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April 13, 2003: Passion/Palm Sunday
Sermon by Pastor J. T. Kim

AMAZING LOVE

(Mark 14:1-9, NRSV)

[1] It was two days before the Passover and the festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him; [2] for they said, �Not during the festival, or there may be a riot among the people.� [3] While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper as he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head. [4] But some were there who said to one another in anger, �Why was the ointment wasted in this way? [5] For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii,- and the money given to the poor.� And they scolded her. [6] But Jesus said, �Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has performed a good service for me. [7] For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish; but you will not always have me. [8] She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial. [9] Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.�

One of the most stunning and heart-warming stories we heard from the Iraq War would be the story of �Saving Private Jessica Lynch.�

A 19-year-old PFC (Private First Class) Jessica Lynch had entered Iraq as a clerk in a supply unit that had the misfortune to take a wrong turn in the desert.

But she left it last week as the one enlisted soldier almost every American, maybe the whole world, could recognize by sight � the first U.S. prisoner of war to be rescued from behind enemy lines since World War II.

It was joyful news for all Americans, and, especially, Jessica�s family and those who live in the tiny town, Palestine, West Virginia. Church bells rang and the roadside signs said: �THANK YOU GOD FOR SAVING JESSIE! PRAYER BRINGS MIRACLES HOME.�

However, the people of Jessica�s hometown could not celebrate too much �because the helicopters that brought her out alive also retrieved the badly burned dead bodies of at least 9 other American soldiers who had disappeared outside An Nasiriya in the early days of the war.

And there were many other soldiers who were brave and selfless and sacrificed themselves for the country. There are gone now, but they are honored and not forgotten.

Anyhow, according to yesterday�s news, Jessica Lynch came back to the United States after she underwent a week of treatment at an U.S. military hospital in western Germany.

I would say she is a very brave woman.

It�s NOT because how faithfully she fought in the war as a soldier. It�s because she was faithful to her life.

At the age of 19, she had planned her life and lived it. She had set her life goals and was trying to do her best.

Palestine, West Virginia, is a town so small, poor, and remote that Jessica never set foot in a shopping mall until she was a senior in high school. She joined the Army partly to get money for college, intending to teach kindergarten when she returns home, and partly to see the world.

Her dreams came true � West Virginia�s Governor Bob Wise offered her full scholarship to any college in the state system. Moreover, she became to be known as one of the American heroes to the whole world!

I hear that Hollywood wants to make a movie out of her story. I can guess the title would be �Saving Private Lynch.� From this morning�s Gospel of Mark, I read a story of another brave woman.

The chapter 14 of Mark begins the Passion story of Jesus Christ. Sandwiched between verses 1-2 and 10-11 is this beautiful little story of the anointing of Jesus.

This story is one of the few that are told in all four Gospels. Jesus had already made a triumphal entry into Jerusalem on �Palm Sunday.�

He was staying outside the city at Bethany. Bethany was the hometown of Martha, Mary and Lazarus. While he was at dinner a woman came in, unbidden.

She proceeded to break open a jar of costly perfume and pour this over Jesus' head in front of all the other guests.

Her name is not mentioned in this text of Mark.

[3] While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper as he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head.

However, John 12:3 identifies her as �Mary.�

According to the Jewish custom, when guests visit, the host may pay them special honor by anointing their heads with oil. So even the poor have perfume and ointment in their homes to honor their guests in special occasions.

But some began to murmur about the cost and the waste. Why, this perfume cost enough to feed over five thousand people. And so the other guests begin to scold and berate the woman.

[4] But some were there who said to one another in anger, �Why was the ointment wasted in this way? [5] For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii,- and the money given to the poor.� And they scolded her.

Jesus, however, does not see the woman's act quite the same way the disciples do.

[6] But Jesus said, �Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has performed a good service for me. [7] For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish; but you will not always have me. [8] She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial.

Yes! Mary has done something very beautiful and loving for Jesus Christ. She has done her best for her Lord in her whole life in the most expensive way!

My brothers and sisters in Christ!

While the disciples saw her act as �WASTE,� our Lord Jesus Christ saw it as �WORSHIP.�

This is very important for all of us.

Jesus was not saying that we should neglect the poor, nor was he justifying indifference to them. He was praising Mary for her unselfish act of worship.

The essence of worshiping Christ is to regard him with utmost love, respect, and devotion and to be willing to sacrifice to him what is most precious.

In her book called Up with Worship, Anne Ortlund writes well about the act of Mary.

This is really inspiring!

�Mary broke her vase. Broke it?! How shocking. How controversial. Was everybody doing it? Was it a vase-breaking party? No. She did it all by herself.

What happened then? The obvious: all the contents were forever released. She could never hug her precious nard to herself again�

The need for Christian everywhere (nobody is exempt) is to be broken. The vase has to be smashed! Christians have to let the life out! It will fill the room with sweetness. And the congregation will all be broken shards, mingling together for the first time�

If you know one another as broken people, you�re ready to get on with a church service.�

Breaking everything she got � it was love and worship to the Lord!

No wonder Jesus says in v. 9:

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

Just as Mary broke her jar of perfume out of her love, we should break ours also!

Now, here, I would like you to do one of the simplest applications of this love. This action would be the very first time I ever asked � and maybe the last time.

So please follow my instructions.

Please get up and share the peace of Christ with the people around you.

After that, please take your all belongings, including bulletins, move at least five pews either front or back. And show the same sign with the people as you switch the seats there. Please make sure your new seats are at least five pews away from the seats you normally sit.

How are you feeling as you enjoy your new seats?

Many times we don�t want to get out of our �comfort zone.� As Christians, we need to break our �earthly� habits that distract our worship.

Yes, Mary broke her most expensive jar of perfume!

But Jesus Christ gave His whole life for us!

Comparing His �amazing love,� our so-called �sacrifice� seems to be indeed nothing!

His amazing love � this makes us alive.

Now I�d like to share with you one of my favorite songs. The song�s title is �Amazing Love.� The singer is Rebecca St. James and you may find the words found in your bulletin.

Amazing Love
(Music by Rebecca St. James)

Click here to play (Rebecca-St.-James---Amazing-Love.rm) media file.

I'm forgiven,
because You were forsaken,
and I'm accepted, You were condemned,
and I'm alive and well Your spirit is within me,
because You died and rose again.
(I'm forgiven)
I'm forgiven,
because You were forsaken,
and I'm accepted, You were condemned,
and I'm alive and well Your Spirit is within me,
because You died and rose again.

Amazing love, how can it be,
that You my King would die for me?
Amazing love, I know it's true,
and it's my joy to honor You.
(Amazing love)
Amazing love, how can it be,
that You my King would die for me?
Amazing love, I know it's true,
and it's my joy to honor You.
In all I do I honor You.

(I�m forgiven)
I�m forgiven,
because You were forsaken,
and I'm accepted, You were condemned,
and I'm alive and well Your Spirit is within me,
because You died and rose again.

Amazing love,
how can it be,
that You my King would die for me,
Amazing love,
I know it's true,
and it's my joy to honor You.
(Amazing love)
Amazing love,
How can it be,
That You my King would die for me?
Amazing love,
I know it's true,
And it's my joy to honor You.
In all I do I honor You

You are my King,
You are my King,
Jesus, You are my King,
Jesus, You are my King,

Amazing love,
How can it be,
That You my King would die for me?
Amazing love,
I know it's true,
And its my joy to honor You.
(Amazing love)
Amazing love,
How can it be,
That You my King would die for me,
Amazing love,
I know it's true,
And its my joy to honor You
In all I do I honor You.

In all I do I honor You.
(CCLI #110647)

You have settled down in your new seats. And you have enjoyed the song, �Amazing Love.� And now as I close my sermon, I have an announcement to make - officially.

In Methodist churches, this is NOT a �shock and awe� news. So just relax!

My Bishop of California-pacific Annual Conference has given me a new pastoral assignment!

As of July 1st this year, I will be newly appointed to Park Hill United Methodist Church in Chula Vista in San Diego District.

I have been serving this Barstow First United Methodist Church since July 1, 1999. Actually, I had requested for my re-appointment at Barstow for at least another year; but the Bishop and the Cabinet want me to move and be used by God for another church. In this case, I believe that it is not my will but God�s and that I must respond to this call.

For me, wherever I go, I will do my best as a servant of God.

For you, I strongly encourage you to continue to be a faithful and loving congregation � no matter who is going to be your new pastor. Remember - this is YOUR church and God�s church!

And the Head of this church is Jesus Christ. Each and every one of you is His body!

With His amazing love and grace, He will always be with you, guide you, and love you.

I�m not leaving yet. I�m still your Pastor through the month of June.

But I must say this to you now: I love you all and bless you all. (Amen)



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