Embracing Grace: The Cost of True Worship

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus' Sovereign Love and Sacrifice

Jesus' journey towards the cross was marked by His profound foreknowledge of the betrayal and suffering that awaited Him. Despite this, He chose to walk this path out of His immense love for humanity. This decision was not one of a victim but of a sovereign Savior who willingly embraced the cross for our redemption. His actions remind us that His love is intentional and sacrificial, offering us a bridge to God through His ultimate sacrifice. As we reflect on this, we are called to recognize the depth of His love and the intentionality behind His journey to the cross. [33:47]

"For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised." (2 Corinthians 5:14-15, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you intentionally demonstrate sacrificial love to those around you today, reflecting the love Christ has shown you?

Day 2: Extravagant Worship and Devotion

The anointing of Jesus by Mary with costly ointment serves as a powerful example of extravagant worship and devotion. This act, misunderstood by many, was recognized by Jesus as a beautiful preparation for His burial. It challenges us to consider the cost of our own worship and devotion. Are we willing to give extravagantly to God, as Mary did, or do we hold back, valuing material gain over spiritual truth? True worship often requires sacrifice and a heart fully devoted to God. [42:57]

"And David said to Araunah, 'No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing.' So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver." (2 Samuel 24:24, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you can offer more to God, not out of obligation, but as an act of extravagant worship and devotion?

Day 3: The New Covenant of Hope

During the Last Supper, Jesus institutes the New Covenant, symbolizing His body and blood given for our salvation. This covenant is unconditional, highlighting Jesus' complete sacrifice for our sins and the hope of resurrection. It calls us to remember and proclaim His death and resurrection continually. This moment is not just a ritual but a profound declaration of His impending sacrifice and the hope it brings. As we partake in this covenant, we are reminded of the hope and new life we have in Christ. [49:26]

"Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord." (Jeremiah 31:31-32, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively remember and proclaim the hope of the New Covenant in your daily life, especially in moments of doubt or despair?

Day 4: Grace in the Face of Betrayal

Despite knowing Judas' betrayal, Jesus extends grace and love, sharing a meal and washing his feet. This act of grace challenges us to examine our own hearts and recognize that Jesus offers us love and redemption, even when we fall short. His grace is not limited by our failures but is an invitation to redemption and transformation. As we reflect on this, we are encouraged to extend grace to others, even in the face of betrayal or hurt. [47:39]

"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8, ESV)

Reflection: Think of someone in your life who has hurt you. How can you begin to extend grace and forgiveness to them, following Jesus' example?

Day 5: The Promise of Restoration

Jesus' foreknowledge of Peter's denial and His promise of restoration highlight His grace and mercy. Even when we fail, Jesus is ready to restore us, reminding us that His grace is inexhaustible and always available. This promise of restoration is a testament to His unwavering love and commitment to us, even in our moments of weakness. As we reflect on this, we are invited to embrace His grace and seek restoration in our own lives. [53:37]

"He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake." (Psalm 23:3, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to seek Jesus' restoration? How can you take a step towards embracing His grace and allowing Him to restore you today?

Sermon Summary

In today's gathering, we delved into the profound narrative of Mark 14, a chapter that reveals the depth of Jesus' foreknowledge and His unwavering commitment to His mission. As we approach the Easter season, we are reminded of the immense cost Jesus willingly faced for our redemption. Despite knowing the betrayal, suffering, and crucifixion that awaited Him, Jesus walked resolutely towards His destiny, driven by His love for us. This chapter is a testament to His sovereignty and the ultimate sacrifice He made to bridge the chasm between humanity and God.

We began by reflecting on the events leading up to the Passover, where Jesus was anointed by a woman with costly ointment. This act of worship, misunderstood by many, was recognized by Jesus as a beautiful preparation for His burial. It challenges us to consider the cost of our own worship and devotion. Are we willing to give extravagantly to God, as Mary did, or are we more like Judas, who valued material gain over spiritual truth?

The narrative then shifts to the Last Supper, where Jesus institutes the New Covenant. Here, He breaks bread and shares the cup, symbolizing His body and blood, given for the salvation of many. This moment is not just a ritual but a profound declaration of His impending sacrifice and the hope of resurrection. Jesus' foreknowledge of Peter's denial and Judas' betrayal underscores His omniscience and grace. Even in the face of betrayal, Jesus extends love and mercy, offering Judas a chance for redemption.

As we prepare for Easter, let us examine our hearts. Are we like Mary, offering our all in worship? Or are we like Judas, caught in the motions without true devotion? Jesus knows our hearts and offers grace and restoration. Today is the day of salvation, a time to align our lives with His will and embrace the grace He freely gives.

Key Takeaways

1. Jesus' Foreknowledge and Love: Jesus knew the betrayal and suffering that awaited Him, yet He chose to walk towards it out of love for us. His actions remind us that He is not a victim of circumstance but the sovereign Son of God, willingly embracing the cross for our redemption. [33:47]
2. The Cost of Worship: The anointing of Jesus by Mary with costly ointment challenges us to consider the cost of our worship. True worship often requires sacrifice and devotion, as seen in Mary's act, which Jesus recognized as preparation for His burial. Are we willing to give extravagantly to God? [42:57]
3. The New Covenant: During the Last Supper, Jesus institutes the New Covenant, symbolizing His body and blood given for our salvation. This covenant is unconditional, highlighting Jesus' complete sacrifice for our sins and the hope of resurrection. It calls us to remember and proclaim His death and resurrection continually. [49:26]
4. Grace in Betrayal: Despite knowing Judas' betrayal, Jesus extends grace and love, sharing a meal and washing his feet. This act of grace challenges us to examine our own hearts and recognize that Jesus offers us love and redemption, even when we fall short. [47:39]
5. The Promise of Restoration: Jesus' foreknowledge of Peter's denial and His promise of restoration highlight His grace and mercy. Even when we fail, Jesus is ready to restore us, reminding us that His grace is inexhaustible and always available. [53:37]
** [53:37]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Announcements and Prayer
[02:30] - Introduction to Mark 14
[04:15] - Jesus' Foreknowledge and Betrayal
[07:00] - The Anointing at Bethany
[10:20] - The Cost of Worship
[13:45] - Judas' Betrayal
[16:30] - The Last Supper and New Covenant
[19:50] - Grace in Betrayal
[22:10] - Peter's Denial and Promise of Restoration
[25:00] - Examining Our Hearts
[27:30] - Call to Salvation and Prayer
[30:00] - Closing Remarks and Benediction

Sermon Clips

Jesus quite clearly knows everything. We see it really laid out in this chapter. Jesus knows that He's about to be betrayed, that the religious leaders are scheming to put Him to death, that one of His own, Judas, would betray Him for 30 pieces of silver. He knows Peter is about to utterly fail, and He knows the cross awaits, that place of agony. But He doesn't hesitate, He walks straight into it, on purpose, because He loves you. [00:33:04] (34 seconds) Edit Clip

And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at the table, a one woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. There were some who said to themselves indignantly, why was ointment wasted like that? For this ointment could have been sold for more than 300 denarii and given to the poor. And they scolded her. But Jesus said, leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. [00:35:41] (29 seconds) Edit Clip

Where others saw waste, Jesus saw worship. It was beautiful in his eyes. It reminds them that when people share the gospel, when they talk about this moment, the entire world is going to remember her. And what I find is beautiful is that we believe Mark to be the first gospel that has been written, and the last gospel that has been written then would be the gospel of John. [00:40:46] (24 seconds) Edit Clip

And on the first day of unleavened bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover? And he sent the two of his disciples and said to them, Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, The teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples? [00:44:06] (24 seconds) Edit Clip

And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing, he broke it and gave it to them and said, Take, this is my body. And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God. [00:48:46] (22 seconds) Edit Clip

As Jesus is giving thanks, and he is saying that this is my body, he knew he would be broken. He knew he was about to bleed. Yet he still offered thanks. Now, I don't know about you, but I think it's a little harder for us to give thanks in those kind of times. How many of us have blown a tire on the highway and gave God thanks for that? We don't do that. [00:49:58] (26 seconds) Edit Clip

He knows who the betrayer is. And he knows, Peter, before the rooster crows, before the sun comes up, you are going to deny me three times. But then he gives hope. But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee. It's not just about death. It's about resurrection. He's telling Peter, the devil's coming for you. The other gospels tells us that Satan has asked for permission to sift you like wheat, Peter. [00:53:14] (32 seconds) Edit Clip

Jesus, even that he's about to go to the cross, he's already planning the reunion with the disciples. He knows they're going to run. He knows Peter will break. But that is the part of grace of God that we see in Jesus. Grace is already waiting on the other side of failure. As grace is first from God, so it will continually from him, as much as light is all day long from the sun, as well as first dawn or at sun rising. [00:53:41] (28 seconds) Edit Clip

You can never exhaust the grace of God. It is not a storehouse that is ever going to run empty. It is who Jesus is. He is the giver of grace. He bestows upon us that mercy. So we've seen in this kind of blockbuster story in Genesis, or Genesis, in Mark 14, that there's a few other characters besides Jesus and the disciples. We have Mary, who poured out all that she had for Jesus. [00:54:10] (32 seconds) Edit Clip

He knows if you're more like Mary, if there's those extravagant moments of worship ahead for you, if you're willing to give everything that you have. He knows if you're like Judas, you're going through the motions, that you're really not after his heart, that you're after your own. You're following Jesus for what you can get out of him. That's why Jesus, throughout the Gospels, when he does these great miracles, He knows who he knows this young man will redeem him. [00:55:07] (27 seconds) Edit Clip

He wants people that really get it, really love him. And the Peters, people that they love Jesus, but when the times get hard, they haven't walked with him enough. They haven't matured in their faith enough. They haven't become who God is creating them to be quite yet. But he knows you completely. And regardless, you're like, well, maybe I'm not Mary, but maybe I'm Peter. I don't want to be Judas. [00:55:52] (28 seconds) Edit Clip

Regardless of what three you may be, that Jesus sees it all. He knows your sin. He's already given you the grace. He's already gone to the cross. He's already endured the wrath of the Father. He's already written your name in the Lamb's book of life. He can truly say on that cross, it is finished. So what is that costly offering that you need to give? What is it that you need to surrender? [00:56:31] (31 seconds) Edit Clip

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