Fourth Sunday of Easter
04/30/23
Text: Psalm 23
Title: Whose Shepherd is He?
 
Today is Good Shepherd Sunday. It is that Sunday when we read all those beautiful texts about Jesus being our Good Shepherd. I have to be honest with you; I had decided not to speak to you today about the 23 Psalm; you probably memorized it at some time or other early in your life.
 
How often, especially if you are older, have you pulled the Bible down from its shelf in a moment of crisis, dusted it off, and read the 23rd Psalm? That Psalm has provided many a person with comfort. That Psalm has become a frantic cry of our hearts when we are desperate when all else has failed.
 
That is why it is good for us to return to it this morning; savoring and pondering each line when we are not in crisis brings much in the way of rewards, for it promises so much.
 
Join me in saying the first line. “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”  Think about what you just confessed. It is quite a claim, after all! How could you dare make such a bold statement, a claim bordering on spiritual pride, even arrogance; the LORD, God, the Creator of the Universe, the God of the Exodus, is my shepherd! Can we make such a claim?
 
Israel could; that is for sure. The LORD was indeed Israel’s shepherd, as Israel made its way out of Egypt, out of slavery, and onto the land promised to them forever, with the LORD, yes the LORD, shepherding them with mighty acts of salvation. When Israel was in the wilderness, Israel wanted for nothing; Israel lacked nothing. The LORD provided what Israel needed: manna for food, water out of a rock, leadership from Moses, correction when straying off to golden calves, and political rebellion. The clothes on their backs did not wear out; the sandals on their feet did not rot away. There is no doubt that God provided for Israel as a shepherd provides for sheep. They could call him, “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.” God was Moses’ shepherd; God was Israel’s shepherd. 
 
So, who can make this claim, “The Lord is my shepherd.”.?  Israel and Moses certainly could. David could too, and in fact, did. God was David’s shepherd. When you think of it, many people throughout what we call the Bible could and did pray, “The Lord is my shepherd.” 
 
We have what the letter to the Hebrews calls a great cloud of witnesses, who were led, shepherded, and provided for by the LORD when they were reduced to nothing. Deborah and Barak, Gideon, laying out his fleece, all guided to take on the mighty Philistine charioteers and prevail. We see Ruth clinging to the faith of her mother-in-law, leaving her country, her kindred, and her parents’ house. The prophets: Isaiah; Jeremiah, no more than a child, yet speaking the truth to power, and being imprisoned in a dry well for his trouble, brought out again by the intervention of those who had ears to hear God speaking through him.
 
There are a lot of people in the Old Testament who could make that claim. We could keep listing off names until; finally we got to David’s direct descendant, the one we call our Lord, Jesus Christ. Jesus could pray this prayer as he lived his life, suffered, and died on the cross, for he knew the LORD was his shepherd.
 
 The first apostles surely laid claim to, “The LORD is my shepherd.”  They could lay claim to, “The LORD is my shepherd even as they cowered behind locked doors, for it was then that the risen Lord, Jesus, the Good Shepherd was there among them, showing them his hands and his side, sending them forth to proclaim the Good News to a world hungry for it.
 
Millions, maybe even billions of people in the past, have made this bold claim, “The LORD is my shepherd?”  Can we move beyond reciting, yet barely daring to believe these verses as words we were required to memorize as children? How, and when, do these words, “The LORD is my shepherd,” become not just words in the Bible, not just some words we memorized when we were young, but your words, my words? How do I lay claim to these words and make them mine? I think it is absolutely critical to our faith life that we, too, understand that “The LORD is my shepherd” are our words, our statement of faith.
 
Let’s look at what comes after the psalmist makes his claim, “The LORD is my shepherd.”  I will, the psalmist says (I am going to paraphrase this), lie down in green pastures. I will indeed find myself besides, not troubled waters, but still waters. My soul shall be restored. I will discover the right paths, and even in the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I will fear no evil, for the LORD, who is indeed my shepherd, will lead me.
There is no doubt that the writer of this Psalm makes a bold claim in the first verse: “The LORD is my shepherd.” 
 
But then the bold claims stop. It has to; for you see, from that point forward, everything in Psalm 23 is about God’s perfect, holy will. Those green pastures might not be; in fact, they probably will not be the pastures I sought out or constructed; the LORD will lead me to them.
 
Those quiet still waters, the LORD will take me there. In my own wisdom, I have no clue where they are or how to find them. I cannot find my way to them any more than sheep can when they are alone. In making such a bold claim, “The Lord is my Shepherd,” we must understand that we are like sheep; poor, ignorant, and naturally wandering sheep.
 
And therein lies the proverbial rub for us people of this postmodern world, this self-sufficient, independent culture. Deep down, if we are honest with ourselves, we would instead wander in the wilderness than admit that we even need a shepherd. We hold in contempt the very idea that any God worthy of the name, worthy of us, would stoop to be something so lowly as a shepherd.
 
We do not want a “shepherd” anyway; we want a warrior-king to turn us into a triumphant army of which we will be co-commanders. At the very least, we want a physical healer and wealth-gather. Jesus as a shepherd just does not fit that picture, and so we keep trying to remake our Lord into something he is not.
 
If we would lay claim to this claim, “The Lord is my shepherd.”, a claim made by so many throughout the centuries, we also need to lay claim to our absolute need for God. If I would pray, “The LORD is my shepherd,” I have to relinquish my claim that I will find my way forward on my own. If I would have the LORD as my shepherd, I have to let go of my expectation that I will find pastures for myself; that we, with our technology and pull ourselves up by our bootstraps, “can-do” spirit supply all our needs, that is until we can’t.
 
Are you ready to let go, so you can truly claim, “The Lord is my shepherd”? If you are, just let go. Rest in the presence of the LORD. Seek His guidance in prayer. Let go and let the LORD do what he came to do, forgive, comfort, and lead.
In humbly confessing that Jesus is our shepherd, a shepherd we desperately need, we do not need to fear evil, or anything else, for Jesus, our Good Shepherd, will lead us forward to green pastures and still waters. He will take us down the right path, even if our right path takes us into the Valley of the Shadow of Death. That is God’s promise. Amen. 

​ 
Easter 3 Series A
4-23-23
Acts 2:14a, 36-41; Psalm 116:1-3, 10-17; 1 Peter 1:17-23; Luke 24:13-35
 
When strange things happen, what do you do? When hard things happen, to whom do you turn? There is so much in the world and in the human experience that is confusing, troubling, or concerning, and we each have different tools and habits to get through conundrums. When life’s little questions arise, like, “What should I eat for dinner?” “Did I remember my sister’s birthday?” or “What is the meaning of the resurrected Christ?” we all use different tools and practices to muddle through to an answer. Maybe not the answer, but one that helps us now (breakfast for dinner is always acceptable). Whether by intention or negligence, our habits and disciplines always impact how we make meaning out of mystery.
 
The community of Christ-followers had much mystery through which to muddle in the post-Easter life of the church. Making meaning out of something as incomprehensible as the death and resurrection of the Messiah is a big deal! Making meaning requires the quiet pause of reflection – noticing what we see, hear, smell, feel, and taste. What just happened? Who was involved? How did I feel? But it also requires action, a pivot, a new hypothesis, and a directive. Acting without reflecting is walking in circles; reflecting without acting is digging ourselves into a bunker. Combined, action/reflection/action can lead us into deeper and juicier vocations, relationships, and meaning. The iterative process can help us answer the “So what?” question– what does this matter to me, how does this change me, and what are the implications in my own life?
 
When we’ve all recovered from the emotional roller coaster that is Holy Week and Easter, when the Easter Peeps are stale, and the bunny cake, if any, is left over is molding in the back of the fridge when our Lenten disciplines feel as long ago and forgotten as our New Year’s resolutions, how have we changed? What is the “So What?” What is the meaning of the Resurrection in our lives? To find out, let us follow the example of our scripture to act and reflect in the community of our congregation.
 
In the gospel story, we read in Luke today, we zoom into the scene of two people walking to Emmaus. They had probably gone to Jerusalem for Passover. It’s a long walk home, and they are discussing everything that happened over the weekend. The events and rumors that transpired over the Passover holiday, including the crucifixion of Jesus, were wild and widespread, and they thought it strange that the person walking beside them hadn’t heard.
 
The events had also been hard, confusing, and mysterious, and the scripture says, “They stood still, looking sad.” They explained to the stranger what they knew: A man named Jesus from Nazareth was mighty in action and preaching. They hoped Jesus would redeem Israel, but instead, he died in a crucifixion arranged by the religious leaders. And now something else weird had happened– some women they knew said they had met angels at the empty tomb, angels who said Jesus was still alive. All of this was mystifying. They had experienced a weekend of action. And now they were on a walk, reflecting.
 
The stranger-on-the-road-who-is-actually-Jesus responds with, essentially, a Bible study. He walks with them, talks about the scriptures, and interprets them from Moses and beyond. When the trio arrives at the village, the friends persuade Jesus to stay with them, maybe out of hospitality and concern for him, maybe because what he had to say was interesting and helped them process the weekend, and there they shared a simple supper. And perhaps it was the way he blessed the food or explained the scripture, or maybe they saw the wounds in his hands as he passed out the bread, but they suddenly knew who they were with. And he was gone when they realized that this was the Messiah. “Were not our hearts burning within us?” they asked each other.
 
With the action of the Passover celebration behind them, the disciples were able to reflect through kinship, scripture, and a meal. And out of that reflection and pause came a reveal, an insight, and then action. The disciples had just walked to a new village, but the meaning revealed to them gave them enough energy to return to where they had come from and tell others about their meeting with Christ. “He had been made known to them in breaking the bread.” By acting and reflecting, meaning was made from the conversation, the scripture, and the meal.
 
Do you think these disciples felt differently now that they had seen Christ themselves? How did their new sense of meaning and understanding change their lives, direction, and relationships? They shared their experiences with other disciples and were changed. While we are not told, hopefully, the disciples’ transformation led to action, reflection, and action of others around them. Do you think people believed their experience, just like the disciples had been “astounded” after hearing from the women who witnessed the empty tomb?

Most of Acts 2 is a sermon given by Peter, and we arrive at today’s lectionary selection at the conclusion of it. What comes before Peter’s spontaneous sermon is important because it’s the day of Pentecost: the sound of a violent wind, tongues of fire, and suddenly speaking in different languages, all enabled by the Holy Spirit. The crowds have lived through a great action, and Peter stands up to help the community reflect on it.
 
Like Jesus in the story from the gospel, Peter uses the Holy Scriptures as the basis of his speech. In the earlier parts of the account, Peter returns to the prophet Joel, who wrote that God’s promise, blessing, and outpouring of the Spirit is on all people, not just some: “Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21). Peter tells the crowd they are at fault for Jesus’s crucifixion and reminds them that Jesus cannot remain bound by death. He testifies that he has seen the resurrected Jesus and that the presence of the Spirit at Pentecost is the work of the risen Christ.
 
Then we get to Acts 2:36, today’s assigned reading. The people have experienced the Pentecost action, reflected with Peter using the Holy Scriptures, and now are called to act. They ask, “What should we do?” And Peter says, “Repent, and be baptized.” Peter does not simply remind them that they are perfect and loved by God and covered in grace (although they are); he also calls on them to act with conviction and sacrament. God saves, but the people must receive the Spirit through repentance and faith, faith leading to action such as baptism. Turn toward God through repentance and express your belief and trust in God through baptism.
 
The message is so true and timely for us today. We cannot stop with belief, although we receive the grace and love of God just by being us. We are also called by our Baptismal Covenant, by our community, by our scriptures, and by the example of Jesus to act, to reflect together, and then repent and live our lives in a way so full of the Spirit; people ask us about it.
 
It’s not an if/then– if you repent and are baptized, you will be saved– but a “So what?” I am saved, and so I can live without fear, proclaiming the gospel in word and deed. In his letter to the early church, written in the same decades as the book of Acts, Peter says, “Jesus was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory so that your faith and hope are in God. Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;” Put simply, the Holy Spirit through Peter’s words   is saying, “You are loved, and so love.”
 
The Psalmist collects all these intentions to act because we have been saved: “I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.” May we all do so, not because we must, but because we have, just like the two men going home that day, have taken action by reading the Word of God, reflected on what it said, and been moved to action again, and again, and again, together with God and each other. Amen. 

​Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today we have gathered together to reflect on the most significant event in human history, the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. This day, known as Good Friday, marks the day when Jesus willingly gave his life on the cross to redeem humanity from sin and death.
The events of Good Friday are challenging to comprehend. Jesus, the Son of God, was betrayed by one of his disciples, arrested, beaten, and sentenced to death by crucifixion. He was mocked and ridiculed, yet he never wavered in his love for us.
As we reflect on the cross, we must remember the incredible sacrifice that Jesus made for us. He endured immense physical and emotional pain, yet he did it all out of love for us. His death has allowed us to be forgiven and have a new life in Him.
We see a pattern of sacrifice and atonement for sin in the Old Testament. Animals were sacrificed as a way of making amends for wrongdoing. But Jesus' death on the cross was different. He was the perfect sacrifice, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Through his death, he made atonement for our sins once and for all.
As we come forward to drive a nail into the cross, a symbol of our personal responsibility for his suffering and death, let us reflect on the cross, remembering the depth of God's love for us. The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 5:8, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." God's love for us is not based on our merit or worthiness but on his infinite grace and mercy.
Through the cross, we are also reminded of the incredible price that was paid for our salvation. Jesus endured unimaginable suffering so we could be free from sin and eternal death. We must never take this gift for granted but always strive to live in a way that honors Jesus and his sacrifice.
Finally, as we reflect on the cross, we must also remember that this is not the end of the story. Jesus did not remain in the tomb but rose from the dead on the third day, demonstrating that death has been defeated and offering us the sure hope of eternal life.
As we leave this place today, let us carry with us the knowledge of God's incredible love for us and the depth of the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross. May we live our lives in a way that honors Him, and may we always remember that through His death and resurrection, we have been given new life in Him. Amen. 

​Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today we have gathered together to reflect on the most significant event in human history, the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. This day, known as Good Friday, marks the day when Jesus willingly gave his life on the cross to redeem humanity from sin and death.
The events of Good Friday are challenging to comprehend. Jesus, the Son of God, was betrayed by one of his disciples, arrested, beaten, and sentenced to death by crucifixion. He was mocked and ridiculed, yet he never wavered in his love for us.
As we reflect on the cross, we must remember the incredible sacrifice that Jesus made for us. He endured immense physical and emotional pain, yet he did it all out of love for us. His death has allowed us to be forgiven and have a new life in Him.
We see a pattern of sacrifice and atonement for sin in the Old Testament. Animals were sacrificed as a way of making amends for wrongdoing. But Jesus' death on the cross was different. He was the perfect sacrifice, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Through his death, he made atonement for our sins once and for all.
As we come forward to drive a nail into the cross, a symbol of our personal responsibility for his suffering and death, let us reflect on the cross, remembering the depth of God's love for us. The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 5:8, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." God's love for us is not based on our merit or worthiness but on his infinite grace and mercy.
Through the cross, we are also reminded of the incredible price that was paid for our salvation. Jesus endured unimaginable suffering so we could be free from sin and eternal death. We must never take this gift for granted but always strive to live in a way that honors Jesus and his sacrifice.
Finally, as we reflect on the cross, we must also remember that this is not the end of the story. Jesus did not remain in the tomb but rose from the dead on the third day, demonstrating that death has been defeated and offering us the sure hope of eternal life.
As we leave this place today, let us carry with us the knowledge of God's incredible love for us and the depth of the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross. May we live our lives in a way that honors Him, and may we always remember that through His death and resurrection, we have been given new life in Him. Amen. 

​ 
Maundy Thursday 2023
Title: A Change of Focus

In preparation for Good Friday, we have gathered here tonight to remember that night when Jesus used two-letter words that permanently changed the meaning of the Passover feast. From that time on, the Passover meal is no longer to be done in remembrance of God’s delivery from Egypt, as much as we should remember that deliverance, but in remembrance of Jesus’ death as he rescued us from slavery to sin. It is now a new covenant God made with his people, which surpasses the old covenant.

Just a few days earlier, Jesus had entered the city of Jerusalem. The people had adored him, for he would free them from the Romans. It was going to be a new beginning, and it was, but not the beginning they thought they needed. That first day that Jesus entered the city was beautiful, but it did not take long for them to realize that this Jesus was not who they thought he was.

Most of the religious community turned against him because he was upsetting how things worked. It was not what they had been doing, and they did not like it. They could see that if the people followed Jesus, their power would be lost, and when that was lost, they would also lose their prestige and wealth. They had to get rid of him permanently. But they were not the only ones turning against him, for the people were fast deserting him, even his disciples that night would deny him and flee, all because a dead Jesus could not be the king that would free them from the Romans.

Amid this, Jesus, knowing what would happen to him that night, wanted some time with his disciples. He wanted to be in communion with them. As he stated elsewhere in God’s Holy Word, he would not celebrate the Supper until he came back on the last day when he would call all people out of their graves, those who trusted in him to everlasting life with him, those who rejected his love to everlasting life without him.

So that night, he spoke new words at the Passover. He spoke of his body being the sacrifice instead of the lamb. There is no doubt that the disciples were confused that night, for they, too, did not understand Jesus’ mission. Even though his death had not yet taken place, Jesus was giving them a way to remember his death, for instead of remembering the blood of the lamb that was spread across the top of the door saving those inside from the avenging angel that took the lives of all firstborn creatures both animal and human, They are to remember Jesus’ blood that was going to be spilled upon the cross to protect those who believe in him from the wrath of God.

It was a confusing couple of days for the disciples. Things were not turning out as they had planned. Jesus was not celebrating the Passover, the same way as the rest of the Jewish people. It was different, and I am sure that they were troubled by some parts of it, mainly when he said, as he held up the bread, “This is my body.” And when he held up the cup, “This is my blood.”

In saying those words, Jesus is saying that no longer are people to look forward to the forgiveness of their sins yet to be secured. No longer are people to look forward to a Savior to come, for he has come. His death is the final sacrifice that all the sacrifices for thousands of years pointed toward. In these simple yet life-giving words he said, “This is my body” and “This is my blood,” and in doing so, he attaches his forgiveness to the Supper.

Tonight he invites you to that same table where he says to us, “This is my body, which is given for you and this is my blood which is the new covenant in my blood.” We don’t understand how it can be, but those words come from the same one who spoke at creation, “Let there be,” and there was. We don’t understand how his words accomplished it, but it happened, and it was good. He is the same one who stood at the wedding in Cana and changed water into wine. He is the same one who spoke words, and people were healed, forgiven, and brought back to life. When God speaks, things happen.

It is this same God who, at the Passover, said, “This is my body, and this is my blood.” He is here now in the sip of wine and wafer that we receive in his Supper . We don’t know how it is. We don’t understand it. We believe it because he has said it is so. What God says he does, he does, and we rejoice in the beautiful gift he has given us.

So when you partake of his Supper in just a few minutes, remember that the blood he shed is the blood of forgiveness that we so desperately need, for without the shedding of his blood, there is no forgiveness, salvation, or eternal life. Amen.

4-2-23
Matthew 26:1-13 (Anointed for Burial)
Today as we celebrate Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, we begin Holy Week. This week we focus on Christ and the cross and the events leading up to Good Friday and Easter. As we shall see, the cross was not a surprise for Jesus. Jesus went willingly to the cross. Jesus allowed the Father to lead him to the cross, where he would die for our sins. My prayer is that as we follow Jesus’ path to the cross this week, the cry of your heart is: “Lead me to the cross where my Savior died so that I also may take up my cross and follow you.”
As we enter these final chapters of Matthew, we stand on holy ground. These chapters tell us the final events leading up to the cross of Christ. The week approaching Christ’s death and resurrection is the most critical in human history. Matthew begins his narrative of passion with an anointing, an extravagant act of love by someone who understood that Christ’s death was near.
The setting for this beautiful act of love is Jesus’ prediction of his death in verses 1-5. We begin with verses 1-2:
When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, “As you know, the Passover is two days away – and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”
In verse one, He tells the disciples that Passover is only two days away. They know the Feast is near but don’t understand that the fulfillment of all the Passovers that were ever celebrated over all the years is now only two days away. Jesus, the Passover Lamb, will be sacrificed.
This is the fourth time Jesus has told the disciples he will suffer and die in Jerusalem, but this is the first time he gives them a specific time frame. With this statement, Jesus shows his willingness to submit to the Father in going to his death. He embraces God’s plan for his life.
The religious leaders want to arrest and kill Jesus, but they are afraid of the crowds. There were over two million people in Jerusalem for the Feast, most of them pilgrims from outside the city. Jesus had just raised Lazarus from the dead. Earlier in the week, he rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday to the praise and acclaim of the crowds. They know they can’t march up to him and arrest him during the celebrations, or they may prompt a riot. So they have to be very careful how they proceed. They need to be secretive about it. They plan to arrest Jesus after the Feast. But as it turns out, Judas will give them a perfect opportunity, so they will arrest Jesus during the Feast – precisely as Jesus foretold.
This is the setting for all that takes place in the following two chapters. Jesus predicts the time of his death and begins his walk to the cross. Jesus is in the town of Bethany having dinner when a woman comes and anoints Jesus’ The gospel of John tells us that this is Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus.
Matthew tells us that the perfume Mary used was very expensive. The anointing of oil on the head was reserved for the guest of honor, accompanied by the washing of feet. But instead of common household oil, Mary uses this costly perfume. And she not only anoints Jesus’ head, but she also pours it out on his head. Those there that day would consider this reckless, careless abandon. The word “Christ” or “Messiah” means the anointed one, and Mary anoints her Messiah with this extravagant act of love.
The disciples watch in disbelief as Mary pours this expensive perfume on Jesus’ head, and they are offended at the waste of money. Wouldn’t it have been better to sell the perfume and give the money to people experiencing poverty?
It is a reasonable objection. If we were there, any of us would have said or at least thought the same thing. The disciples look at the perfume running down Jesus’ hair and onto the floor, and all they can think is, “What a waste!”
Knowing this, Jesus asked them, “Why are you bothering this woman? Jesus defends Mary as having done a beautiful thing for him. Jesus saw a beautiful demonstration of love where the disciples saw only waste. The cross was looming soon, and Jesus told the disciples that this woman anointed him with perfume to prepare him for burial.
Simply put, Mary gets it. The disciples still don’t understand that Jesus must die, but Mary does. She has spent time at the feet of Jesus, listening and learning from him. She knows what Jerusalem means for her Lord. This may be the last time she sees Jesus, so she gives him her best. She breaks open the alabaster jar and anoints him. She wipes his feet with her hair. She shows Jesus an extravagant love that leaves you breathless. And Jesus calls it a beautiful thing.
Jesus said that this story of Mary’s extravagant love would be told along with the preaching of the gospel, and this is the key to the whole incident. The anointing is inseparable from the gospel because God showed his extravagant love for us on the cross. Saint John tells us, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
Mary anointed the sacred head of Jesus that was wounded for you and me. She anointed his feet that were pierced for you and me. She anointed his body that was pierced by a spear for you and me. As Jesus said “Mary’s extravagant love for Christ would be shared along with God’s extravagant love for us.”
Our love for God will always be in proportion to our understanding of his love for us. Do you understand the price Jesus paid for you at the cross? Do you realize how much God loves you? If you do, then it will have a profound effect on your love for God. You see, the gospel demands a response. God showed his extravagant love for us when he sent his Son to die on the cross. God gave his very best for us, and so we should give our very best for him.
And so I ask you this morning, what will you sacrifice for Christ? What will you pour out for him? Love and worship for Jesus is far more important than anything else, even more, important than helping the poor, which both God and Christ command us to do. Jesus is the supremely valuable one who is worthy of all your worship.
So what is your alabaster jar of perfume this morning? What is most important or valuable in life to you? Is it your family? Your children? Your spouse? Your career? Is it money? Influence? Approval? Friends? Would you give it all away for Christ? Will you give it all to him this morning?
CONCLUSION: No sacrifice is too great for Jesus. Mary showed her extravagant love for Jesus when she broke open her alabaster jar and poured out the perfume for Christ. God showed his extravagant love for us when Jesus poured out his life and blood for our sins. When we truly understand God’s extravagant love for us, we will show it by bringing him our very best and pouring it out before him in worship, love, and praise.
Frederick Bruner describes this passage in Matthew as a Call to Worship as we approach the passion narrative that follows. He writes: “It is a portal leading into the Passion, which says, ‘The way to enter this holy ground is like this woman – with a heart full of devotion.’ It is a Call to Worship.” (Bruner, Matthew, Volume 2, p. 945)
May we enter this Holy Week with a heart full of devotion and praise for Jesus our Savior as we gather together at the foot of the cross on Thursday and Friday at 7 pm.