large crowds gathered to Him
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- "and He got into a boat
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- "and the whole crowd wasstanding on the beach."
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- And then Luke 12:1 says,
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- "Thousands of peoplehad gathered together,
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- "and they were steppingon one another."
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- So everybody wantedto get close to Jesus,
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- and so He was very popular,
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- but ironically these samepeople that were expressing
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- their interest in Himwould soon turn against Him
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- when He made Hisway to the cross.
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- Even His own hand-pickeddisciples did notfully understand
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- what He was about to do.
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- He had come to die on the cross.
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- We celebrated Christmas recently
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- and reminded you thatthe Incarnation was so
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- there would be the Atonement,
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- the birth of Jesus was so therewould be the death of Jesus.
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- This was always the planfrom the very beginning,
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- and even though He spokeabout it in great detail,
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- His disciples missedit with one exception
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- and it wasn't John known forhis spiritual perception,
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- it wasn't Peter, James,Matthew or Andrew,
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- in fact, thisperson that got it,
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- this first netseemed to understand
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- what none of theothers understood
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- was not one of the disciples.
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- It wasn't John normally knownfor a spiritual perception,
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- it wasn't Peter normallyknown for his outspokenness,
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- it wasn't Andrew,
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- it wasn't Matthew,
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- it wasn't one of the apostles,
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- it wasn't a man, it was a woman.
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- And she was not oneof the apostles,
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- but she understood whatJesus had come to do
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- and her name was Mary.
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- Now there's a lot ofMary's in the Bible
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- so sometimes we get confused.
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- First of all, there'sMary, the mother of Jesus,
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- then there's Mary Magdalene,
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- and then there isMary and Martha, okay?
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- So this is Mary ofMary and Martha thing.
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- It's worth noting thatevery time we read of Mary,
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- she is sitting atthe feet of Jesus,
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- maybe that's why shehad this great insight.
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- We remember one occasion whenJesus came over to her home
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- where she lived withher sister Martha
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- and her brother Lazarus,
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- and Martha went into the kitchen
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- to make a great feast for Jesus
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- and Mary was justsitting at His feet
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- and this frustrated Martha
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- 'cause it's a lot ofwork to prepare a meal,
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- and she comes out to Mary thatMary joiner in the kitchen
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- and Jesus made an amazingstatement to Martha.
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- He said,
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- "Martha, Martha, you're worriedand upset about many things,
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- "but one thing is needed,
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- "Mary has chosen what is better
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- "and it won't notbe taken from her."
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- Think about that.
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- Mary chose, what is better.
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- We have that same choicein this coming year.
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- In fact, we'll have this choice
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- given to us thousandsand thousands of times
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- to do the right thing, tonot do the wrong thing.
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- We can be like manicMartha's flooding (mumbles)
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- here and there goingabout our business,
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- or we can be like Mary and takethe time to sit at His feet
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- and hear what He has to say.
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- And when you choose what isbetter as Jesus said Mary did,
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- you're making the best choice.
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- And that's where she discoveredthis essential truth.
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- Mary realized Jesus wascoming to die on the cross.
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- I know it seems obvious to usnow, but no one else got this.
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- She knew He was comingto die on the cross,
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- and she also understood that'swhere He was now headed.
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- And she thought I've gotto do something profound,
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- I have to dosomething significant
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- that will show mythankfulness to Him,
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- my love for Him,my devotion to Him,
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- so she brings this greatgift and Jesus said,
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- this will now bea memorial to her
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- wherever the gospel is preached.
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- You know, there's a lotof controversy among some
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- about monumentsin America today,
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- what statues should be up,
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- what statues shouldbe taken down.
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- Well, this is a monumentthat should never be removed,
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- the gift and theheart behind that gift
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- to Jesus in this special moment.
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- So what exactly did Mary do?
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- What was this profoundgift that's so moved Jesus
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- He wanted to memorialize it?
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- Let's read about it now,
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- Mark 14, starting in verse one.
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- "Now the Passoverin the festival
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- "of unleavened breadwere only two days away,
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- "and the chief priests andthe teachers of the law
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- "were scheming to arrestJesus secretly and kill him.
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- "'But not during thefestival' they said,
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- "'or the people may riot.'
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- "While he was in Bethanyreclining at the table
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- "in the home of Simon the Leper,
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- "a woman came withan alabaster jar
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- "of very expensive perfume.
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- "She broke the jar and pouredthe perfume on his head.
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- "Some of those whoare present said,
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- "'Oh, this is worth morethan a year's wages.
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- "'Why this waste of perfume?
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- "'This could have been sold
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- "'and the money could havebeen given to the poor.'
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- "And they rebuked her harshly."
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- Now look at theresponse of Jesus.
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- "He said,
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- "'Leave her alone.
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- "'Why are you bothering her?
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- "'The poor youalways have with you
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- "'and you can helpthem any time you want,
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- "'but you don't alwayshave me with you.
- 00:08:07.310 --> 00:08:09.912
- "She did what she could.
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- "'She poured perfumeon my body beforehand
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- "'in preparation for my burial.
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- "'And I say to you,
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- "'wherever the gospel ispreached throughout the world,
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- "'what she has done willbe told in memory of her.'"
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- Now just stop andthinking about this.
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- This is a meal,this is a dinner,
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- and what a collection of people.
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- We've got the Lordhimself there,
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- but you know who else was there?
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- Lazarus, Lazarus, thebrother of Mary and Martha
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- who had just beenraised from the dead.
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- Man, I would have wanted toask Lazarus a few questions.
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- So, wow, what happened?
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- What was it like to dieand go to the other side?
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- And what did you seethere incredible?
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- So they're all gathered around,probably talking to Lazarus
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- and a lot ofquestions for Jesus.
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- He had just deliveredwhat we called
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- the Olivet Discourserecorded in Matthew 24.
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- And basically that's where Jesustalked about the end times,
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- and they probably hadmore questions about that.
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- What did you mean when you said,
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- the abomination of desolation?
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- Explain this all to us,
- 00:09:14.777 --> 00:09:16.278
- so this was quite the nightthat they were having together,
- 00:09:16.278 --> 00:09:20.416
- but everything was sortof coming to a head
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- in the life andministry of Jesus.
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- And now Mary watchingall of this is so moved,
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- she knows what Jesusis about to do,
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- so she does this verse three,
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- "A woman came with an alabasterjar of expensive perfume
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- "and broke the jar and pouredthe perfume on His head."
- 00:09:38.534 --> 00:09:42.938
- Now this probably wasa family heirloom.
- 00:09:42.938 --> 00:09:45.541
- As it's been pointed out,it was worth a year's wages,
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- so it was worth thousandsand thousands of dollars
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- under normal circumstances,just a few drops
- 00:09:51.781 --> 00:09:55.818
- from a bottle like thiswould be sufficient.
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- She pours a whole bottle on Him
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- and then wipes Hisfeet with her hair.
- 00:10:01.457 --> 00:10:04.360
- The whole room would have beenfilled with this fragrance.
- 00:10:04.360 --> 00:10:07.463
- Now I would have been there,
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- I wouldn't have smelled a thing.
- 00:10:08.497 --> 00:10:10.800
- The reason for that is asyou know I got COVID 19
- 00:10:10.800 --> 00:10:14.336
- and my strength cameback rather quickly
- 00:10:14.336 --> 00:10:17.073
- and everything is good,
- 00:10:17.073 --> 00:10:18.441
- but I've lost my senseof taste and smell.
- 00:10:18.441 --> 00:10:21.510
- I still don't haveit to this day,
- 00:10:21.510 --> 00:10:23.546
- I hope I get a backin this coming year,
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- but I wouldn't havesmelled a thing.
- 00:10:25.915 --> 00:10:27.750
- But Judas is very critical.
- 00:10:27.750 --> 00:10:29.719
- Maybe he has hislittle calculator out,
- 00:10:29.719 --> 00:10:32.054
- he knew the price of everythingand the value of nothing,
- 00:10:32.054 --> 00:10:34.790
- he calculated it andsaid, this is a waste.
- 00:10:34.790 --> 00:10:38.461
- And it did seem like a waste,
- 00:10:38.461 --> 00:10:40.329
- but it actuallywasn't a waste at all.
- 00:10:40.329 --> 00:10:42.998
- You can be various prices(mumbles) for perfume today,
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- I read that one of themost expensive perfumes
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- that you can buy is called
- 00:10:51.173 --> 00:10:52.942
- Clive Christian No.1 Imperial Majesty.
- 00:10:52.942 --> 00:10:57.546
- Mow, my that's a veryimpressive title, isn't it?
- 00:10:57.546 --> 00:11:00.182
- It's a combinationof mandarin orange,
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- Indian jasmine, whitepeach, lemon, and more,
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- and it costs you$200.000 a bottle.
- 00:11:05.588 --> 00:11:10.226
- Oh, but wait, theydeliver it in a Bentley.
- 00:11:10.226 --> 00:11:13.863
- So that's a lot of moneyto spend on perfume,
- 00:11:13.863 --> 00:11:16.432
- but it even gets crazier.
- 00:11:16.432 --> 00:11:17.967
- The most expensive perfumeyou can buy today is called,
- 00:11:17.967 --> 00:11:21.337
- here you go sucker.
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- No, I made that up.
- 00:11:22.872 --> 00:11:24.140
- It's actually calledShamukh (mumbles)
- 00:11:24.140 --> 00:11:27.176
- I don't even know if I'mpronouncing that right
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- and frankly I don't even care,
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- but it comes in a crystalbottle covered in diamonds,
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- pearls and gold.
- 00:11:35.451 --> 00:11:36.919
- And how much does it cost?
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- Are you ready for this?
- 00:11:37.987 --> 00:11:38.954
- $1.295.000.
- 00:11:38.954 --> 00:11:43.959
- Then again, you cango over to Amazon
- 00:11:45.127 --> 00:11:46.395
- and order some JadeEast for around $22,
- 00:11:46.395 --> 00:11:49.431
- or High Karate for $56, orOld Spice for about $13,
- 00:11:49.431 --> 00:11:54.403
- and there's brutedon't forget that.
- 00:11:55.604 --> 00:11:57.173
- But you know, the idea hereis, is not how much this costs,
- 00:11:57.173 --> 00:12:01.310
- it's how much it costs her.
- 00:12:01.310 --> 00:12:03.345
- It costs her a lot.
- 00:12:03.345 --> 00:12:04.980
- She was giving the most preciousthings she owned to Jesus.
- 00:12:04.980 --> 00:12:09.151
- What is the most preciousthing that you own?
- 00:12:09.151 --> 00:12:12.254
- What is more valuable toyou than anything else?
- 00:12:12.254 --> 00:12:16.158
- Now question, would you bewilling to give that to Jesus?
- 00:12:16.158 --> 00:12:20.396
- That's what this is all about.
- 00:12:20.396 --> 00:12:23.465
- We remember the storyof the young man,
- 00:12:23.465 --> 00:12:26.268
- we call the rich young ruler.
- 00:12:26.268 --> 00:12:28.737
- He came to Jesus in his supercold tricked out chariot,
- 00:12:28.737 --> 00:12:32.408
- lowered, drinking alatte probably not,
- 00:12:32.408 --> 00:12:35.911
- but he comes up toJesus and he says,
- 00:12:35.911 --> 00:12:38.347
- "Good Teacher, what must Ido to inherit eternal life?"
- 00:12:39.782 --> 00:12:44.186
- Jesus reminds him ofsome of the commandments
- 00:12:45.321 --> 00:12:46.355
- and this young ruler says,
- 00:12:46.355 --> 00:12:48.824
- "Well, all of these I'vekept from my youth up."
- 00:12:48.824 --> 00:12:51.093
- And Jesus probablylaughed out loud,
- 00:12:51.093 --> 00:12:53.429
- the Bible doesn't say,
- 00:12:53.429 --> 00:12:54.797
- but no one's kept thecommandments from his youth up.
- 00:12:54.797 --> 00:12:56.532
- And here's what Ifind fascinating.
- 00:12:56.532 --> 00:12:58.367
- After this brash andarrogant young man said
- 00:12:58.367 --> 00:13:01.570
- he had kept the commandmentswe read this statement.
- 00:13:01.570 --> 00:13:03.873
- "Jesus looked at him in andfelt genuine love for him."
- 00:13:03.873 --> 00:13:08.077
- And then Jesus madethis statement.
- 00:13:08.077 --> 00:13:09.945
- "There's one thingyou haven't done.
- 00:13:09.945 --> 00:13:12.448
- "Go and sell your possessions
- 00:13:12.448 --> 00:13:13.883
- "and give the money to the poor
- 00:13:13.883 --> 00:13:15.451
- "and you'll havetreasure in heaven,
- 00:13:15.451 --> 00:13:16.986
- "then come and follow me.
- 00:13:16.986 --> 00:13:18.487
- Listen to this.
- 00:13:18.487 --> 00:13:19.421
- "And then the man's face fell
- 00:13:19.421 --> 00:13:21.290
- "and he went away sadbecause he had great wealth."
- 00:13:21.290 --> 00:13:24.393
- Understand, this wasnever about the man stuff,
- 00:13:24.393 --> 00:13:27.429
- Jesus didn't want his stuff,
- 00:13:27.429 --> 00:13:29.765
- He just saw that in theheart of this young man
- 00:13:29.765 --> 00:13:32.635
- those things weremore important to him
- 00:13:32.635 --> 00:13:34.603
- than anything elseincluding God.
- 00:13:34.603 --> 00:13:36.805
- He says, there's onething you need to do.
- 00:13:36.805 --> 00:13:39.308
- See that young rulermissed the one thing
- 00:13:39.308 --> 00:13:42.177
- and he walked away sad.
- 00:13:42.177 --> 00:13:43.512
- He wasn't willing to let it go.
- 00:13:43.512 --> 00:13:45.147
- But Mary, she gotthat one thing.
- 00:13:45.147 --> 00:13:48.751
- One thing is essential.Jesus said of Mary
- 00:13:48.751 --> 00:13:52.488
- and she has chosen it.
- 00:13:52.488 --> 00:13:55.090
- Well, Judas did not get itand so he criticized it.
- 00:13:55.090 --> 00:13:59.328
- Judas is typical ofso many people today
- 00:13:59.328 --> 00:14:01.964
- like dutiful Pharisees
- 00:14:01.964 --> 00:14:03.899
- they wanna give thebare minimum to God.
- 00:14:03.899 --> 00:14:07.336
- They'll lamely askquestions like,
- 00:14:07.336 --> 00:14:09.238
- can you do this
- 00:14:09.238 --> 00:14:10.372
- and still technicallygo to heaven?
- 00:14:10.372 --> 00:14:14.043
- Can I get away with this andstill call myself a Christian?
- 00:14:14.043 --> 00:14:18.213
- Those are the wrong questions.
- 00:14:18.213 --> 00:14:21.016
- We'll give our leftoversto God if you will,
- 00:14:21.016 --> 00:14:23.919
- we'll pray brieflyif we think of it,
- 00:14:23.919 --> 00:14:26.889
- we'll read the Bibleif we can make time
- 00:14:26.889 --> 00:14:29.024
- in our busy schedules for it,
- 00:14:29.024 --> 00:14:31.794
- and then what's even worseis we will criticize others
- 00:14:31.794 --> 00:14:36.465
- that are more committedto the Lord than we are.
- 00:14:36.465 --> 00:14:40.135
- Maybe that's one of the reasons
- 00:14:40.135 --> 00:14:41.870
- why the early churchchanged their world.
- 00:14:41.870 --> 00:14:45.507
- Maybe that's why the earlychurch turned their world
- 00:14:45.507 --> 00:14:48.777
- upside down because theyhad a sense of abandoned.
- 00:14:48.777 --> 00:14:53.349
- God would tell Phillip,
- 00:14:53.349 --> 00:14:54.350
- "Go to the desert."
- 00:14:54.350 --> 00:14:55.551
- And he went inobedience to the Lord.
- 00:14:55.551 --> 00:14:58.253
- God will tell Peter,
- 00:14:58.253 --> 00:15:01.256
- reach down and take themember of the hand (mumbles)
- 00:15:01.256 --> 00:15:02.958
- and pull him to hisfeet and he would do it.
- 00:15:02.958 --> 00:15:04.860
- They took risks and theyleft their comfort zone.
- 00:15:04.860 --> 00:15:08.097
- Why?
- 00:15:08.097 --> 00:15:09.598
- Because the Scripture says,they had been with Jesus.
- 00:15:09.598 --> 00:15:12.801
- Acts 4:13 says,
- 00:15:12.801 --> 00:15:14.103
- "The members of thecouncil were amazed
- 00:15:14.103 --> 00:15:16.271
- "when they saw theboldness of Peter and John
- 00:15:16.271 --> 00:15:18.607
- "because they were ordinary men,
- 00:15:18.607 --> 00:15:20.609
- "they had no special training
- 00:15:20.609 --> 00:15:22.544
- "but they recognize them asmen who had been with Jesus."
- 00:15:22.544 --> 00:15:26.615
- Can someone tellyou've been with Jesus?
- 00:15:26.615 --> 00:15:29.351
- Can they see itreflected in your life?
- 00:15:29.351 --> 00:15:32.354
- Does their fragrance ofyour life fill the room
- 00:15:32.354 --> 00:15:34.823
- as it did with Mary andher gift to the Lord?
- 00:15:34.823 --> 00:15:38.093
- It's a wonderful thingwhen people see that
- 00:15:38.093 --> 00:15:40.596
- and ask us why we arethe way that we are,
- 00:15:40.596 --> 00:15:43.999
- and they wannaknow more about us
- 00:15:43.999 --> 00:15:45.834
- and then we canshare the gospel.
- 00:15:45.834 --> 00:15:48.170
- Now, again I wannaemphasize Mary did not
- 00:15:48.170 --> 00:15:50.806
- have the same privilegesas the disciples.
- 00:15:50.806 --> 00:15:53.575
- They spent prettymuch every waking hour
- 00:15:53.575 --> 00:15:56.278
- in the presence of Jesusfor some three years,
- 00:15:56.278 --> 00:15:59.648
- she was with Him sporadically,
- 00:15:59.648 --> 00:16:01.817
- but she was gonna takeadvantage of this opportunity.
- 00:16:01.817 --> 00:16:05.554
- She's gonna listen to Him,
- 00:16:05.554 --> 00:16:07.022
- she's gonna learn from Him,
- 00:16:07.022 --> 00:16:08.690
- and she's gonna bringa great gift to Him
- 00:16:08.690 --> 00:16:11.293
- because she could seethe lines edging his face
- 00:16:11.293 --> 00:16:14.063
- and read or write the problemsreflected in His eyes.
- 00:16:14.063 --> 00:16:17.900
- And she understood, Hehad said what He meant
- 00:16:17.900 --> 00:16:20.569
- and He meant what He said,
- 00:16:20.569 --> 00:16:22.037
- He was going to die on a crossand that broke her heart,
- 00:16:22.037 --> 00:16:25.774
- so she was gonna bringher tribute to Jesus now.
- 00:16:25.774 --> 00:16:29.845
- She would not waituntil He was gone.
- 00:16:29.845 --> 00:16:32.247
- And I wanna remindyou right now,
- 00:16:32.247 --> 00:16:33.649
- there might be someonethat you know and love,
- 00:16:33.649 --> 00:16:36.185
- and I wanna ask you,
- 00:16:36.185 --> 00:16:37.453
- when's the last time youtold them you love them?
- 00:16:37.453 --> 00:16:39.121
- Well, I'll say something niceat their funeral service.
- 00:16:39.121 --> 00:16:42.024
- Well, they won't be aroundto hear that, will they?
- 00:16:42.024 --> 00:16:44.660
- So bring your flowers now.
- 00:16:44.660 --> 00:16:47.029
- If there's someone you loveand appreciate tell them now.
- 00:16:47.029 --> 00:16:50.432
- If you have regrets aboutsomething you did this year
- 00:16:50.432 --> 00:16:53.936
- deal with that now and makethe appropriate changes.
- 00:16:53.936 --> 00:16:58.173
- If there's someone youneed to forgive, do it now.
- 00:16:58.173 --> 00:17:01.610
- And why should youforgive someone?
- 00:17:01.610 --> 00:17:03.245
- You say, well, they don'tdeserve my forgiveness.
- 00:17:03.245 --> 00:17:05.481
- My response is,
- 00:17:05.481 --> 00:17:07.149
- do you deserve tobe forgiven by God?
- 00:17:07.149 --> 00:17:09.785
- And answer is no.
- 00:17:09.785 --> 00:17:11.520
- So the Bible says,
- 00:17:11.520 --> 00:17:12.921
- "Forgive as God inChrist has forgiven you."
- 00:17:12.921 --> 00:17:16.425
- See forgiving a person isn'tletting them off the hook,
- 00:17:16.425 --> 00:17:20.262
- it's a way for you to getfree of your bitterness
- 00:17:20.262 --> 00:17:23.665
- 'cause the one that'sbeing hurt more
- 00:17:23.665 --> 00:17:25.334
- by your lack of forgivenessis not the person
- 00:17:25.334 --> 00:17:28.904
- that hurts you, it's you.
- 00:17:28.904 --> 00:17:31.373
- As they've said so many timeswhen you forgive a person,
- 00:17:31.373 --> 00:17:34.543
- you set a prisonerfree yourself.
- 00:17:34.543 --> 00:17:37.846
- And so this woman said,I'm gonna do it now.
- 00:17:37.846 --> 00:17:40.949
- Listen, we have a new year withnew opportunities before us,
- 00:17:40.949 --> 00:17:44.686
- let's seize the moment,carpe diem is the expression.
- 00:17:44.686 --> 00:17:48.891
- Now is the time to sharethat gospel with the person,
- 00:17:48.891 --> 00:17:52.094
- now is that time to makethat change in your life
- 00:17:52.094 --> 00:17:55.164
- as we're at thebeginning of a new year.
- 00:17:55.164 --> 00:17:57.866
- That's exactly what Mary did,
- 00:17:57.866 --> 00:18:00.068
- but of course Judasthought it was a waste
- 00:18:00.068 --> 00:18:03.405
- and he criticized her for it.
- 00:18:03.405 --> 00:18:05.107
- But then John gives us aninteresting little detail
- 00:18:05.107 --> 00:18:08.310
- about Judas.
- 00:18:08.310 --> 00:18:09.645
- He said, Judas did not say this
- 00:18:09.645 --> 00:18:11.980
- because he cared about the poor,
- 00:18:11.980 --> 00:18:14.049
- he said this becausehe was a thief.
- 00:18:14.049 --> 00:18:16.251
- Basically Judas was hangingonto the money for the disciples
- 00:18:16.251 --> 00:18:21.223
- and he was pocketing it.
- 00:18:21.223 --> 00:18:23.392
- And so this had nothing to do
- 00:18:23.392 --> 00:18:25.060
- with his concern for the poor.
- 00:18:25.060 --> 00:18:27.362
- And that reminds me ofa very important point
- 00:18:27.362 --> 00:18:30.499
- about critical people.
- 00:18:30.499 --> 00:18:32.201
- Sometimes the peoplethat complain the most
- 00:18:32.201 --> 00:18:35.103
- actually do the very least.
- 00:18:35.103 --> 00:18:38.240
- And sometimes the people whoare aiming accusations at you
- 00:18:38.240 --> 00:18:42.811
- are revealing somethingabout themselves.
- 00:18:42.811 --> 00:18:46.048
- The thing they'reaccusing you of
- 00:18:46.048 --> 00:18:48.217
- is actually what theyare personally guilty of.
- 00:18:48.217 --> 00:18:52.588
- After all, it wasJudas who sold Jesus
- 00:18:52.588 --> 00:18:56.925
- for 30 pieces of silver.
- 00:18:56.925 --> 00:19:00.095
- So careful if you'realways harping
- 00:19:00.095 --> 00:19:02.631
- on a certain sinover and over again,
- 00:19:02.631 --> 00:19:05.601
- you may be telling usmore about yourself
- 00:19:05.601 --> 00:19:07.970
- than you want to reveal.
- 00:19:07.970 --> 00:19:10.172
- And so things are notalways as they seem.
- 00:19:10.172 --> 00:19:13.976
- From the outsideJudas looked thrifty,
- 00:19:13.976 --> 00:19:17.012
- and careful, and spiritual,
- 00:19:17.012 --> 00:19:19.314
- and the woman looked frivolous,and wasteful, and silly,
- 00:19:20.682 --> 00:19:23.452
- but the very opposite was true.
- 00:19:23.452 --> 00:19:26.054
- Judas was evil, andgreedy, and wicked,
- 00:19:26.054 --> 00:19:30.492
- and she was thoughtful,and godly, and committed.
- 00:19:30.492 --> 00:19:34.696
- So things are notalways as they appear.
- 00:19:34.696 --> 00:19:38.700
- You know, we always think Judas
- 00:19:38.700 --> 00:19:40.469
- would have been theeasiest guy to identify.
- 00:19:40.469 --> 00:19:42.804
- You know, all the otherdisciples wore white robes
- 00:19:42.804 --> 00:19:44.940
- and he wore a black robe,
- 00:19:44.940 --> 00:19:47.075
- a black leather robe withthe color turned up, right?
- 00:19:47.075 --> 00:19:49.244
- No, of course not.
- 00:19:49.244 --> 00:19:50.612
- In fact, Judas wassuch a good actor,
- 00:19:50.612 --> 00:19:53.181
- such an effective fakerthat when Jesus said
- 00:19:53.181 --> 00:19:56.918
- one of you is gonna betrayme, no one suspected Judas.
- 00:19:56.918 --> 00:20:01.423
- You would have thought thatsomeone would have said,
- 00:20:01.423 --> 00:20:03.125
- I bet it's Matthew, heused to work for Rome.
- 00:20:03.125 --> 00:20:05.694
- It's him, isn't it?
- 00:20:05.694 --> 00:20:06.828
- No, they said, is it me?
- 00:20:06.828 --> 00:20:09.598
- No one thought Judas.
- 00:20:09.598 --> 00:20:11.099
- If he was as obvious as peoplethought he might've been,
- 00:20:11.099 --> 00:20:13.702
- they would have allpointed in unison and said,
- 00:20:13.702 --> 00:20:15.737
- "It's Judas, isn't it?
- 00:20:15.737 --> 00:20:17.139
- "The guy who wearsthe black robe."
- 00:20:17.139 --> 00:20:19.574
- No, no one suspected Judas'cause he was such a good actor,
- 00:20:19.574 --> 00:20:23.545
- but he was a liar.
- 00:20:23.545 --> 00:20:26.281
- And it's interestingbecause Judas accused her
- 00:20:26.281 --> 00:20:29.551
- of being wasteful, yetJesus would say of Judas,
- 00:20:29.551 --> 00:20:33.755
- he was the son of waist.
- 00:20:33.755 --> 00:20:36.591
- Jesus called Judasthe son of perdition
- 00:20:36.591 --> 00:20:39.127
- which means the son of waist.
- 00:20:39.127 --> 00:20:41.296
- He was the very thinghe accused her of being.
- 00:20:41.296 --> 00:20:45.200
- Now Jesus commends heras an example to us,
- 00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:48.370
- look at verse eight,
- 00:20:48.370 --> 00:20:49.905
- "She has done what she could.
- 00:20:49.905 --> 00:20:51.807
- "She has come beforehand toanoint my body for burial.
- 00:20:53.241 --> 00:20:57.879
- She did what she could
- 00:20:57.879 --> 00:21:00.015
- because she understood thatHe would do what He did."
- 00:21:00.015 --> 00:21:03.652
- In the same way, themore we discover about
- 00:21:03.652 --> 00:21:06.521
- what Jesus has donefor us will cause us
- 00:21:06.521 --> 00:21:09.291
- to want to do more for Him.
- 00:21:09.291 --> 00:21:11.827
- The Bible says,
- 00:21:11.827 --> 00:21:13.095
- "We love Him becauseHe first loved us."
- 00:21:13.095 --> 00:21:16.965
- She saw this lovethat was driving Him,
- 00:21:16.965 --> 00:21:20.836
- she saw this concern for her
- 00:21:20.836 --> 00:21:23.305
- and the others andall of humanity
- 00:21:23.305 --> 00:21:25.807
- and so she wanted todo something for Himto show her love.
- 00:21:25.807 --> 00:21:30.712
- And I think sometimeswe'll look at people
- 00:21:31.880 --> 00:21:33.081
- who offer something to the Lord
- 00:21:33.081 --> 00:21:35.484
- and some mightcriticize them for it.
- 00:21:35.484 --> 00:21:37.486
- For instance a young personmay give up a promising career
- 00:21:37.486 --> 00:21:41.857
- to go into the ministry,
- 00:21:41.857 --> 00:21:43.558
- and some peoplelike Judas will say,
- 00:21:43.558 --> 00:21:45.327
- what a waste?
- 00:21:45.327 --> 00:21:46.261
- Now you could have gone out
- 00:21:46.261 --> 00:21:47.662
- and had a great careerand made a lot of money,
- 00:21:47.662 --> 00:21:49.898
- that's a waste.
- 00:21:49.898 --> 00:21:50.832
- It is no waste at all.
- 00:21:50.832 --> 00:21:52.701
- I'm reminded of ayoung lady I just met,
- 00:21:52.701 --> 00:21:55.203
- her name is Tiffany.
- 00:21:55.203 --> 00:21:56.772
- And she works with theWorld Health Organization
- 00:21:56.772 --> 00:21:59.574
- in the United Nationsover in Yemen,
- 00:21:59.574 --> 00:22:02.344
- and they're reachingout to the poor people
- 00:22:02.344 --> 00:22:04.846
- that are living there.
- 00:22:04.846 --> 00:22:06.615
- And so Tiffany has been able
- 00:22:06.615 --> 00:22:09.217
- to show God's love to thesepeople and be a great witness.
- 00:22:09.217 --> 00:22:12.187
- In fact, she watchesHarvest at home,
- 00:22:12.187 --> 00:22:14.556
- that's where she gets herteaching being so far away
- 00:22:14.556 --> 00:22:19.094
- from the United States.
- 00:22:19.094 --> 00:22:20.562
- And some would say,
- 00:22:20.562 --> 00:22:21.496
- well, that's a waste of a life.
- 00:22:21.496 --> 00:22:23.064
- That's a waste of a life?
- 00:22:23.064 --> 00:22:24.499
- As far as I'm concerned,that's an investment of a life.
- 00:22:24.499 --> 00:22:28.270
- You might give upcertain pleasures
- 00:22:28.270 --> 00:22:29.805
- and activities that otherpeople are engaged in
- 00:22:29.805 --> 00:22:32.474
- and be able to say,man, what a waste?
- 00:22:32.474 --> 00:22:34.676
- You miss the big party.
- 00:22:34.676 --> 00:22:36.344
- Oh, you should'vebeen at this thing
- 00:22:36.344 --> 00:22:37.579
- when you went to churchagain, seriously,
- 00:22:37.579 --> 00:22:39.881
- what a waste really?
- 00:22:39.881 --> 00:22:41.750
- Let's just run the clock out
- 00:22:41.750 --> 00:22:43.752
- and come to the end of our life
- 00:22:43.752 --> 00:22:45.353
- and let's just see howthat played out for you
- 00:22:45.353 --> 00:22:47.489
- and how that played out for me.
- 00:22:47.489 --> 00:22:50.358
- I just read a very interestingstudy that was done
- 00:22:50.358 --> 00:22:53.895
- that showed people who goto church on a regular basis
- 00:22:53.895 --> 00:22:58.099
- and have faith in God livelonger, healthier lives.
- 00:22:59.501 --> 00:23:03.405
- So there's even apractical aspect to it.
- 00:23:03.405 --> 00:23:06.408
- Oh, no, if I'vegiven up any pleasure
- 00:23:06.408 --> 00:23:08.343
- that's no sacrifice compared
- 00:23:08.343 --> 00:23:10.812
- to what God has given up for me.
- 00:23:10.812 --> 00:23:13.548
- It said that Moses chose togive up the pleasures of Egypt
- 00:23:13.548 --> 00:23:18.487
- and the pleasuresof sin for a season
- 00:23:18.487 --> 00:23:21.957
- to pursue God'swill for his life.
- 00:23:21.957 --> 00:23:25.527
- And whatever you give up willbe more than made up to you
- 00:23:25.527 --> 00:23:28.396
- as a follower of Jesus Christ.
- 00:23:28.396 --> 00:23:31.132
- Or maybe you avoid thattemptation to go astray.
- 00:23:31.132 --> 00:23:35.003
- You're faithful to yourwife for a lifetime,
- 00:23:35.003 --> 00:23:37.239
- people say, oh man,come on, you missed out,
- 00:23:37.239 --> 00:23:39.207
- you could have gotten anaffair here and there.
- 00:23:39.207 --> 00:23:41.443
- Oh yeah, let's just lookat the wreckage of divorce
- 00:23:41.443 --> 00:23:44.613
- and the impact it has onyou, and on your children,
- 00:23:44.613 --> 00:23:48.483
- and even on your grandchildren,
- 00:23:48.483 --> 00:23:50.252
- and we'll see whomade the right choice.
- 00:23:50.252 --> 00:23:52.087
- It's not a waste,
- 00:23:52.087 --> 00:23:53.622
- nothing is a waste if it'sdone for the glory of God.
- 00:23:53.622 --> 00:23:57.125
- And that's what this womandid, she gave her very best,
- 00:23:57.125 --> 00:23:59.895
- it was the veryopposite of a waste.
- 00:23:59.895 --> 00:24:03.298
- Or you may decide tosimply live for yourself
- 00:24:03.298 --> 00:24:05.734
- and do whatever youwanna do with your life,
- 00:24:05.734 --> 00:24:07.903
- and one day, God willsay, what a waste?
- 00:24:07.903 --> 00:24:11.673
- What do you care about the most,
- 00:24:11.673 --> 00:24:13.141
- the opinion of people orthe opinion of God Almighty?
- 00:24:13.141 --> 00:24:17.579
- Give your most preciousthing to the Lord.
- 00:24:17.579 --> 00:24:20.348
- My son Jonathan was in Peru
- 00:24:20.348 --> 00:24:23.051
- a while ago withhis wife Brittany,
- 00:24:23.051 --> 00:24:25.687
- we worked on some projectswith Compassion International
- 00:24:25.687 --> 00:24:29.558
- a great organization impactingpeople around the world,
- 00:24:29.558 --> 00:24:33.028
- but especially children
- 00:24:33.028 --> 00:24:34.329
- and helping to liftpeople out of poverty,
- 00:24:34.329 --> 00:24:37.032
- and they share thegospel with these folks.
- 00:24:37.032 --> 00:24:39.868
- And so Jonathan wentto a village in Peru,
- 00:24:39.868 --> 00:24:43.171
- he took a backpack fullof toys and other things,
- 00:24:43.171 --> 00:24:46.541
- and they were hanging outwith this little family
- 00:24:46.541 --> 00:24:49.010
- and there's a littleboy named Anthony
- 00:24:49.010 --> 00:24:51.046
- and Jonathan was playingsoccer with the little guy
- 00:24:51.046 --> 00:24:53.515
- and it was just great,
- 00:24:53.515 --> 00:24:54.449
- and as Jonathan was leaving
- 00:24:54.449 --> 00:24:56.251
- and getting readyto get into his cab,
- 00:24:56.251 --> 00:24:57.852
- little Anthony ranto him and hugged him
- 00:24:57.852 --> 00:25:00.455
- and then presented Jonathanwith a little gift.
- 00:25:00.455 --> 00:25:03.224
- It was like this littlepiggy bank of a little dog
- 00:25:03.224 --> 00:25:06.528
- and obviously this wasa very precious object
- 00:25:06.528 --> 00:25:09.264
- to this little boy.
- 00:25:09.264 --> 00:25:10.732
- He had very little and he gavehis very best to Jonathan.
- 00:25:10.732 --> 00:25:14.235
- And I just thought,
- 00:25:14.235 --> 00:25:15.737
- that's a perfect picture ofwhat we're talking about here,
- 00:25:15.737 --> 00:25:17.706
- giving our very best to God,He deserves nothing less.
- 00:25:17.706 --> 00:25:22.711
- Hi, thanks for watchingour TV program.
- 00:25:23.778 --> 00:25:25.947
- And I wonder if you yourselfhave accepted Jesus Christ.
- 00:25:25.947 --> 00:25:29.684
- You know, a lot oftimes people tune
- 00:25:29.684 --> 00:25:31.519
- into programs like this,who aren't believers
- 00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:33.488
- and they're kindachecking it out,
- 00:25:33.488 --> 00:25:35.256
- maybe you're laughingat it at first,
- 00:25:35.256 --> 00:25:37.559
- maybe you think it's not real,
- 00:25:37.559 --> 00:25:39.794
- but something has happened
- 00:25:39.794 --> 00:25:40.996
- and maybe it's somethingthat's been said
- 00:25:40.996 --> 00:25:43.698
- you've suddenly discoveredyou need Jesus Christ.
- 00:25:43.698 --> 00:25:46.468
- You know, the dayI accepted Jesus,
- 00:25:46.468 --> 00:25:48.536
- lemme tell you, it was a lastthing I planned on doing.
- 00:25:48.536 --> 00:25:52.073
- I didn't plan on becominga Christian that day,
- 00:25:52.073 --> 00:25:54.609
- but that was the day thatwas appointed in eternity
- 00:25:54.609 --> 00:25:58.446
- for me to believe in Jesus.
- 00:25:58.446 --> 00:26:00.115
- I wonder if this isnot that day for you.
- 00:26:00.115 --> 00:26:03.551
- You've been ease dropping,you've been checking it out,
- 00:26:03.551 --> 00:26:05.887
- but now God's speakingright to your heart
- 00:26:05.887 --> 00:26:07.722
- and you realize youneed Jesus Christ.
- 00:26:07.722 --> 00:26:10.025
- Would you like to haveyour sin forgiven?
- 00:26:10.025 --> 00:26:12.794
- Would you like asecond chance in life?
- 00:26:12.794 --> 00:26:15.096
- Would you like to goto heaven when you die?
- 00:26:15.096 --> 00:26:17.399
- Would you likeyour guilt removed?
- 00:26:17.399 --> 00:26:19.467
- Listen, it can all happenbecause Jesus Christ
- 00:26:19.467 --> 00:26:22.504
- went to a cross anddied for your sin
- 00:26:22.504 --> 00:26:25.240
- and then rose againthree days later
- 00:26:25.240 --> 00:26:27.308
- and He'll come into your liferight now and be your Savior
- 00:26:27.308 --> 00:26:30.211
- and your Lord and the bestfriend you've ever had.
- 00:26:30.211 --> 00:26:33.248
- Let's pray together.
- 00:26:33.248 --> 00:26:34.549
- Pray this after me,
- 00:26:34.549 --> 00:26:36.217
- Lord Jesus, I knowthat I'm a sinner,
- 00:26:36.217 --> 00:26:40.221
- but I believe you diedon the cross for my sin
- 00:26:40.221 --> 00:26:43.058
- and I'm sorry for that sin.
- 00:26:43.058 --> 00:26:45.126
- And I turn from it now
- 00:26:45.126 --> 00:26:46.728
- and I ask you to come intomy life and be my Savior,
- 00:26:46.728 --> 00:26:50.498
- and be my Lord, and bemy God, and be my friend.
- 00:26:50.498 --> 00:26:55.003
- I choose to follow youfrom this moment forward
- 00:26:55.003 --> 00:26:58.673
- in Jesus name I pray.
- 00:26:58.673 --> 00:27:00.442
- Amen.
- 00:27:00.442 --> 00:27:01.743
- If you just prayed that prayer,
- 00:27:01.743 --> 00:27:03.244
- I wants you to know on theauthority of God's Word,
- 00:27:03.244 --> 00:27:05.613
- that Christ himself hascome to live inside of you.
- 00:27:05.613 --> 00:27:08.650
- The Bible says thesethings we write to you
- 00:27:08.650 --> 00:27:10.552
- that believe in thename of the Son of God
- 00:27:10.552 --> 00:27:12.954
- that you may know thatyou have eternal life.
- 00:27:12.954 --> 00:27:16.091
- Well, lemme say, God bless you
- 00:27:16.091 --> 00:27:18.426
- and welcome to God's family.
- 00:27:18.426 --> 00:27:19.961
- ♪ This is the day theday where life begins ♪
- 00:27:19.961 --> 00:27:24.966