Jesus Unfiltered - Love - Love... Gives!, Part 1

It's been said that you can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving. So what does that look like, especially when we're talking about loving God? When we say we love God, have you ever considered what is it He really wants us to give Him?

That's today. Welcome to this Edition of Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram. The mission of these daily programs is to intentionally disciple Christians through the Bible teaching of Chip Ingram. We're in the middle of the third volume of our series, Jesus Unfiltered, as Chip continues his in-depth study through the Gospel of John. Today he'll continue breaking down God's definition of love and explain why the act of giving is a key factor. Chip has a lot of ground to cover, so let's get going.

Go to John chapter 12 in your Bible as we join Chip with his talk. I want to begin by asking you a question that to me is one of those really, really neat questions. The question is, do you know what the three most important words in all of life are? Any three words. These are the three most important ones.

Hint. When a child hears these three words, it means I'm safe, I'm valuable, I really matter to you. Well, when you're dating someone and they hear these three words, it means you're moving to the next level of commitment. It means exclusivity, you're just the only one for me. When a friend hears these three words, it means I'm here for you, I've got your back. It's a statement of loyalty and resolve.

I'm guessing, have you figured out the three words? I love you, right? I'm going to go on record and say when a parent hears those three words, it makes your heart melt and the joy surges as little children or grown ones say, I really see what you do for me and I really appreciate you, Mom and Dad.

Four year olds say that differently than 24 year olds. When Jesus says those three words to you, when the God created all there is and the second person of the Trinity has you on the forefront of his mind and says, I love you to you, what it means is that you're wanted, that you're valuable, that you're precious, that you, just as you are sitting here today, are accepted and that as you've come into a personal relationship, he says, I will never ever leave you or forsake you. Now the second question I kind of want to ask is that, you know, when you're praying and you might say to Jesus, I love you or I love you, Father, what attitudes or what actions or what behaviors, both of the heart and your behavior, would, if Jesus was receiving an I love you from you, that he would say, oh, he or she really means it, that really resonates. Yes, I feel very loved because of those attitudes and actions and behavior. Because see, with every I love you, you know, you can just say I love you, right? We've all said it. In fact, sometimes you hang up, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love pizza.

I don't think that's what we're talking about, right? We're talking about when you say I love you to someone, and I mean it fills the depth of their heart. When you say that to Jesus, you're going to learn three specific things that when these are happening from your heart and in your life and in your relationship, he feels loved by you. So open up your notes because the answer to that question is in John chapter 12. The context of John chapter 12 is that we're chronicling, we're beginning the last week of Jesus' life on earth right before he's crucified.

It's six days before the big Passover. Thousands and thousands of people, have you heard, have you heard, have you heard what? That Lazarus guy, I mean it wasn't a coma, it wasn't like soul sleep.

I mean he was in this grave for four days. He spoke, he came out. The Messiah is here. And so you have this movement of people around Bethany and Jerusalem. At the same time, it's the Passover. And so literally 2 to 2.7 million people from all over are descending on Jerusalem. We have actual records that in one Passover, they sacrificed 256,000 lambs.

And if you just even say maybe there's at least 10 people for every lamb, you got two to two and a half million people. And so you have this bustling place. And then on top of that you have religious leaders who realize now Jesus and this movement is out of control and we need to take him out and this Lazarus is a big problem, we're going to take him out too.

That's the context of what is happening. And now I would like you to just look at the very last line. It says there are three specific events that will teach us what it means to love God with all of our heart, all of our soul, all of our mind, and all of our strength. And I'm going to introduce you to a private dinner in Jesus' honor before this happens. I'm going to introduce you to a public parade. It's usually called the Triumphant Enry.

But I'll give a picture of that that you'll realize, oh. And third, there will be a prophetic moment that something's going to happen, a request will come to Jesus that will literally kind of start the prophetic clock that before that week is over, he will be crucified. And by the end of that week, he will be risen from the dead. Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor.

Martha served while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took a pint of pure nard and expensive perfume and she poured it on Jesus' feet and then wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with fragrance of the perfume. But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor?

It was worth an entire year's wages. He didn't say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. He was the keeper of the money bag and he used to help himself to what was put in it. Leave her alone, Jesus replied. It was meant that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.

You'll always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me. Meanwhile, a large crowd of Jews found out that Lazarus was there and they came not only because of him, but also because of Lazarus who was raised from the dead. Commentary. So the chief priest made plans to kill Lazarus as well.

For on account of him, many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him. We have this outrageous act. Let me picture it for you. First of all, it was a perfume that was made of roots and mixtures imported from India. It would be in a little vase or alabaster.

It would be extraordinarily expensive. One of the other Gospel writers tells us, she didn't start pouring it, she broke it. In other words, it's completely, she's giving it all. In all likelihood for Mary, this is her entire life savings.

But something's happened. Her brother has been restored. She has seen eyeball to eyeball and Jesus say, I'm the resurrection and the life. And she has a sense of what's going to happen. And so she wants to with just no shame.

She didn't care what anybody thinks. It would be an honor in Old Testament or in the culture, you would anoint someone's head when a king was anointed, when a prophet was anointed. You know, even Psalm 23, God says he anoints your head with oil. She doesn't feel worthy even and wouldn't be her role to anoint his head. So she anoints his feet. If a woman would go out in public with her hair down at this time, it meant she was an immoral woman. If you were married, your hair would be pulled up and in front of people, she comes and she lets down her hair. She breaks it all and then she wipes his feet.

She doesn't care what anybody thinks. And she is overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude. And the application is that love gives extravagant gifts to God.

This is extravagant. Love gives extravagant gifts to God, even when harshly criticized. She gave this gift not to meet a critical need of a poor person or someone that had been in an accident. She didn't give this to propel the cause or to encourage a movement. She didn't give this because she had a sense of obligation or duty. I know it's important to give.

People who really love God give. She didn't give wondering, I wonder what the ROI is on this kingdom investment. I mean, I wonder what it's going to do with this and if I'm going to invest my money, it's really got to... She didn't give this thinking, I wonder if I'm going to be rewarded on the gross or the net of this gift. She gave it to him. Just gave to him. She gave to a person.

She gave the best, the most extravagant thing she had in all of her life in worship and adoration to a person. And when you say, I love you to Jesus, he would expect there would be times where you would give him extravagant gifts. Sometimes it'll be your time. Sometimes it'll be your talent. Sometimes it'll be your money or a possession.

You're listening to Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram. We'll get back to the third volume of our Jesus Unfiltered series, Love, in just a minute. But first, if this teaching has ministered to you, consider becoming a monthly partner. Your regular financial support goes a long way to help us encourage pastors, create resources, and share Jesus with today's youth. Visit livingontheedge.org to learn how to support us. Oh, with that, here again is Chip. There was someone in another city and he called Living on the Edge and said, I got a prompting from God. I have five classic cars and we want to give them to Living on the Edge to help you all.

And I mean five classic cars. It was clearly an over six figure gift. It was pretty amazing. I try now and then to try and just call people. When I get a letter from a 16 year old girl that gives like $7.43 out of her babysitting, to me that's like a really big gift, a sacrifice or something like this. I just call to say thank you and could you tell me anytime there's an extravagant gift, what I know there's a story behind it. Someone's heart got moved. And so I called Lanny and I said, is this Lanny? He goes, well, this Chip Ingram and I just heard last week that you gave this extravagant gift.

There's got to be a story behind it. And he says, yeah, there really is. And I said, would you mind sharing? He says, well, I don't want to take too much of your time. I said, no.

And I'm thinking I've got maybe 10, 15 minutes. He's going to tell his story. And so I sit down and said, no, Lanny, go ahead. Well, an hour later, he says, no, I'm really I'm taking too much. I said, would you keep talking?

I'm getting way more out of this than you are. Lanny is what he would call himself maybe a blue collar entrepreneur. He says, I don't know anything about techs or investments or this or that. I just kind of know how to start businesses and they make money.

And he had this business, that business, this business, that business, had five, six of them going. And he said, you know, I love God. I read the Bible. I go to church. I'm a real Christian. And he said, you know, I was praying one day and I realized those cars are an idol. I don't even drive them anymore.

But there was just something that I had some cars that no one else in America had. And God says, you know, you get rid of that idol. And I said, well, where do you want to give it? He told me Living on the Edge.

So I did. He said, but that was just the tip of the iceberg. He said that started a revolution in my life.

And the revolution was he just showed me that I was a really proud person. And, you know, one of my businesses, it's with my brother and we argue a lot. There's a lot of tension. And one of the business was I don't know exactly what they're called, but they're usually put in low income areas where people don't have money.

They can't get credit and you offer them a loan and then they pay exorbitant interest. I don't know what that's called, but you guys do. You got it? So that's the business. And so he said, then I'm praying because I took that first step. The next step was, you know what?

You're exploiting a lot of people. I want you to help those people. And he goes, you know, I started talking to my wife. She goes, what are you thinking? You know, my kids, you know, hey, giving away our inheritance. What's with you? So he said, I decided that I was going to give the business to my brother. Just clean my hands.

He can have it all. But before I do, I'm going to take some of these people that I know we need to help and I'm going to go down there and when they come in, I'm just going to forgive and give them all their money back. And I decided if they had a long loan, this is how much they get.

If it's a medium loan, they get most of it back. And so he's telling me this story. And so, you know, and he's sort of mystical. He goes, but I felt like I needed a sign. And so he said, I prayed and I said, God, you've got to show me a sign if this is the right thing because this is kind of big. So he said there was a big thunderstorm and it's a pretty good drive from his house to where this business is. And he said the thunderstorm, lightning hit the building and lightning hit the building and they had a sign for their business. He hit the sign.

He goes, the sign was burned and it hit the building so that the computers didn't work. So, you know, I couldn't go look at a bunch of stuff. Well, the first lady comes in and I wrote up some things by hand. I forgave her, gave her her money back and people came in all day. I did it all day.

I did it for like three days. And then I gave my brother the business. I think there was a lot more to it than, and he just said, I get, I'll be in a grocery store.

Some lady will wake up and she'll hug me. Do you understand my husband was in prison? Now we're back together and you forgave me. And it's the story. He says, there's over a hundred stories.

He says, here's what I tell you, Chip. I had no idea what it meant to give and I've never experienced such joy. That's an unusual story, but I will tell you this. Love gives extravagant gifts to God.

Two questions. What's the most extravagant gift you've given to another human being? Might have been, as one person told me early this morning, out of a horrendous family background, they have loved a parent that has been harsh and angry and abusive and continue to visit and love them for over, it's extravagant love. For others, it's a big financial gift. But what's the most extravagant thing you've done with another human being?

Have you got it? Now tell me your relationship. Why that person? And I'm going to bet it's like, because they mattered like more than anybody. Second question, what's the most extravagant gift you've ever given to God? A talent, a time, financial gift, a possession. What's the most extravagant gift you've ever given to God?

I think all of us fall into, oh, I write a check, I give so much amount, or don't even think. And we divorce our giving from our loving. I want you to get reconnected and ask yourself, what does what I have and my giving have to do with my love for Jesus? The second scene is a multitude or praising Jesus. And you'll notice in your notes, there's a couple different groups and they begin to worship him as the Messiah. He fulfills a prophecy in Zechariah. And I'm going to just give you sort of the picture before I read the passage because sometimes it's hard to really imagine what was going on. Imagine a couple million people descending on a city and they're coming to worship and they've done it, it's the Passover and they're celebrating that great moment when God delivered Israel from Egypt.

And you have all kind of people there. And as they get to the city, there's this buzz. Have you heard? Have you heard? Have you heard? The Messiah, what do you mean? There's this guy that was dead and Jesus has been preaching and we heard he's coming up, he's been in Bethany today, a little bit later today, he is coming up to Jerusalem.

No, no, no. You mean the guy that they have the contract on in his life and they're trying to come? Yeah.

He's going to come publicly anyway? Yeah. Oh, and so thousands of people. There's another group and they're down in Bethany and they're down here. And there was a dinner last night and so they're going to, he's coming up to Jerusalem. And so, I mean, they're picking down palm branches and this is the Messiah and he's fulfilled everything.

And so they're following behind. And as he comes up and as they come down, these multitudes mesh. And as they mesh, Jesus, you're going to see, has requested to ride on a donkey or an ass.

And for us, that's like, you know, gosh, you know, low level animal. This was an animal of honor in those days. And when the Old Testament talks about David's sons who were all princes, they all rode on donkeys. When a prophet often would come, he would ride on a donkey. When a king was on a mission of peace to another city, he would ride on a donkey. If he came on a mission of war, he rode on a stallion or a horse with his army.

Now think of this. Jesus first coming on a donkey, Jesus coming back, book of Revelation on a horse. Justice.

Let's pick up the story and find out what happens. We pick it up in verse 12. The next day, the great crowd that have come for the feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem.

They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed is the king of Israel. Jesus found a donkey and sat upon it as it is written, Zechariah 9-9. Do not be afraid, oh daughter of Zion.

See your king is coming, seated on a donkey's colt. At first, his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him, speaking of him riding on a colt. Now the crowd that was with him had continued to spread the word that he had called Lazarus from the tomb, rising him from the dead. And many people that they'd heard this and they saw the miraculous signs, they went out to meet him. And so the Pharisees said to one another, see, this is getting us nowhere. Look, the whole world is going after him.

Now here's just a couple points. Jesus is publicly declaring himself as Messiah. The word Hosanna in Hebrew literally means save now. You know, we sing songs, Hosanna, Hosanna, it is praise. They're reaching back into Psalm 118 verses 25, 26, and in the Passover they would sing messianic Psalms.

Sometimes one group would sing and the other group would answer. They're declaring, you're the king, save us now, intervene. Now their expectation, he's coming in, he's the Messiah, he takes down Rome, Jews are in control, he reigns, fixes everything that's wrong. That's their picture.

They're going to be disappointed. He is the Messiah, but not exactly the way they want. But here's the interesting thing for me.

Here's the application. Loving Jesus, it means you give public profession. Love gives public acknowledgement, even when it's unpopular and even when it's illegal. Because if you remember, right, if you would say that Jesus is the Messiah, in fact, if you even intimated that you were a follower of Jesus or interested in Jesus, you got kicked out of the synagogue.

That's a big deal back then. In fact, look in your Bibles or skim down to verse 42 and 43. It says that in this whole process, a number of the Jewish leaders actually believed in Jesus, verse 42. But it says they didn't publicly acknowledge him. And then look at verse 43. It says they didn't publicly acknowledge him because they feared that they would be put out of the synagogue, social status, reputation. Look at verse 43. Look at it. For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

When it came right down to it, they cared more about what people thought than what God thought. This is Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram. And you've been listening to part one of Chip's message Love Gives, which is from the third volume of his Jesus Unfiltered series titled Love.

Chip will be back shortly to share some helpful application for us to think about. And in today's world, that word love means so many different things. It can describe how someone feels about a sports team or favorite food or the emotional or physical connection with another person.

So what's right and what's wrong? Well, in this series, Chip cuts through the confusion by exploring how Christ defined it in John chapters 11 through 15. Learn five straightforward attributes of biblical love and how to apply these truths to your relationship with others and God. Don't miss a word of this meaningful series. Well, Chip's joined me in studio now to share a quick word. Thanks so much, Dave. I'm going to be right back, and I'm going to talk about today's message.

But I want to talk directly and personally to you first. We've got millions of people going to church, going through the motions, many of them sincere but ignorant about the gospel, about truth. Their lives don't change. We have a whole generation of young people saying you can have your Jesus and your churchianity, and I'm out of here because they don't see reality. And Living on the Edge has been called to declare war on religious activity that doesn't align with the Jesus of the New Testament, but we can't do it without you. I grew up in that environment, and I turned away from God. And I just praise God that He brought people into my life that clearly explained the gospel, but as importantly, they lived it out.

And they lived it out in real life and loved me and cared for me, and they were holy and they weren't weird. God longs to do that in our day. And the message of Living on the Edge is helping Christians live like Christians. We do it through teaching. We create resources, but it requires a team. And for us to do it moving toward the future as God has opened more and more doors, I simply tell you, I need your help. Would you prayerfully consider partnering with us today and kind of move that good intention?

You thought about it. I ought to help them out. Yeah, I already decided in my head I would, but the fact is you haven't acted on it yet. Act on it today. Let's make a difference.

Thanks, Chip. As you prayerfully consider your role in this ministry, I want to remind you that every dollar is significant. When you partner with Living on the Edge, you multiply our efforts and resources in remarkable ways. To give a gift, go to livingontheedge.org or call us at 888-333-6003. That's 888-333-6003 or go to livingontheedge.org. App listeners tap donate. We appreciate whatever you can do to help.

Well, here again is Chip with that application he promised. As we wrap up today's program and we try to visualize in our mind, I mean really grasp this extravagant gift that Mary gave Jesus. I'm wondering have you ever done that? I mean what's the most extravagant thing you've ever done for a friend or a family member? Maybe they were in a really tough spot or maybe it was your church and something really big or there was a crisis around the world or maybe there was a need in your in your neighborhood and you stepped up and maybe donated a week of your time or wrote a check that you looked at and thought, I've never given this much away.

If you've done it, what I know is this. Everyone thought that they received the blessing who were on the end of that gift. But I can tell you from personal experience and so many testimonies, you know like I know that the blessing was really ours. I know for Teresa and myself, very recently we were challenged to give a very extravagant gift that was well beyond anything we had ever dreamed and it required some risk and sort of renegotiating our retirement and you know I was nervous but it was very clearly led by God and I just have to tell you it's been one of the greatest things we've ever gotten to do.

Here's my question. When's the last time you gave an extravagant gift and what would happen today if you just said, Lord is there someone or something that you want me to make an extravagant gift to and then listen for his whisper and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, it is more blessed to give than to receive. Imagine what would happen if just a mere hundred thousand of the million people listening right now each did that in some way.

God's kingdom would go forth and people would be loved. Good word Chip. As we close, are you looking to get even more plugged in with Living on the Edge and our resources? Then let me encourage you to check out the Chip Ingram Map. You can listen to our most recent series, sign up for daily discipleship and more. We want to help you grow in your walk with Jesus and the Chip Ingram Map is a great way to immerse yourself in Godly enriching content. We'll listen to next time as Chip picks up in the third volume of our Jesus Unfiltered series, Love. Until then, this is Dave Drouie saying thanks for joining us for this Edition of Living on the Edge.