May 21, 2006, Lesson: Matthew 26.6-13

Sermon Title: One Woman's Love

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INTRODUCTION:

Blonde Flying First Class (1)

There is a blonde on a plane to New York. She is sitting in the first class section, but her ticket says that she should be in the coach section. A flight attendant realizes the blonde's mistake and asks her politely to move. The blonde won't move. All she says is, "I'm blonde, I'm beautiful, and I'm going to New York."

The flight attendant goes and tells all of the other flight attendants. They all try to persuade the blonde to move, but she won't move. All she says is, "I'm blonde, I'm beautiful, and I'm going to New York."

The flight attendants go and tell the pilot about the obnoxious blonde. They tell him the only thing that she says. He puts the plane on auto-pilot and whispers something in the blonde's ear.

Immediately, she gets up and moves to her normal seat. Then the pilot goes back to fly the plane. The flight attendants are all very curious about how the pilot made the blonde move so quickly.

They ask him and he says, "Oh, it was easy. All I had to do was tell her that the first class section wasn't going to New York!"

  1. I do not, as a rule, tell what are called Dumb Blonde Jokes.

    1. I have too much respect for people.

    2. I find them dumb and demeaning.

    3. But there are those who enjoy the telling and perhaps are guilty of a serious insensitivity to other people.

    4. Which leads me to the title of a religious radio program that I like very much.

  2. Dr. Charles R. Swindoll is the long-time pastor of First Evangelical Free Church, in Fullerton, California.

He has a radio ministry called "Insight for Living."

On the web sight is a page, Our Mission (2) which reads:

"Insight for Living is committed to excellence in communicating the truths of Scripture and the person of Jesus Christ in an accurate, clear, and practical manner so that people will come to an understanding of God's plan for their lives, as well as their significant role as authentic Christians."

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MAIN BODY:

  1. There are two important words in Pastor Swindoll's program name.

    1. The first in INSIGHT.

      1. What is insight?

      2. I found two definitions that are applicable:

        1. The capacity to discern the true nature of a situation; penetration.

        2. The act or outcome of grasping the inward or hidden nature of things or of perceiving in an intuitive manner.

      3. What I wonder is this, do more people use insight or hindsight.

        1. Hindsight: "Perception of the significance and nature of events after they have occurred."

        2. Events overtake us and we do not discern either their importance or the consequences.

    2. The second is LIVING.

      1. I mean you are alive, or at least I hope that you are alive.

        1. You are here standing and sitting, talking and moving, singing and praying.

        2. But are you really alive?

      2. What is living.

In John 10:10, Jesus said, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."

        1. They may have life.

        2. This implies that people were alive but did not have life.

        3. Think of life as making living.

        4. This is necessary for our existence and survival.

        5. It puts food on the table, clothes in the closet, transportation in the garage, and entertainment in the living room, enabling kids to go to college.

      1. We make a living, but how do you really make a life?

    1. The whole of Jesus ministry was, and is, designed to help us have insight so that we might truly live a more abundant life.

      1. This is a life that is more than making a living.

      2. It is a life that is rewarding and satisfying, fulfilling and eternal.

  1. This vignette that takes place at the home of Simon the Leper.

    1. The details are sparse and spare.

    2. It is a comfortable place for Jesus.

      1. He is among friends and followers.

      2. He does not have to be so on guard.

    3. They perhaps have shared a meal.

      1. There is a sense of personal satisfaction.

      2. You know how you feel after you have eaten a good meal.

    4. They have shared in conversation.

      1. Perhaps the activities of the host.

      2. The weather.

      3. The blessings of the day.

      4. The ways in which the teachings of Jesus are impacting the people.

    5. It is a remarkable moment free from the harassment of the scribes and Pharisees.

  2. In this remarkable moment there is a remarkable event.

    1. A woman enters.

      1. She is known to them.

      2. She carries an exquisite alabaster jar of expensive ointment.

        1. It is very costly.

        2. She can afford it.

      3. She begins to pour the ointment on the head of Jesus.

    2. The disciples are outraged.

      1. They began to criticize the act of the woman.

        1. Why this waste?

        2. Why should this ointment not been sold and the money given to the poor?

      2. They do not realize that in criticizing the act, they are also criticizing the woman, the woman who is known to them.

        1. How do you think when you are being criticized?

          1. It is hard to think.

          2. It is hard to keep what you have done in equilibrium.

        2. How do you feel when being criticized?

          1. Do you feel good?

          2. No, you probably feel rotten, even when you ought not to feel anything but good.

      3. This good woman is probably feeling your feelings and more.

    3. We don't know why she did what she did.

    4. Jesus gives her gift and her actions meaning and purpose.

    5. But first he tells the gathered people to stop making trouble for the woman.

      1. Stop the criticism.

      2. Stop the blaming.

      3. Stop with the superior attitudes.

      4. Stop with the know-it-all expressions.

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  1. Jesus has a way of dealing with troublesome people.

    1. Here he is attempting to help the critics realize the results of their criticism.

      1. Critics have a tendency to, because of their nature, to be insensitive to the thoughts and feelings of others.

      2. Critics are right and righteous.

      3. Actually they may be wrong and wicked.

      4. The critic is usually only interested in the object of their criticism.

In 1995 actor Richard Harris once remarked, "Michael Caine is an over-fat, flatulent, 62-year-old windbag, now masquerading as a guru, passing off his vast limitations as pious virtues.

Caine didn't take his critics seriously. "I''m a skilled professional actor," he declared. "Whether or not I''ve any talent is beside the point."

      1. They are superior in wisdom and insight.

"Customers, in the grocery, pinch the good fruit on the shelves, not the bad fruit in the garbage can! The pinch of criticism may be the sign that your Christian convictions are showing."

--David H. C. Read

      1. Well sometimes they are wrong.

The late Indian Jesuit priest and psychologist Anthony de Mello liked to tell the story of the two taxidermists who stopped before a window in which an owl was on display. They immediately began to criticize the way it was mounted. Its eyes were not natural; its wings were not in proportion with its head; its feathers were not neatly arranged; and its feet could certainly be improved. When they finished critiquing the owl, the old owl slowly turned its head ... and winked at them.

    1. But in this case Jesus tells the disciples to cease and desist.

  1. Jesus makes the connection between the actions of the woman and his impending death and burial.

    1. She has performed a good service for me.

    2. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me.

    3. By pouring this ointment on my body she has prepared me for burial.

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CONCLUSION

  1. Jesus says that the woman will be remembered.

    1. She did what she could.

    2. She gave what she had.

Truly I tell you, wherever this good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her."

    1. I don't remember.

    2. You don't remember.

    3. But God remembers.

  1. Do you see yourself in this woman.

    1. Let the critics have their day/

      1. They criticism will not long be remembered.

      2. They will wear out their welcome and move on.

    2. So, we do what we can.

    3. So, we give what we can.

    4. It will not long be remembered, but God will remember and that is all that is important for you and me.

Amen!

1. Retrieved from: http://www.lifeisajoke.com/blonde9_html.htm

2. Retrieved from: http://www.insight.org/About/Mission.asp

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