1 00:00:02,800 --> 00:00:13,960 Speaker 1: Life audio. Have you ever experienced someone doing something so 2 00:00:14,360 --> 00:00:19,120 Speaker 1: extravagant that everyone else thought was ridiculous? And our story today, 3 00:00:19,160 --> 00:00:21,480 Speaker 1: there's a woman who comes into her room and she 4 00:00:21,560 --> 00:00:26,040 Speaker 1: breaks open an entire year's worth of perfume and anoints 5 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:29,960 Speaker 1: Jesus with it. Meanwhile, someone even closer to Jesus is 6 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:33,120 Speaker 1: actually plotting to betray him. I don't know how you 7 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:36,760 Speaker 1: think about the uncomfortable question of what Jesus is worth 8 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:39,360 Speaker 1: to you. In this story, we hear one person who 9 00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:42,520 Speaker 1: thinks Jesus is worth everything, and another who thinks Jesus 10 00:00:42,640 --> 00:00:49,559 Speaker 1: is worth trading away. Hey, everyone, welcome to how to 11 00:00:49,560 --> 00:00:52,479 Speaker 1: Say the Bible. Each week we're slowing down together to 12 00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:56,080 Speaker 1: study scripture, not just together more information, but to be 13 00:00:56,200 --> 00:01:00,360 Speaker 1: actually transformed by what we learn together when we experience 14 00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:02,720 Speaker 1: God in his word. Today, we're going to be in 15 00:01:02,880 --> 00:01:06,440 Speaker 1: Mark chapter fourteen, looking at two different passages that we 16 00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:09,800 Speaker 1: find in this text. Now, Mark chapter fourteen is a 17 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:11,839 Speaker 1: really long chapter, so if you haven't had a chance 18 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:14,200 Speaker 1: yet to read it, you're going to see that fourteen 19 00:01:14,319 --> 00:01:17,920 Speaker 1: fifteen sixteen, this sort of last piece of our study 20 00:01:17,959 --> 00:01:21,720 Speaker 1: together all goes together. We get into a very action 21 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:26,559 Speaker 1: packed few days as Jesus is moving toward the cross, 22 00:01:26,680 --> 00:01:28,240 Speaker 1: and so what we want to do in the next 23 00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:30,679 Speaker 1: few weeks together is actually kind of look at some 24 00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:34,679 Speaker 1: different pieces that we see connecting threads all through these 25 00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:37,560 Speaker 1: three chapters. Today we're going to stay in Mark fourteen. 26 00:01:37,640 --> 00:01:39,960 Speaker 1: We're going to be in verses one through eleven, and 27 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:42,720 Speaker 1: then again verses twenty two through twenty six. So I'm 28 00:01:42,720 --> 00:01:44,520 Speaker 1: going to read this to you. I'm reading to you 29 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:47,680 Speaker 1: today from the New Living Translation. As you guys have 30 00:01:47,720 --> 00:01:50,840 Speaker 1: heard me talk about before, the New Living Translation is 31 00:01:50,840 --> 00:01:54,880 Speaker 1: a phrase by phrase translation, so rather than a word 32 00:01:54,920 --> 00:01:59,560 Speaker 1: for word, the commentators and linguists behind the translation have 33 00:01:59,640 --> 00:02:02,760 Speaker 1: really made an effort to try to transmit the meaning 34 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:05,840 Speaker 1: of what was originally intended in the original text while 35 00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:08,440 Speaker 1: making it a little bit more readable. So it just 36 00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:10,680 Speaker 1: sort of reads a little bit different. So we're going 37 00:02:10,720 --> 00:02:12,480 Speaker 1: to read Mark fourteen, and I'm going to start here 38 00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:16,200 Speaker 1: in one through eleven. It was now two days before 39 00:02:16,280 --> 00:02:20,160 Speaker 1: Passover and the festival of unlovened Bread. The leading priests 40 00:02:20,160 --> 00:02:22,280 Speaker 1: and the teachers of religious law were still looking for 41 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:25,960 Speaker 1: an opportunity to capture Jesus secretly and kill him, but 42 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:28,680 Speaker 1: not during the Passover celebration, they agreed, or the people 43 00:02:28,720 --> 00:02:31,560 Speaker 1: may riot. So they already kind of knew that they 44 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:35,160 Speaker 1: were in a hot buttoned situation with how people were 45 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:38,400 Speaker 1: feeling about Jesus, going on to verse three. Meanwhile, Jesus 46 00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:40,440 Speaker 1: was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man 47 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:43,760 Speaker 1: who had previously had leprosy. While he was eating, a 48 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:47,079 Speaker 1: woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive 49 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 1: perfume made from essence of nard. She broke open the 50 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:53,960 Speaker 1: jar and poured the perfume over his head. Some of 51 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:56,520 Speaker 1: those at the table were indignant. Why waste such an 52 00:02:56,560 --> 00:02:59,440 Speaker 1: expensive perfume? They said it could have been sold for 53 00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:01,919 Speaker 1: a year's wages and the money given to the poor. 54 00:03:02,639 --> 00:03:06,519 Speaker 1: So they scolded her harshly. But Jesus replied, leave her alone. 55 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:09,560 Speaker 1: Why criticize her for doing such a good thing to me. 56 00:03:10,280 --> 00:03:12,520 Speaker 1: You will always have the poor among you, and you 57 00:03:12,560 --> 00:03:15,000 Speaker 1: can help them whenever you want to, But you will 58 00:03:15,040 --> 00:03:18,680 Speaker 1: not always have me. She has done what she could 59 00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:21,520 Speaker 1: and has annoyed in my body for burial ahead of time. 60 00:03:21,800 --> 00:03:24,080 Speaker 1: I tell you the truth, whenever the good news is 61 00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:26,920 Speaker 1: preached throughout the world, this woman's deed will be remembered 62 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:29,800 Speaker 1: and discussed. Now watch what Mark does here, because we're 63 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:32,600 Speaker 1: going to immediately go into verse ten. Verse ten says, 64 00:03:32,639 --> 00:03:36,080 Speaker 1: then judas a scariot, one of the twelve disciples, went 65 00:03:36,120 --> 00:03:39,080 Speaker 1: to the leading priest to arrange to betray Jesus to them. 66 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:41,760 Speaker 1: They were delighted when they heard why he had come, 67 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:44,880 Speaker 1: and they promised to give him money. So he began 68 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:49,440 Speaker 1: looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus. Okay, so this 69 00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:51,880 Speaker 1: is on purpose. Okay, if you imagine this is sort 70 00:03:51,880 --> 00:03:54,440 Speaker 1: of a TV show, you're going to see a camera 71 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:57,680 Speaker 1: pan from one scene to the next on purpose. You're 72 00:03:57,760 --> 00:04:01,600 Speaker 1: meant to make the connection between them. This really extravagant, 73 00:04:01,640 --> 00:04:05,960 Speaker 1: almost disconcerting experience. That's happening with Jesus at dinner and 74 00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:08,640 Speaker 1: then what's happening sort of behind the scenes with one 75 00:04:08,680 --> 00:04:11,880 Speaker 1: of his trusted twelve. Okay, So moving on to verse 76 00:04:12,160 --> 00:04:15,440 Speaker 1: twenty two through twenty six. As they were eating, Jesus 77 00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:18,000 Speaker 1: took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it 78 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:20,159 Speaker 1: in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, take 79 00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:22,520 Speaker 1: it for this is my body. And he took a 80 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:24,560 Speaker 1: cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. 81 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:27,080 Speaker 1: He gave it to them, and they all drank from it, 82 00:04:27,520 --> 00:04:29,480 Speaker 1: and he said to them, this is my blood, which 83 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:32,640 Speaker 1: confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is 84 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:35,560 Speaker 1: poured out as a sacrifice for many. I tell you 85 00:04:35,600 --> 00:04:37,880 Speaker 1: the truth. I will not drink wine again until the 86 00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:40,360 Speaker 1: day I drink it new in the Kingdom of God. 87 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:42,560 Speaker 1: Then they sang a hymn and went out to the 88 00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:44,719 Speaker 1: Mount of Olives. Okay, so we've got kind of the 89 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:47,360 Speaker 1: closing scene. One of the reasons that I wanted bring 90 00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:49,600 Speaker 1: us to this closing scene is I want us to 91 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:52,719 Speaker 1: actually notice in this closing scene that the one who 92 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:56,520 Speaker 1: was plotting to betray Jesus was still there at the table. 93 00:04:56,920 --> 00:04:59,520 Speaker 1: That Jesus, in full knowledge of what was to happen, 94 00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:03,040 Speaker 1: served Judas at this table. So let's hold that in 95 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:05,400 Speaker 1: our minds and let's ask the question, kind of what 96 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:16,839 Speaker 1: do we see here? What does it say? So a 97 00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:19,080 Speaker 1: couple of things obviously that we just want to point 98 00:05:19,080 --> 00:05:21,240 Speaker 1: out if we were just walking through bit by bit 99 00:05:21,320 --> 00:05:23,560 Speaker 1: the text. Okay, So the first one is that we 100 00:05:23,640 --> 00:05:26,440 Speaker 1: know that the opening scene is that religious leaders are 101 00:05:26,480 --> 00:05:30,280 Speaker 1: plotting to kill Jesus. They're plotting against Jesus, they're intentionally 102 00:05:30,760 --> 00:05:33,479 Speaker 1: trying to find a way to stop his power, to 103 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:36,360 Speaker 1: stop his influence that we know that they're worried about 104 00:05:36,360 --> 00:05:38,120 Speaker 1: when they're like, okay, well, can't do it, when there's 105 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:40,640 Speaker 1: too many people around because of the Passover, et cetera. 106 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:43,040 Speaker 1: Then we see this woman who comes on the scene. 107 00:05:43,080 --> 00:05:44,839 Speaker 1: We don't know a lot about her, We just know 108 00:05:44,880 --> 00:05:48,320 Speaker 1: that she enters into this home and she annoints Jesus 109 00:05:48,320 --> 00:05:52,560 Speaker 1: with this expensive perfume, and people criticize those actions immediately. 110 00:05:53,000 --> 00:05:54,799 Speaker 1: And then we know that Jesus is going to share 111 00:05:54,920 --> 00:05:58,400 Speaker 1: the Passover meal with his disciples, and he really redefines 112 00:05:59,120 --> 00:06:02,359 Speaker 1: what this wine and bread mean. That the wine and 113 00:06:02,440 --> 00:06:06,720 Speaker 1: bread had significance in the original Passover meal. Remember these 114 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:10,760 Speaker 1: are sometimes basic things to remember, but Christianity comes out 115 00:06:10,800 --> 00:06:15,880 Speaker 1: of Judaism. Judaism was the faith that birthed Christianity. So 116 00:06:16,160 --> 00:06:20,120 Speaker 1: all of this understanding of what's happening here in these 117 00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:24,159 Speaker 1: scenes is based on our understanding of the Old Testament 118 00:06:24,360 --> 00:06:27,039 Speaker 1: system that God set up as a way to say, 119 00:06:27,080 --> 00:06:29,919 Speaker 1: this is how people will know who I am. The 120 00:06:29,960 --> 00:06:32,880 Speaker 1: way you live my chosen people, the way you live 121 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:36,680 Speaker 1: your life, the festivals, the sacrifices, the choices, the laws. 122 00:06:37,160 --> 00:06:40,200 Speaker 1: All of this will reflect who I am and what 123 00:06:40,240 --> 00:06:43,040 Speaker 1: it means to bring me glory. And what Jesus is 124 00:06:43,080 --> 00:06:47,760 Speaker 1: doing is he's fulfilling all of those pieces of the 125 00:06:47,800 --> 00:06:51,840 Speaker 1: original Judaism that we know. And so when we see 126 00:06:51,920 --> 00:06:54,799 Speaker 1: him at the passover meal, everyone sitting at that table 127 00:06:55,080 --> 00:06:58,200 Speaker 1: would understand the significance of the passover meal. So if 128 00:06:58,240 --> 00:07:00,240 Speaker 1: we're going to really be able to grasp some thing 129 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:03,920 Speaker 1: like the power of what is actually happening in this scene, 130 00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:06,760 Speaker 1: we do have to understand at least a little bit about, 131 00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:09,039 Speaker 1: for instance, the passover meal. We need to understand a 132 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:12,640 Speaker 1: little bit about anointing Jesus with this perfume in order 133 00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:14,520 Speaker 1: for us to really really grasp what's going on. So 134 00:07:15,040 --> 00:07:18,960 Speaker 1: notice that Jesus defends this woman when no one else does. 135 00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:22,040 Speaker 1: And it's just one of my favorite lines in scripture 136 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:25,040 Speaker 1: is that Jesus said, she did what she could. We 137 00:07:25,080 --> 00:07:27,800 Speaker 1: could literally stop there and we could ask ourselves a question, 138 00:07:27,880 --> 00:07:30,000 Speaker 1: am Am, I doing what I can? You know? He 139 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:32,280 Speaker 1: sort of meets her right where she is, and he 140 00:07:32,440 --> 00:07:35,880 Speaker 1: knows that this is the ultimate expression of her devotion, 141 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:38,280 Speaker 1: is what she has done here, and then he goes 142 00:07:38,320 --> 00:07:40,440 Speaker 1: on to say, which is like, I could not not 143 00:07:40,520 --> 00:07:43,400 Speaker 1: include this passage even though this is a very full chapter. 144 00:07:43,920 --> 00:07:47,040 Speaker 1: It actually says every time the Gospel has preached, people 145 00:07:47,080 --> 00:07:50,120 Speaker 1: will talk about her, which is incredible if you think 146 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:53,480 Speaker 1: about where women were in society, their place. They didn't 147 00:07:53,520 --> 00:07:55,960 Speaker 1: have a vote, they didn't have a voice, they didn't 148 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:58,680 Speaker 1: have rights. And Jesus is like, hey, I'm going to 149 00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:02,600 Speaker 1: elevate this woman, you see, very intentionally all through scripture. 150 00:08:03,360 --> 00:08:05,400 Speaker 1: That's a different series for a different day. But the 151 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:09,960 Speaker 1: way that Jesus elevates women, the way he elevates them 152 00:08:09,960 --> 00:08:15,280 Speaker 1: to positions of disciples and positions of authority within his structure, 153 00:08:15,320 --> 00:08:18,840 Speaker 1: his teaching, his ministry, is remarkable and it's easy to 154 00:08:18,920 --> 00:08:21,840 Speaker 1: miss in sort of missing the cultural context. But this 155 00:08:21,880 --> 00:08:24,280 Speaker 1: is huge that at this table, with all of these 156 00:08:24,280 --> 00:08:26,560 Speaker 1: people weighing in on what this woman is doing, Jesus 157 00:08:26,680 --> 00:08:29,400 Speaker 1: is like defending her and explaining that what she has 158 00:08:29,440 --> 00:08:33,280 Speaker 1: done is incredibly important for what is to come. So 159 00:08:33,720 --> 00:08:37,000 Speaker 1: we see this devotion and betrayal kind of sitting side 160 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:38,840 Speaker 1: by side, and we want to ask ourselves the question, 161 00:08:39,120 --> 00:08:41,800 Speaker 1: why why does Mark do that? Why does he put 162 00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:46,280 Speaker 1: those together? And why again at this end, does Jesus 163 00:08:46,320 --> 00:08:49,959 Speaker 1: actually institute the last supper at Passover. So let me 164 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:52,640 Speaker 1: give you a few pieces of context for this moment 165 00:08:52,679 --> 00:08:54,360 Speaker 1: so that you can understand a little bit more of 166 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:58,400 Speaker 1: what's going on. First of all, the costly perfume. Mark says, 167 00:08:58,440 --> 00:09:03,640 Speaker 1: the perfume was worth roughly a year's wages. It would 168 00:09:03,679 --> 00:09:07,320 Speaker 1: be hard to even imagine or think about a similar 169 00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:10,640 Speaker 1: situation in today's culture, Like, it's hard to imagine what 170 00:09:10,760 --> 00:09:14,200 Speaker 1: someone could do with a year's wages, whether that's fifty 171 00:09:14,280 --> 00:09:17,400 Speaker 1: thousand dollars or two hundred thousand dollars, Like, what is 172 00:09:17,440 --> 00:09:20,040 Speaker 1: it that someone would do that would be so extravagant 173 00:09:20,120 --> 00:09:23,240 Speaker 1: in this moment because of course any of us sitting 174 00:09:23,240 --> 00:09:26,240 Speaker 1: there would immediately think, like, what is going on? This 175 00:09:26,400 --> 00:09:31,040 Speaker 1: is wild and it was a natural reaction. Interesting too, 176 00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:33,520 Speaker 1: that kind of the disciples take it to the next 177 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:37,560 Speaker 1: level and they're like moralizing about what this woman should 178 00:09:37,559 --> 00:09:40,000 Speaker 1: be doing with this perfume? What this what we could 179 00:09:40,080 --> 00:09:43,280 Speaker 1: be doing with this? And in some ways that's natural too. 180 00:09:43,320 --> 00:09:46,640 Speaker 1: But you see this kind of moral system operating when 181 00:09:46,679 --> 00:09:49,360 Speaker 1: what Jesus is saying is that devotion to him comes 182 00:09:49,400 --> 00:09:52,360 Speaker 1: first and everything else flows from that. So we have 183 00:09:52,520 --> 00:09:56,760 Speaker 1: this like interesting moment where I think Jesus is trying 184 00:09:56,800 --> 00:09:59,360 Speaker 1: to bring the full gravity of what is about to 185 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:01,880 Speaker 1: happen in to full relief. He's not saying that we 186 00:10:01,880 --> 00:10:03,640 Speaker 1: don't take care of the poor, He's not saying that 187 00:10:03,679 --> 00:10:05,920 Speaker 1: we don't, you know, be intentional with the way that 188 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:08,920 Speaker 1: we care for others. But the moment that they're in, 189 00:10:09,360 --> 00:10:13,239 Speaker 1: it's like adventures in missing the point, Like his closest 190 00:10:13,640 --> 00:10:17,120 Speaker 1: friends and followers are missing what's happening, and he's becoming 191 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:21,280 Speaker 1: more and more clear about exactly what is about to happen. 192 00:10:21,360 --> 00:10:24,840 Speaker 1: But it just was like not falling on their ears. 193 00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:27,679 Speaker 1: They just kind of were living in the system that 194 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:29,720 Speaker 1: they knew. And I don't know if you've ever felt 195 00:10:29,800 --> 00:10:33,120 Speaker 1: like you're just moving through life and you're not really 196 00:10:33,200 --> 00:10:37,720 Speaker 1: awake to the spiritual realities around you. You're not awake 197 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:40,959 Speaker 1: to what God might be doing in your midst, in 198 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:44,280 Speaker 1: your heart, in your community. And I think that we 199 00:10:44,400 --> 00:10:47,160 Speaker 1: see this happening right here and in the midst of 200 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:50,680 Speaker 1: the disciples all sort of moralizing about the way money 201 00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:54,000 Speaker 1: should be spent. The treasurer of the disciples, the one 202 00:10:54,040 --> 00:10:57,839 Speaker 1: who actually keeps the purse of money, is in that 203 00:10:57,960 --> 00:11:01,800 Speaker 1: moment plotting to betray Jesus for money. So we see 204 00:11:01,840 --> 00:11:05,520 Speaker 1: this crazy irony going on of people being able to 205 00:11:05,720 --> 00:11:09,640 Speaker 1: be religious and really be wicked at the same time. 206 00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:12,400 Speaker 1: And we have a woman who's coming across as very 207 00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:17,040 Speaker 1: irreligious who is actually being holy. So we're meant to 208 00:11:17,200 --> 00:11:21,480 Speaker 1: notice this disconcerting reality that for many of us who 209 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:24,360 Speaker 1: want to judge life as black and white, good and evil, 210 00:11:24,840 --> 00:11:30,120 Speaker 1: Jesus is rewriting that script completely in this context. I 211 00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:33,719 Speaker 1: love this reference in Second Samuel twenty four to twenty four. 212 00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:36,160 Speaker 1: This is back in the Old Testament where it says 213 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:39,000 Speaker 1: I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt 214 00:11:39,040 --> 00:11:42,240 Speaker 1: offerings that cost me nothing. And the context of that 215 00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:46,760 Speaker 1: passage is this idea, am I giving to Jesus out 216 00:11:46,840 --> 00:11:50,520 Speaker 1: of like wherever I have left over? Or am I 217 00:11:50,920 --> 00:11:54,679 Speaker 1: counting the cost first? When I think about what sacrifice 218 00:11:54,720 --> 00:11:57,080 Speaker 1: looks like. And this isn't just about money. It is 219 00:11:57,120 --> 00:12:00,160 Speaker 1: about our time, our resources, the way we give our 220 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:04,080 Speaker 1: love to others, Like is my relationship with God? Like 221 00:12:04,120 --> 00:12:07,360 Speaker 1: what's it worth to me? Does it have weight to it? 222 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:10,360 Speaker 1: And I think that we see with this woman that 223 00:12:10,400 --> 00:12:13,640 Speaker 1: her relationship to Jesus was worth everything to her. In 224 00:12:13,679 --> 00:12:17,200 Speaker 1: the context of what I'm guessing had transpired in her life, 225 00:12:17,559 --> 00:12:20,280 Speaker 1: the healing that she had experienced, the new life she 226 00:12:20,360 --> 00:12:23,600 Speaker 1: was finding in Jesus's teaching in life, that perfume wasn't 227 00:12:23,640 --> 00:12:26,160 Speaker 1: worth anything to her anymore, Like it was like nothing 228 00:12:26,240 --> 00:12:29,720 Speaker 1: compares to what I've discovered here. And so all of 229 00:12:29,760 --> 00:12:33,839 Speaker 1: this understanding of what's worth things is put in new 230 00:12:33,880 --> 00:12:37,720 Speaker 1: context when you understand the treasure that is Jesus. And 231 00:12:37,760 --> 00:12:40,000 Speaker 1: so now Jesus, we kind of turned to the Passover, 232 00:12:40,160 --> 00:12:41,960 Speaker 1: and I just want to talk about this briefly because 233 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:44,840 Speaker 1: it's important for what's to come. So now the disciples 234 00:12:44,880 --> 00:12:48,040 Speaker 1: are meeting around the table and they're remembering the Passover. 235 00:12:48,120 --> 00:12:50,679 Speaker 1: This would be a high holiday in the Jewish system. 236 00:12:51,120 --> 00:12:54,920 Speaker 1: This was one of the most important remembrances that God's 237 00:12:54,960 --> 00:12:59,000 Speaker 1: people would would practice every year. And in this remembrance, 238 00:12:59,080 --> 00:13:01,560 Speaker 1: what God is helped his people remember is that he 239 00:13:01,679 --> 00:13:04,800 Speaker 1: has released them from bondage. This goes back to the 240 00:13:04,840 --> 00:13:07,959 Speaker 1: story of the Hebrews who were enslaved by the Egyptians. 241 00:13:08,320 --> 00:13:10,920 Speaker 1: And if you're familiar even with like the Disney movie, 242 00:13:10,920 --> 00:13:14,480 Speaker 1: you might know about Moses, who actually called God's people 243 00:13:14,559 --> 00:13:18,120 Speaker 1: out of Egypt and Pharaoh was his heart, he was 244 00:13:18,160 --> 00:13:20,800 Speaker 1: the leader. His heart was hardened about the plight of 245 00:13:20,840 --> 00:13:22,720 Speaker 1: the Hebrews, and so he was like, I'm not letting 246 00:13:22,760 --> 00:13:26,200 Speaker 1: them go. And then plague after plague after plague happens 247 00:13:26,240 --> 00:13:29,120 Speaker 1: to Egypt, and they are warned over and over again 248 00:13:29,160 --> 00:13:32,199 Speaker 1: to release the Israelites, to release God's people, and they 249 00:13:32,200 --> 00:13:35,800 Speaker 1: don't do it. And so finally the very last plague 250 00:13:36,400 --> 00:13:38,440 Speaker 1: is going to be that the Angel of Death is 251 00:13:38,480 --> 00:13:42,000 Speaker 1: going to come and kill every firstborn son in the kingdom. 252 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:44,520 Speaker 1: But there's a way out. And so the way out 253 00:13:44,559 --> 00:13:47,360 Speaker 1: that is given is that if you are to take 254 00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:50,040 Speaker 1: the lamb, the blood of the Lamb, the passover Lamb, 255 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:53,720 Speaker 1: lamb without blemish, and you're to take that blood and 256 00:13:53,720 --> 00:13:56,360 Speaker 1: put it over your doorframe. Then what was said in 257 00:13:56,400 --> 00:13:58,400 Speaker 1: the scripture was that the Angel of Death would pass 258 00:13:58,440 --> 00:14:01,000 Speaker 1: over your household and know and would lose their life. 259 00:14:01,480 --> 00:14:05,040 Speaker 1: This was the beginning of passover. When this happened, just 260 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:07,400 Speaker 1: as it said it was, And I always like, people 261 00:14:07,400 --> 00:14:09,080 Speaker 1: are like, oh my gosh, this is a violent story 262 00:14:09,120 --> 00:14:10,960 Speaker 1: when I'm talking about it, but I want to make 263 00:14:10,960 --> 00:14:12,520 Speaker 1: sure that you hear the part where there was like 264 00:14:13,040 --> 00:14:16,360 Speaker 1: message after message after message warning after warning was given 265 00:14:16,440 --> 00:14:19,280 Speaker 1: and a way out was given, and the way out 266 00:14:19,360 --> 00:14:22,240 Speaker 1: was this particular way of putting this blood of this 267 00:14:22,360 --> 00:14:25,560 Speaker 1: unblemish lamb over the doorframe, and that the angel of 268 00:14:25,560 --> 00:14:28,200 Speaker 1: Death would pass over your home if you did that, 269 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:30,640 Speaker 1: which is why it's called the passover. And so here 270 00:14:30,680 --> 00:14:33,640 Speaker 1: the disciples are there, they were doing this. They're remembering 271 00:14:33,720 --> 00:14:36,120 Speaker 1: our God who brought us out of slavery, our God 272 00:14:36,120 --> 00:14:39,160 Speaker 1: who's released us from oppression. And there was a particular 273 00:14:39,200 --> 00:14:42,880 Speaker 1: way to remember that passover, to remember that feeling of 274 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:46,240 Speaker 1: like we are about to be free. We are about 275 00:14:46,280 --> 00:14:49,560 Speaker 1: to be led out of this bondage because our God 276 00:14:49,640 --> 00:14:52,240 Speaker 1: loves us, and our God sets us free, and he 277 00:14:52,280 --> 00:14:54,480 Speaker 1: has given us a way out through the blood of 278 00:14:54,480 --> 00:14:58,840 Speaker 1: this lamb. Now Here is Jesus who is instituting the 279 00:14:58,880 --> 00:15:02,480 Speaker 1: passover and is said saying, I am the Lamb of God. 280 00:15:03,200 --> 00:15:05,520 Speaker 1: I am the one whose body is going to be 281 00:15:05,560 --> 00:15:08,400 Speaker 1: broken for you like the spread. I am the one 282 00:15:08,520 --> 00:15:10,720 Speaker 1: whose blood is going to be poured out as a 283 00:15:10,760 --> 00:15:14,960 Speaker 1: new covenant for you. That this message of passover is 284 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:17,480 Speaker 1: now going to be available to everyone who calls on 285 00:15:17,560 --> 00:15:22,040 Speaker 1: my name, because I am the passover Lamb. And in 286 00:15:22,240 --> 00:15:25,840 Speaker 1: this story where we have these very human things going 287 00:15:25,880 --> 00:15:28,720 Speaker 1: on with this woman who's anointing Jesus and his own 288 00:15:28,760 --> 00:15:31,680 Speaker 1: disciple who's getting ready to betray him. In the midst 289 00:15:31,720 --> 00:15:35,600 Speaker 1: of that, Jesus is like, this table is for everyone. 290 00:15:36,240 --> 00:15:39,560 Speaker 1: This table is for everyone, whether you're a failure, whether 291 00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:43,760 Speaker 1: you're a betrayer, whether you are devoted to me. This 292 00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:46,720 Speaker 1: message that I'm giving is if you will call on 293 00:15:46,840 --> 00:15:50,080 Speaker 1: my name, if you will say yes to life in 294 00:15:50,120 --> 00:15:54,600 Speaker 1: my name, this passover experience, this freedom from bondage, the 295 00:15:54,640 --> 00:15:58,040 Speaker 1: bondage of sin, the oppression of our own way of living, 296 00:15:58,240 --> 00:16:01,000 Speaker 1: all of that you can be set for from in 297 00:16:01,080 --> 00:16:04,720 Speaker 1: my name. And so understanding what is happening here is 298 00:16:04,840 --> 00:16:17,800 Speaker 1: so so important to our own faith. Hey you guys, 299 00:16:17,840 --> 00:16:20,920 Speaker 1: Reading Mark fourteen this week reminded me of something that 300 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:24,200 Speaker 1: readers say over and over again about this book called 301 00:16:24,200 --> 00:16:26,400 Speaker 1: Brave Enough. It's really about what does it look like 302 00:16:26,440 --> 00:16:29,120 Speaker 1: to have courage for your everyday life? How do you 303 00:16:29,200 --> 00:16:32,880 Speaker 1: really follow Jesus with grace and forgiveness in just the 304 00:16:33,000 --> 00:16:35,040 Speaker 1: normal things that happen in our life. So, if you've 305 00:16:35,080 --> 00:16:37,360 Speaker 1: been looking for a new resource to pick up, I 306 00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:40,760 Speaker 1: would love for you to check out Brave Enough. All right, friends, 307 00:16:40,800 --> 00:16:44,320 Speaker 1: So we've seen a really vivid picture of Jesus as 308 00:16:44,320 --> 00:16:46,360 Speaker 1: he begins to really walk toward the cross, and so 309 00:16:46,440 --> 00:16:48,520 Speaker 1: let's ask the question what does this mean for us today? 310 00:16:48,560 --> 00:16:50,800 Speaker 1: So a couple of things I wrote down about the 311 00:16:50,840 --> 00:16:53,680 Speaker 1: principles that we might see here in this passage. As 312 00:16:53,720 --> 00:16:56,040 Speaker 1: you guys know, there's always a lot of principles in 313 00:16:56,120 --> 00:16:58,640 Speaker 1: every passage, but here's a few that sort of stuck 314 00:16:58,680 --> 00:17:01,520 Speaker 1: out to me. The first is that this worship is 315 00:17:01,560 --> 00:17:04,919 Speaker 1: about bringing our whole hearts to God. It's about the 316 00:17:05,040 --> 00:17:08,840 Speaker 1: value of our worship. It's not about just dialing it 317 00:17:08,880 --> 00:17:12,720 Speaker 1: in or following a rhythm or ritual. It's about bringing 318 00:17:12,760 --> 00:17:17,240 Speaker 1: our hearts to Him. Jesus offers himself, even in the 319 00:17:17,280 --> 00:17:22,320 Speaker 1: presence of betrayal, that Jesus's offer of love and relationship 320 00:17:22,800 --> 00:17:26,159 Speaker 1: is unconditional. It's not based on our response to it. 321 00:17:26,200 --> 00:17:28,560 Speaker 1: I think that's what we learn about Judas being at 322 00:17:28,560 --> 00:17:31,159 Speaker 1: that table. I think there's a warning in here as 323 00:17:31,200 --> 00:17:34,600 Speaker 1: well that proximity to Jesus is not the same thing 324 00:17:34,640 --> 00:17:37,080 Speaker 1: as surrendered to Jesus. And we're going to see that 325 00:17:37,119 --> 00:17:40,040 Speaker 1: proximity come up again as we move through this passage 326 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:42,399 Speaker 1: and into these next chapters. And so I think we 327 00:17:42,440 --> 00:17:44,760 Speaker 1: asked our question, what does it mean to me? What 328 00:17:44,760 --> 00:17:48,879 Speaker 1: would costly devotion look like in your actual life? What 329 00:17:48,880 --> 00:17:51,720 Speaker 1: would it look like to give your best to God 330 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:55,639 Speaker 1: on an everyday basis? Is that about your time? Is 331 00:17:55,680 --> 00:17:58,760 Speaker 1: that about your resources? Is that about a place of 332 00:17:58,800 --> 00:18:01,560 Speaker 1: resentment or unforgives that you've just been holding on to. 333 00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:04,639 Speaker 1: Is it a way that God is calling you to 334 00:18:04,880 --> 00:18:08,280 Speaker 1: a deeper place of love for someone in your family, 335 00:18:08,880 --> 00:18:13,240 Speaker 1: or your workplace or your school. What does costly devotion 336 00:18:13,600 --> 00:18:17,240 Speaker 1: look like for you today? Let's close with this from 337 00:18:17,280 --> 00:18:21,600 Speaker 1: Psalm seventy three, verse twenty five. Whom have I in 338 00:18:21,680 --> 00:18:25,159 Speaker 1: heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. 339 00:18:25,840 --> 00:18:28,840 Speaker 1: A closing prayer for today, Lord, help me recognize when 340 00:18:28,880 --> 00:18:31,800 Speaker 1: my heart is divided, and teach me to value you 341 00:18:31,920 --> 00:18:36,359 Speaker 1: above what feels safe or from my ear. All right, everyone, 342 00:18:36,400 --> 00:18:38,480 Speaker 1: that's what we have for you today. And I just 343 00:18:38,480 --> 00:18:40,600 Speaker 1: want to remind you that we're here to engage with 344 00:18:40,640 --> 00:18:43,159 Speaker 1: scripture more deeply. And I have more resources for you 345 00:18:43,200 --> 00:18:46,040 Speaker 1: on my website. You can check that out at Nicoleunis 346 00:18:46,119 --> 00:18:48,200 Speaker 1: dot com. And if you'd like to sign up for 347 00:18:48,280 --> 00:18:50,639 Speaker 1: a monthly newsletter that just helps you stay connected to 348 00:18:50,680 --> 00:18:52,919 Speaker 1: things I'm loving and resources that will help you in 349 00:18:52,960 --> 00:18:56,080 Speaker 1: your everyday life and faith. You can check out Nicoleuness 350 00:18:56,080 --> 00:18:58,960 Speaker 1: dot com slash real Talk all right, everyone, talk with 351 00:18:59,000 --> 00:18:59,600 Speaker 1: you next week. 352 00:19:03,520 --> 00:19:06,119 Speaker 2: How to Study the Bible with Nicole Unice is a 353 00:19:06,160 --> 00:19:09,600 Speaker 2: production of Live Audio and Salem Media. If you like 354 00:19:09,640 --> 00:19:12,120 Speaker 2: what you heard today, please take a second to rate 355 00:19:12,160 --> 00:19:15,359 Speaker 2: and review the podcast in your favorite podcast app so 356 00:19:15,400 --> 00:19:17,600 Speaker 2: that more listeners like you can find the show. 357 00:19:18,440 --> 00:19:19,639 Speaker 1: For more faith filled 358 00:19:19,720 --> 00:19:31,240 Speaker 2: Inspirational podcasts, visit us at liveaudio dot com.