> **PASSION WEEK MESSAGE:**

**[JESUS IS PASSIONATE FOR US- HOW PASSIONATE ARE WE FOR HIM
?]{.underline}**

**TURN TO JOHN 12:1-19 AND READ MY FAVORITE OF THE 4 ACCOUNTS OF WHAT WE
CALL THE TRIUMPHANT ENTRY....**

THIS PARTICULAR PASSAGE INCLUDES AN ACCOUNT THAT OCCURRED ON THE EVENING
BEFORE, AT THE HOUSE OF OUR LORD'S BELOVED FRIENDS, MARY, MARTHA AND
LAZARUS, WHOM HE HAD RAISED FROM THE DEAD.

1Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus
lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2Here a dinner was given in
Jesus\' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at
the table with him. 3Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an
expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus\' feet and wiped his feet with
her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
4But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him,
objected, 5\"Why wasn\'t this perfume sold and the money given to the
poor? It was worth a year\'s wages.\" 6He did not say this because he
cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money
bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7\"Leave her
alone,\" Jesus replied. \" It was intended that she should save this
perfume for the day of my burial. 8You will always have the poor among
you, but you will not always have me.\"

9Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and
came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had
raised from the dead. 10So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus
as well, 11for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to
Jesus and putting their faith in him.

12The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that
Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13They took palm branches and went
out to meet him, shouting,

\"Hosanna! \"

\"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"

\"Blessed is the King of Israel!\" 14Jesus found a young donkey and sat
upon it, as it

is written: 15\"Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion; see, your king is
coming,

seated on a donkey\'s colt.

16At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus
was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about
him and that they had done these things to him. 17Now the crowd that was
with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the
dead continued to spread the word. 18Many people, because they had heard
that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him. 19So the
Pharisees said to one another, \"See, this is getting us nowhere. Look
how the whole world has gone after him!\"

**TODAY MARKS THE BEGINNING OF PASSION WEEK.**

HOWEVER JOHN REALLY GOT IT RIGHT BEGINNING THE NARRATIVE AT PASSION WEEK
THE EVENING BEFORE, IN THIS PASSIONATE DISPLAY OF LOVE AND AFFECTION
DIRECTED DIRECTLY TOWARD JESUS FROM ONE THAT LOVED HIM SO MUCH AND WAS
SO GRATEFUL TO HIM FOR WHAT HE HAD DONE FOR HER AND HER FAMILY.

SINCE THE JEWISH DAY BEGIN AT SUNSET, THE WEEK ALSO BEGAN THE EVENING
BEFORE ANYWAY, AS THE SABBATH CONCLUDED.

REMEMBERING THE PASSION OF OUR LORD WANT TO FOCUS AGAIN ON A QUESTION
THAT SEEMS TO KEEP COMING UP AGAIN AND AGAIN.

**JESUS IS PASSIONATE FOR US- HOW PASSIONATE ARE WE FOR HIM ?**

IF WE CAN HONESTLY CONSIDER THAT QUESTION, THIS WILL BE A VERY SPECIAL
WEEK FOR EACH ONE OF US...

PASSION WEEK, IS THE CLIMAX OF THE LENT SEASON, WHEN WORLDWIDE, **ALL
CHRISTIANS REMEMBER THE DEATH OF JESUS ON THE CROSS OF CALVARY AND THE
EVENTS LEADING UP TO HIS CRUCIFIXION AND ULTIMATELY THE TRIUMPH OF HIS
RESSURECSTION..**

**THE REALITY OF IT IS WHAT MAKES CHRSITIANITY DIFFERENT FROM ANY OTHER
RELIGION..**

**ALL OF THOSE OF YOU THAT COME TO THE GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE**

**SHOULD BE ABLE TO LEAVE WITH ONE THING, AND THAT IS THAT**

IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT THE DEATH OF CHRIST DEMONSTRATES IT IS THIS:

**THAT JESUS LOVES US IMMENSELY....**

BY HIS DEATH HE DEMONSTRATED THAT HE IS PASSIONATE IN HIS LOVE FOR US...

THAT IS WHY THE RELATIONSHIP OF JESUS TO HIS CHURCH IS COMPARED IN
EPHESIANS 5:23 TO THE LOVING RELATION OF A GROOM TO HIS BRIDE...

HOW MANY KNOW THAT EVERY WOMEN READY TO GET MARRIED HAS FAULTS AND
PLENTY OF FLAWS....

NO ONE IS PERFECT, EXCEPT OF COURSE GOD..

**BUT SOMEHOW IT DOES NOT MATTER..**

IF YOU ARE PASSIONATELY IN LOVE YOU OVERLOOK THE FLAWS AND IMPERFECTIONS
OF THE ONE YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT AND YOU CANNOT WAIT UNTIL YOU CAN BE
WITH THEM ALL THE TIME...

**AND LIKEWISE, ONE THING THE LORD HAS SHOWED ME THIS YEAR IS THAT HE
LOVES HIS CHURCH...PASSIONATELY**

DESPITE ITS FLAWS, AND **IT HAS PLENTY OF THEM** BECAUSE IT IS MADE UP
OF PEOPLE..

CHRIST IS IN THE PROCESS OF PERFECTING HIS CHURCH, GETTING OUT THE
WRINKLES SO THAT HE MIGHT ONE DAY PRESENT TO HIMSELF THE CHURCH IN ALL
HER GLORY, THAT IS TRULY HOLY AND BLAMELESS...

**BUT IT IS NOT AT THAT PLACE TODAY.... CAN YOU SAY AMEN..**

YET SOMEHOW CHRIST LOOKS BEYOND ALL OF OUR SHORTCOMINGS AS HE SEES THE
CHURCH A BLOOD WASHED CHURCH..

LOVE TRULY COVERS A MULTITUDE OF SIN...

**SO DESPITE THE FLAWS HE STILL IS [IN LOVE]{.underline} WITH HIS
CHURCH...**

**I REALLY DO NOT UNDERSTAND THAT EXCEPT THAT**

HE DELIGHTS IN HIS CHURCH AS THE CHURCH COMES TOGETHER AND ITS MEMBERS
LIFT UP HOLY WORSHIP TO HIM...

HE LOVES HIS CHURCH AS ITS INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS LAVISH LOVE ON HIM....

**IT CAUSES HIM TO PASSIONATELY LAVISH LOVE BACK....**

AND HE COMES INTO OUR MIDST BY HIS SPIRIT...

BECAUSE GOD ALWAYS COMES TO WHERE HE IS WELCOMED..

**WHY GOD'S PRESENCE COMES WHEN WE AS WORSHIPERS ARE WORSHIPING HIM...**

**POINT I AM TRYING TO MAKE IS THIS...**

**[HE IS PASSIONATE FOR US-]{.underline}**

IN CONSIDERATION OF THAT IF YOU HAVE FOUND THAT YOU HAVE LOST SOME OF
THAT FIRST LOVE FOR HIM..

**THERE IS NO BETTER TIME THEN PASSION WEEK TO BECOME PASSIONATE FOR HIM
AGAIN...**

SO LET THIS PASSION WEEK, AS WE REFLECT ON THAT GREAT LOVE HE HAS FOR
YOU AND ME...

LET IT BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RENEW THAT PASSION FOR HIM IN YOUR
RELATIONSHIP HE WANTS TO HAVE WITH YOU..

**WE WILL ALL BE CHALLENGED WITH ONE TRUTH IN MESSAGE TODAY:**

**[HE IS WORTH US GIVING HIM OUR VERY BEST..]{.underline}**

THE FIRST 8 VERSES OF JOHN 12 DESCRIBE AN EVENT THAT OCCURRED THE
EVENING BEFORE PALM SUNDAY.

PALM SUNDAY IS USUALLY CONSIDERED THE BEGINNING OF PASSION WEEK.

BUT IN REALITY PASSION WEEK BEGAN THE EVENING BEFORE IN THE HOUSE OF
LAZARUS, MARY AND MARTHA AS A REMARKABLE EVENT OCCURS..

**AND TRUE PASSION AND WORSHIP FOR OUR LORD IS DEMONSTRATED..**

BEFORE WE LOOK AT THE EVENTS IN THE HOUSE OF LAZARUS..

LOOK BRIEFLY AT CHRIST'S ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM THE NEXT DAY..

BY WAY OF INTRODUCTION, THE EVENT WE CALL PALM SUNDAY OCCURRED ON THE
10^TH^ DAY OF THE HEBREW MONTH OF NISSAN.

FOUR DAYS BEFORE THE PASSOVER LAMBS WERE SLAUGHTERED IN THE TEMPLE FOR
THE PASSOVER FEAST..

AS I HAVE SHARED BEFORE.

THIS WAS A VERY SIGNIFICANT DAY THAT JESUS CHOSE TO MAKE HIS TRIUMPHANT
ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM...

HE JUST DID NOT HAPPEN TO CHOOSE THAT DAY TO ENTER THE CITY..

THE 10^TH^ OF NISSAN **WAS THE DAY THAT THE PASSOVER LAMBS WERE BROUGHT
INTO JERUSALEM IN PREPARATION FOR THE PASSOVER CELEBRATION ON THE SUNSET
OF THE 14^TH^..**

ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTIONS WAY BACK IN EXODUS 12:3 THIS WAS THE DAY
THAT GOD SPECIFICALLY INSTRUCTED THAT THE PASSOVER LAMB WAS TO BE
CHOSEN......

SO IN JESUS' TIME THE LAMBS WERE BROUGHT INTO THE CITY THAT DAY...

TO BEGIN TO BE CAREFULLY EVALUATED BY THE PRIESTS TO BE SURE THEY HAD NO
FLAW OR BLEMISH TO DISQUALIFY THEM TO BE USED FOR THE UPCOMING PASSOVER
OBSERVANCE..

JUST AS OUR PASSOVER LAMB WOULD BE SCRUTINIZED BY THE SCRIBES AND
PHARISEES FOR THE NEXT 4 DAYS...

AS THEY TRIED IN VAIN TO FIND ANY FAULT WITH HIM..

**BUT THEY COULD NOT BECAUSE HE WAS ALSO WITHOUT BLEMISH....**

HE WAS THE FAULTLESS ONE WHICH UNIQUELY QUALIFIED HIM TO BE OUR SAVIOR.

THE HUGE CROWDS THAT WERE THAT WERE THERE IN JERUSALEM WERE IN PLACE TO
CELEBRATE THE ARRIVAL OF THE LAMBS INTO THE CITY...

IT WAS THE 10^TH^ DAY OF NISSAN..

BUT ON THIS SPECIAL 10^TH^ OF NISSAN HE WHO WAS TO BE GOD'S PASSOVER
LAMB, THE ONE WHOSE DEATH WAS SYMBOLIZED YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT IN THIS
PASSOVER OBSERVANCE...

**HE MADE HIS TRIUMPHANT ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM AS WELL...**

HISTORIANS NUMBER THE VAST MULTITUDES OF PEOPLE WHO WERE THERE TO BE
OVER 1 MILLION...

MANY OF THEM HAD COME A GREAT DISTANCE EVEN FROM OTHER COUNTRIES TO BE
IN JERUSALEM FOR THE PASSOVER IN OBEDIENCE TO GOD'S COMMAND GIVEN
THROUGH MOSES...

MANY OF THEM WERE ALSO THE COMMON PEOPLE OF THE COUNTRYSIDE OF GALILEE
AND JUDAH, WHO EMBRACED OUR LORD'S TEACHINGS DURING THE PREVIOUS 3 YEARS
AS THEY HAD SEEN FOR THEMSELVES THE MULTITUDE OF MIRACLES HE
PERFORMED...

**AND THEY HAD NO DOUBT HE WAS THE MESSIAH..**

SO THEY HAD NO PROBLEM EXPRESSING TO HIM THEIR PASSION FOR HIM WHICH
TOOK THE FORM OF GREAT REJOICING AND PRAISE TO GOD:

FOR ALL OF THE MIGHTY WORKS THEY HAD SEEN HIM PERFORM...

AND I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT ONE OBSERVATION..

**[JESUS LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT...]{.underline}**

AS HE STILL DOES TODAY WHEN PEOPLE GET PASSIONATELY EXPRESSIVE FOR HIM
IN THEIR PRAISE...

AND WHY NOT, WHEN HE DEMONSTRATED THE GREATEST ACT OF LOVE POSSIBLE,
DYING FOR OUR SINS ON THE CROSS..

**WHO ELSE BRIAN WOULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT FOR YOU ?**

MANY TIMES WE GET CAUGHT UP ABOUT HOW MUCH WE LOVE TO PRAISE THE LORD...

BUT GOD LOVES IT FAR MORE THEN WE DO..

WHY EVEN IF I AM TIRED AND DO NOT FEEL LIKE PRAISING GOD.

WHEN I AM GATHERED AS PART OF THE CHURCH I WILL ALWAYS OFFER UP PRAISE
TO HIM...

WHETHER I LIKE THE SONG OR NOT...

DOES NOT MATTER BECAUSE THE SONG IS JUST THE VEHICLE TO EXPRESS
SOMETHING THAT IS IN MY HEART..

**I AM GOING TO OFFER UP THE PRAISE THAT MY GOD LOVES TO HEAR FROM HIS
PEOPLE....**

ZEPHANIAH 3:16 SAYS THAT GOD GETS SO PASSIONATE FOR US HE REJOICES OVER
US WITH SINGING AND REJOICING..

"The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, **he
will rejoice** over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy
over thee with singing."

HE IS A PASSIONATE AND EMOTIONAL GOD...

**[IF IT IS REALLY TRUE THAT OUR GOD CAN FEEL THAT WAY ABOUT US HOW MUCH
MORE SHOULD WE REJOICE AND DANCE IN HIS PRESENCE..]{.underline}**

**JESUS IS PASSIONATE FOR US- HOW PASSIONATE ARE WE FOR HIM ?**

IF NOT, WHY NOT ?????

WANT TO FOCUS ALSO ON THE FIRST PART OF CHAPTER 12 AS WELL.

LOVE TO SHARE ON THIS PASSAGE...

**BECAUSE IT ALWAYS CHALLENGES ME TO EVALUATE HOW GREAT IS MY COMMITMENT
REALLY TO THE LORD..**

IT IS THE MOST PROFOUND EXAMPLE OF EXUBERANT WORSHIP EVER RECORDED..

SAID HERE MANY TIMES TRUE WORSHIP, THE WORSHIP THAT THE FATHER SEEKS TO
SEE EXPRESSED FROM HIS PEOPLE..

**IS A VOLUNTARY EXPRESSION OF THE HEART THAT HAS TO DO WITH A RESPONSE
OF LOVE TOWARD GOD...**

MANY CHURCHES TALKS ABOUT THEIR SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP SERVICE BUT
WORSHIP HAS ABSOLUTELY **NOTHING** TO DO WITH A RELIGIOUS RITUAL...

IF ALL YOU HAVE IS A RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION NOTHING CAN BE FURTHER FROM
WHAT TRUE WORSHIP IS..

**IT IS ALL ABOUT OUR LOVE RESPONDING TO HIS LOVE...**

**PASSION EXPRESSED TO THE ONE WHO LOVED US WITH PASSIONATE LOVE...**

**SOMETHING WE SEE SO CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED IN MARY'S ACT OF WORSHIP..**

FOR THOSE THAT HAVE NOT BEEN HERE BEFORE WANT TO SHARE JUST HOW
REMARKABLE WHAT MARY DID WAS...

FOR HER A SIMPLE THANK YOU TO JESUS FOR RAISING HER BROTHER FROM THE
DEAD WAS NOT ENOUGH...

JEWISH WOMEN IN THOSE DAYS JUST DID NOT TRUST THEIR WEALTH TO BANKERS
THAT WERE NOT TO BE TRUSTED.

RATHER THEY INVESTED THEIR SAVINGS IN SPICES AND RARE FRAGRANCES....

SO THE BOTTLE OF OINTMENT MARY POURED ON THE FEET OF JESUS WAS A SIZABLE
PORTION OF HER ENTIRE SAVINGS ACCOUNT....

VS. 3 SAID IT WAS A VERY COSTLY PERFUME OF PURE NARD....

IT WAS OF EXTREME EXPENSE AND THE MOST VALUABLE ITEM SHE POSSESSED..

**BEING AN UNMARRIED WOMEN IT WAS NO DOUBT PART OF HER DOWRY THAT WAS
KEPT TO INSURE A GOOD MARRIAGE TO BE ARRANGED FOR HER SOON..**

SHE CHOOSE THIS TO POUR OUT UPON THE FEET OF JESUS BECAUSE IT WAS THE
MOST PRECIOUS THING SHE POSSESSED IN THIS WORLD...

**BUT NOTHING WAS TOO VALUABLE TO HER TO SHOW JESUS HOW MUCH HE MEANT TO
HER...**

**SO IT WAS ALL POURED OUT IN A MOMENT UPON HIS FEET ...**

NO WONDER THE FRAGRANCE FILLED THE ENTIRE ROOM AND BROUGHT IN SUCH A
SWEET PRESENCE....

**AND HOW JESUS LOVED IT.....**

JUST LIKE HE LOVED THE PRAISE OF THE COMMON PEOPLE FOR HIM THE NEXT
DAY...

**JUST LIKE HE SO LOOKS FORWARD TO HIS PEOPLE LOVING HIM WITH PURE
HEARTS WHICH WE CALL WORSHIP..**

SO THE QUESTION WE CAN HONESTLY ASK OURSELVES AS WE CONSIDER MARY'S ACT
OF SACRIFICE AND DEVOTION FOR HER LORD ?

**HOW WILLING WOULD WE BE TO DO THE SAME FOR HIM...**

**ALL DEPENDS ON THE FIRST QUESTION DOESN'T IT ?**

**JUST HOW PASSIONATE ARE WE FOR HIM IN OUR COMMITMENT AND OUR LOVE
FORHIM..**

**THE VALUE OF THAT OINTMENT OF PURE NARD WOULD BE LIKE US TALKING
EVERYTHING WE HAVE SAVED UP FOR THE PAST 5 YEARS FOR THAT CAR WE ALWAYS
WANTED TO HAVE..**

**HOW WILLING WOULD WE BE TO GIVE IT ALL UP JUST TO SHOW JESUS HE MEANS
MORE TO US THEN ANYTHING ELSE IN THIS WORLD ??**

IT SEEMS THAT SO MUCH OF CHRISTIANITY TODAY IN AMERICA IS CENTERED ON
HOW MUCH WE CAN GET FROM GOD..

IF WE ARE FAITHFUL TO TITHE HE WILL BLESS US AND WE CAN GET A BETTER
HOUSE, NICER CAR...

WHO WILLING WOULD WE BE TO GIVE ALL THAT UP JUST TO DEMONSTRATE TO JESUS
HE IS FAR MORE IMPORTANT THEN ALL OF THOSE THINGS WE WOULD LOVE TO
HAVE\...

**CERTAINLY THOSE THAT HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES TO SERVE CHRIST ON THE
MISSION FIELD WHERE THEY HAVE GIVEN UP EVERY COMFORT OF THIS WORLD HAVE
DEMONSTRATED THAT..**

**DON'T YOU AGREE ????**

WHY WE HAVE NOT PROBLEM SUPPORTING MISSIONS IN THIS CHURCH

PHILIPPIANS 2:5-8 SAYS THIS:

5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6who,
although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God
a thing to be grasped,

 7but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made
in the likeness of men. 8Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled
Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a
cross.

IN OTHER WORDS BECAUSE HE WAS IN LOVE WITH US PASSIONATELY HE GAVE UP
EVERYTHING FOR US TO COME TO THIS EARTH TO DIE A HORRIBLE DEATH ON THE
CROSS..

CALVARY SHOWS ONE THINGS:

**JESUS IS PASSIONATE FOR US- HOW PASSIONATE ARE WE FOR HIM ?**

LIKE TO CONCLUDE WITH ONE OTHER EXAMPLE AND THAT IS FROM MATTHEW
26:6-13...

THE NARRATIVE OF A SECOND ANOINTING OF JESUS THAT TOOK PLACE 4 DAYS
LATER OR TWO DAYS BEFORE HIS CRUCIFIXION..

OCCURRED IN THE HOME OF SIMON THE LEPER...

6 Now when Jesus was in Bethany, at the home of Simon the leper, 7a
woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume, and she
poured it on His head as He reclined at the table.

VS. 8-9 IS THE VERSES I WANT TO KEY IN ON, WHICH RECORDS THE RESPONSE OF
THE DISCIPLES TO THIS DEMONSTRATION OF LOVE DIRECTED TOWARD THEIR MASTER
THAT THEY SAID THEY LOVED SO MUCH:

8But the disciples were indignant when they saw this, and said, \"**Why
this waste**?  9\"For this perfume might have been sold for a high price
and the money given to the poor.\"

10But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, \"Why do you bother the woman?
For she has done a good deed to Me. 11\"For you always have ^(^the poor
with you; but you do not always have Me. 12\"For when she poured this
perfume on My body, she did it to prepare Me for burial. 13\"Truly I say
to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this
woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.\"

WHAT ALWAYS STRIKES ME SO MUCH ABOUT THIS SECOND ANOINTING IS THE
RESPONSE OF PETER, JAMES, AND JOHN AND THE OTHERS TO THIS BEAUTIFUL ACT
OF LOVE DIRECTED TO THE LORD...

**[WHY THE WASTE]{.underline} [?]{.underline}**

PREVIOUSLY IT WAS ONLY JUDAS THAT WAS INDIGNANT THAT SOMEONE SPENT SO
MUCH MONEY ON A DEMONSTRATION OF LOVE FOR JESUS.

I DO NOT BELIEVE JESUS CARED A WHOLE LOT ABOUT WHAT JUDAS THOUGHT.

BUT THIS TIME ALL OF THE OTHER 11 WERE INDIGNANT...

WHICH MEANT THEY COMPLAINED AND WERE ANGRY AND GRUMBLED AMONG THEMSELVES
BECAUSE THEY ALL THOUGHT THAT THIS TIME THIS EXPRESSION OF LOVE DIRECTED
TOWARD THEIR MASTER WAS JUST TOO EXCESSIVE...

WHAT THEY MEANT BY CALLING IT A WASTE...

**ANOTHER WAY OF SAYING THAT IS JESUS WAS JUST NOT WORTH THAT MUCH SO IN
THEIR EYES SO IT WAS A WASTE WHAT THIS WOMEN DID..**

IT WAS A WASTE BECAUSE SOMETHING OF LESS WORTH WOULD HAVE BEEN
SUFFICIENT IN THEIR EYES...

AND WITH THE CROSS LOOMING SO SOON I BELIEVE THAT RESPONSE BROKE THE
HEART OF OUR LORD...

**BUT HOW OFTEN DOES OUR LORD SEE THIS SAME ATTITUDE EXPRESSED IN THE
HEART OF SO MANY OF HIS PEOPLE TODAY ?**

THAT JESUS JUST IS NOT WORTH 100% OF OUR COMMITMENT...

OF COARSE WE WILL NEVER SAY IT WITH OUR MOUTHS BUT HOW OFTEN DO WE
EXPRESS IT WITH OUR ACTIONS OR OUR UNWILLINGNESS TO SERVE WHEN IT IS
MOST INCONVENIENT WHEN HE WOULD HAVE US TO GO THE EXTRA MILE.....

**EITHER JESUS IS WORTH IT OR HE IS NOT WORTH IT TO SERVE HIM AND GIVE
OF YOURSELVES TO HIM COMPLETELY...**

AND I DARE SAY WE ALL HAVE TO BE HONEST WITH OURSELVES AND WITH HIM
WHETHER WE CONSIDER HIM WORTH IT OR NOT..

WHY JESUS COMMANDED ALL THAT FOLLOW HIM TO COUNT THE COSTS...

JESUS'S RESPONSE IN VS. 10 INDICATED THAT THE ATTITUDE OF THE DISCIPLES
BROKE HIS HEART...

**THE QUESTION IS HOW OFTEN DO WE BREAK HIS HEART BY HAVING A SIMILAR
RESPONSE???**

AS WE GET READY TO BEGIN PASSION WEEK I AGAIN LEAVE US ALL WITH THE
QUESTION I ASKED US AT THE BEGINNING:

**JESUS IS PASSIONATE FOR US- HOW PASSIONATE ARE WE FOR HIM ?**

JESUS MADE IT SO CLEAR THAT HE WANTS OUR WHOLE HEART AND OUR ENTIRE
DEVOTION OR NONE AT ALL..

**BIBLE CALLS THAT OUR FIRST LOVE...**

THERE ARE THREE IMPORTANT OBSERVATIONS THIS MORNING FROM THESE TWO
ANOINTING OF THE FEET AND THE HEAD OF OUR LORD.

THESE ARE THE THREE POINTS I WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH AS WE CONCLUDE:

**[FIRST, THOSE THAT TRULY LOVE CHRIST WILL LOVE HIM MUCH MORE THEN
ANYTHING ELSE IN THIS WORLD.]{.underline}**

THE OINTMENT OF PURE NARD MARY HAD PURCHASED FOR HERSELF WAS SAVED UP
FOR A VERY SPECIAL PURPOSE.

YET SHE FREELY SACRIFICED ALL OF THAT AT THE FEET OF OUR LORD.

**[THOSE THAT TRULY LOVE CHRIST WILL LOVE HIM MUCH MORE THEN ANYTHING
ELSE IN THIS WORLD.]{.underline}**

**[SECOND, THOSE THAT TRULY LOVE CHRIST ARE FREELY WILLING TO GIVE HIM
THE VERY BEST THEY HAVE AND LAY IT AT HIS FEET.]{.underline}**

IN BOTH CASES THESE 2 WOMEN FREELY SACRIFICED THE MOST EXPENSIVE THING
THEY OWNED AS AN EXPRESSION OF THEIR AFFECTION FOR CHRIST.

IT WAS THE **VERY** BEST THEY HAD AND THEIR SECOND BEST SIMPLY WOULD NOT
DUE TO EXPRESS WHAT WAS IN THEIR HEARTS..

THE GREATEST MISSIONARY THRUSTS WERE ACCOMPLISHED BY MEN OF GREAT
PROMISE AND GIFTINGS, WHO FREELY SACRIFICED CAREERS, GREATNESS AND THE
WEALTH AND COMFORTS IN THIS WORLD FOR THE SERVICE OF CHRIST..

AND YES, VERY OFTEN THE SACRIFICE THEY PAID WAS THEIR LIVES.

HOW DIFFERENT THE KINGDOM OF GOD WOULD HAVE BEEN HAD THEY LISTENED TO
THE ADVICE OF THOSE THAT TRIED TO PERSUADE OTHERWISE....

YOU HAVE A CAREER DAVID BRAINHARD AHEAD OF YOU, AND MANY OPPORTUNITIES,
WHY WASTE YOUR LIFE GOING TO THE MISSION FIELD, WHEN YOU COULD GET A JOB
AND MAKE MUCH MONEY..

YOU ARE A BRILLIANT AND A GIFTED MAN DAVID BRAINHARD...

**["WHY THE WASTE]{.underline}" OF SUCH POTENTIAL**

RELIGION IS GOOD ENOUGH TO A CERTAIN EXTENT BUT YOU ARE GOING TO FAR....

ANYONE EVER TELL YOU THAT ?

I WANT TO TELL YOU IN REPLY THAT YES JESUS IS WORTH IT TO ME..

OR I WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY..

AND AS THE HOLY SPIRIT EXHORTED US RECENTLY, ONLY THOSE THINGS THAT WE
DO FOR HIM IN THIS LIFE WILL TRANSFER TO THE NEXT LIFE..

NOTHING ELSE WE ACHIEVE IN THIS LIFE WILL LAST BUT WILL ALL PASS AWAY
ONE DAY..

**[SECOND, THOSE THAT TRULY LOVE THE LORD ARE FREELY WILLING TO GIVE HIM
THE VERY BEST THEY HAVE AND LAY IT AT HIS FEET.]{.underline}**

**[THIRD, THOSE THAT TRULY LOVE HIM WILL BE WILLING TO CONDESCEND IN
THEIR SERVICE FOR HIM....]{.underline}**

MARY COULD HAVE ASSIGNED ONE OF HER SERVANTS TO ANOINT THE FEET OF
JESUS..

THIS WAS A HUMBLE TASK THAT THE WOMEN OF THE HOUSE SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD
TO EVER DO FOR AN INVITED GUEST..

BUT DID NOT JESUS GIVE US A SIMILAR EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW WHEN HE WASHED THE
DISCIPLES FEET 5 DAYS LATER,

A JOB NONE OF THE OTHERS WERE WILLING TO DO SO HE DID IT.....

AND HE LEFT HIM WITH THE COMMAND THAT THE LEADER AMONG YOU SHOULD BE THE
GREATEST SERVANT OF THEM ALL..

HOW MUCH FURTHER WOULD THE KINGDOM OF GOD BE TODAY IF THAT WAS PRACTICED
BY EVERYONE..

**[THIRD, THOSE THAT TRULY LOVE HIM WILL BE WILLING TO CONDESCEND IN
THEIR SERVICE FOR HIM....]{.underline}**

AS I SAID TWO WEEKS AGO, IN OUR FORMER CHURCH, WHEN PASTOR LARAINE AND I
WERE FIRST MARRIED, WE HAD NO PROBLEM RAKING OUR PASTOR'S LEAVES ALL
BECAUSE WE JUST WANTED TO SERVE HIM...

NOTHING TO DO WITH JUST SERVING THE PASTORS, IT HAD TO DO WITH OUR LOVE
OF HIM SO WE SERVED GLADLY TO HELP THOSE THAT GOD GAVE US TO REPRESENT
HIM...

**[THIRD, THOSE THAT TRULY LOVE HIM WILL BE WILLING TO CONDESCEND IN
THEIR SERVICE FOR HIM....]{.underline}**

**[JESUS IS PASSIONATE FOR US- HOW PASSIONATE ARE WE GOING TO BE FOR HIM
NOW?]{.underline}**

**LET US PRAY**