The Journey

A Crazy Love

Journey to Bethany

Sunday March 3, 2024 - Pastor Richard Reaves

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Weddings! Isn't it wonderful to see two people so much in love!

Today we'll see an example of a crazy love displayed as we begin our Journey Series with a trip to a little town of Bethany just outside the city of Jerusalem..

Setting the stage

Matthew 26:6-13 (NIV): While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. "Why this waste?" they asked. "This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor." Aware of this, Jesus said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."

This incident in the life of Jesus is mentioned in three of the gospel accounts: here in Matthew 26, in Mark 14 and John 12. We learn from John that it's Mary who does the anointing, pouring the nard ointment on both Jesus head and feet and then drying Jesus' feet with her hair. Scandulous!

An extravagant waste of resources or honoring Jesus through an act of crazy love?

Remember 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV)

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Love's superiority over all other motivations

Personal experience has taught me that actions driven by fear and guilt are not an antidote to lukewarm, selfish, comfortable living. I hope you realize that the answer is love. Francis Chan Crazy Love

Love is the power we need in order to live out the commands to Love God and Love Your Neighbor.

Do you push the car or drive the car?

Only the love that God has for us can empower our ability to act in love towards others.

1 John 4:19 (NIV)

How can we experience God's love for us?

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NIV)

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

Now we can combine these truths with the greatest truth found in 1 John 4:8 (NIV)

Whoever does not love does not know God because God is love.

Because God is love:

1. God is patient with me
2. God is kind to me
3. God is not envious of my achievements
4. God does not have to boast about Himself to make me feel small
5. God does not need to put me down in boastful pride
6. God does not dishonor me
7. God does not seek His own benefit above mine
8. God does not get easily angered towards me
9. God will forget my sins and remember them no more
10. God only wants the best for me
11. God rejoices when I discover the truth
12. God always protects me
13. God always hopes the best for me
14. God always perseveres in His love for me
15. God never fails me

Pick one this week and answer the following questions:

• What does the word/phrase mean?
• Where have you seen an example of this activity lived out?
• How would this apply to how God treats you?

One example: God is kind

The example of the ant

We can each take a step today