Mark 14:3-9 3 And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. 4 There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? 5 For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. 6 But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have

Mark 14:3-9 me. 8 She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. 9 And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”

Luke 7; One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for

Luke 7;36-50 she is a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.” 41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You

Luke 7;36-50 gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Extravagant love for God… 1.is costly 2.takes simple focus 3.is motivated by His love 4.will be criticized 5.will be honored

1. Extravagant love for God is costly Mark 14:3-9 3 And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. 4 There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? 5 For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.”

1. Extravagant love for God is costly

2. Extravagant love for God takes simple focus

3. Extravagant love for God is motivated by love Luke 7:47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little. Do we realize how broken and sinful we are? Do we realize how much Jesus loves and forgives us? Are we so gripped by God’s love that we would be motivated to show extravagant love and gratitude back to Him?

4. Extravagant love for God will be criticized Mark 14:4-5 4 There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? 5 For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. Luke 7:39 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.”

5. Extravagant love for God will be honored Mark 14:6-9 6 But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. 8 She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. 9 And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”

“ Far too many of us are like the fellow who called his girlfriend up one day and said, ‘Darling, I love you! I would climb the highest mountain for you! I would swim the deepest river for you! I would fight a jungle full of lions for you! I love you! And, if it doesn’t rain tonight, I will be over to see you.’ Too often, we love the Lord when it is convenient. We love Him between 11:00 and 12:00 on Sunday. We love Him when loving Him fits within our schedule! We love Him when loving Him doesn’t get in the way of what we want to do, where we want to go

and what we want to accomplish in life. We love Him to a point, but very few ever love Him with reckless abandon. Very few ever love Him with true extravagant love! We treat His house like worship attendance is optional. We come once a week and act like God ought to be honored that we even showed up. We throw a dollar in the offering plate and think we have given. We live our lives on our own schedule and by our own rules and say we are living for the Lord. We fuss, grip and complain about everything in the world and we want everyone to know what a committed Christian we are. We are as hypocritical as the Scribes and Pharisees! May this woman’s gift make us ashamed of our tepid, self-centered, half-hearted love for the One Who did everything for us! I can’t speak for you, but this passage convicts my heart! I want to love Him with extravagant love. I want to love Him so much that He has control of me and all that I possess and all that I am. I want to love Him without shame, without fear and without foolish pride getting in the way. I want to love Him like this woman loved Him. After all, He has done as much for me, and maybe more, than He did for her!” -Alan Carr, Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Lenoir, NC.

May this woman’s gift make us ashamed of our tepid, self-centered, half-hearted love for the One Who did everything for us! I can’t speak for you, but this passage convicts my heart! I want to love Him with extravagant love. I want to love Him so much that He has control of me and all that I possess and all that I am. I want to love Him without shame, without fear and without foolish pride getting in the way. I want to love Him like this woman loved Him. After all, He has done as much for me, and maybe more, than He did for her!” -Alan Carr, Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Lenoir, NC.