Max Churm

Mark 13:28-37

A costly offering. A calculated betrayal.

10/18/26

1 It was now two days before Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The leading priests and the teachers of religious law were still looking for an opportunity to capture Jesus secretly and kill him.

2 “But not during the Passover celebration,” they agreed, “or the people may riot.”

3 Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard. She broke open the jar and poured the perfume over his head.

4 Some of those at the table were indignant. “Why waste such expensive perfume?” they asked.

5 “It could have been sold for a year’s wages and the money given to the poor!” So they scolded her harshly.

6 But Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. Why criticize her for doing such a good thing to me?

7 You will always have the poor among you, and you can help them whenever you want to. But you will not always have me.

8 She has done what she could and has anointed my body for burial ahead of time.

9 I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.”

10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests to arrange to betray Jesus to them.

11 They were delighted when they heard why he had come, and they promised to give him money. So he began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus. — Mark 14:1–11 NLT

The value you place on Jesus shapes the life you live.

Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself. — John 12:6 NLT

“Jesus, I give you the interpretation of all the events in my life and ask that You would open my eyes to see like You see.”

Mary recognized the infinite worth of Jesus, and it led her to extravagant devotion. Judas measured Jesus by what he could gain, and he disguised his selfishness as righteousness.

Loving Jesus and loving people aren’t competing priorities. Our love for Jesus should be what motivates and shapes our love for others.

Judas…went to the leading priests to arrange to betray Jesus to them. — Mark 14:10

Mary’s love for Jesus led her to radical devotion.

She gave up a finite treasure to worship the Infinite One.

Judas’s love for money led him to radical betrayal.

He gave up the Infinite One to gain a finite treasure.

The value you place on Jesus shapes the life you live.

In our devotion and love for Jesus are we more like Judas or more like Mary?

Are we regularly and intentionally making time to be with Jesus?

Are we regularly and intentionally slowing down and quieting ourselves to listen to the Holy Spirit?

Are we regularly and intentionally spending time in Scripture, asking the Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus to us?

Are we regularly and intentionally worshiping Him, both personally and together with other believers?

• Our attention.
• Our time.
• Our money and possessions.
• Our love.
• Our service.

I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you; I will praise your name, Lord, for it is good. — Psalm 54:6 NIV

Steven Verwey

8/23/2026

Psalms 115 1-8
1 Not to us, Lord, not to us
but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness.

2 Why do the nations say,
“Where is their God?”
3 Our God is in heaven;
he does whatever pleases him.
4 But their idols are silver and gold,
made by human hands.
5 They have mouths, but cannot speak,
eyes, but cannot see.
6 They have ears, but cannot hear,
noses, but cannot smell.
7 They have hands, but cannot feel,
feet, but cannot walk,
nor can they utter a sound with their throats.
8 Those who make them will be like them,
and so will all who trust in them.

Romans 1 21-25

21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

Psalms 115 9-18

9 All you Israelites, trust in the Lord—
he is their help and shield.
10 House of Aaron, trust in the Lord—
he is their help and shield.
11 You who fear him, trust in the Lord—
he is their help and shield.

12 The Lord remembers us and will bless us:
He will bless his people Israel,
he will bless the house of Aaron,
13 he will bless those who fear the Lord—
small and great alike.

14 May the Lord cause you to flourish,
both you and your children.
15 May you be blessed by the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

16 The highest heavens belong to the Lord,
but the earth he has given to mankind.
17 It is not the dead who praise the Lord,
those who go down to the place of silence;
18 it is we who extol the Lord,
both now and forevermore.

Praise the Lord.