A Beautiful Love Story

Today’s passage is a love story. It is the story of love and sacrifice. It begins with the love and sacrifice of one woman who poured out her treasure for Jesus. It is the story of love that triumphs over sin and Satan. But the real love story is the story of Jesus’ love and sacrifice for the sins of the world. It is the story of love that falls to the ground and dies and produces many seeds.

Part 1 – Love poured out (1-11) Her name was Mary. When he came to her house, everything was put on hold. She sat at his feet and listened to him. Listening to him was the best way to accept his love and the best way to show her love for him. The words he spoke quenched a deep thirst in her soul. She had tasted love for the first time in her life. She loved him quietly. She loved him purely. She trusted his love absolutely. Once there was a crisis in the family. Their only brother was very sick. In fact, he was dying. He was their older brother and was like a father to the girls. It was hard to imagine what their house would be like without their brother. So, they sent word to their best friend: “The one you love is sick.” They trusted him. They believed that he loved them. But he didn’t come. He stayed where he was two more days. Their brother died. Their rich neighbors and friends came to console them. Others came, but he didn’t come. They were disappointed in Jesus. “Does he really love us?” Then, he came. He waited so that he could give them something better than a healing miracle. He raised their brother to life and planted in them resurrection faith. Mary was so ashamed for having doubted his love, even for a moment. She was so thankful to him for saving her brother. She was so thankful for the restoration of her faith in Jesus’ love and in his life-giving power. Now, just before Passover time he had come back to Bethany. His presence made the home a true house church. They made a dinner party in Jesus’ honor. Lazarus was there. Martha served. Mary wanted to express her gratitude to Jesus.

She wanted him to know how much she loved him. She took the pint jar of the special perfume that she had saved (probably) for her wedding and poured it out–the whole pint on his feet–not on his head, but on his feet. Then, she took her hair, her beautiful long hair, a woman’s crowning glory, and used it like an old rag to wipe his feet. She loved Jesus. She did not hold back anything. She poured out her precious perfume, her pure, expensive nard, all of it, without saving even one drop. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. Jesus understood her heart, for he would also pour out everything, his life blood, in love for her and for all of us.

Judas was a disciple; he was especially trusted. He was the treasurer of the disciples. But Judas loved money. John tells us that he was a thief. He saw Mary’s act of love as a great waste. He objected saying, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” His words sound so reasonable and humanitarian; and you may agree with him. But Jesus accepted Mary’s love. It was a precious gem. He set it like a diamond in the crown of gospel history. (Mk 14:9)

He said, “leave her alone; it was intended that she save this perfume for the day of my burial.” He drew her act of love into the heart of the gospel history.

This story is about Mary’s love and sacrifice. The gospel is about Jesus’ love and sacrifice. He held back nothing. It was Passover time. Like the blood of the Passover Lamb poured out to deliver God’s people from slavery in Egypt, Jesus would soon pour out his precious life blood to deliver the world from slavery to sin and the devil. This was his act of love. It proclaimed his Father God’s love. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son...,” Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (Jn 15:12-13) and that is what he did. John, chapter 12 is indeed a beautiful love story.

Mary’s love and sacrifice also produced much fruit. She did a beautiful thing. Wherever the gospel is preached the story of Mary’s love and sacrifice is told.

When Mother Teresa poured out her life and love to comfort and bring hope and Jesus’ peace to the poorest of the poor, the dying and abandoned people in Calcutta, she was not just serving poor people because she felt sorry for them. She confessed that she was pouring out her love for Jesus.

Part 2 – Love’s triumph (12-19) Look at verses 12-15. This event is called the Triumphal Entry. A great crowd of people had come to Jerusalem for the Passover. When they heard that Jesus was coming, they took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" Jesus acted out the words of the prophet Zechariah: “See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zec 9:9) Jesus was dressed simply and he was riding on a small donkey. In this way he announced his Messiahship and his Kingship. He entered Jerusalem in triumph. It was a strange victory parade. There were no soldiers, no guns or tanks, no captured POWs. Only a ragtag army of children and ordinary people shouting, “Praise God who saves!” Many, who knew about the raising of Lazarus, were turning to Jesus. Jesus was greatly loved, because he had loved others. And he was greatly hated, because he loved God.

What was the victory he proclaimed? His victory was over himself. It was the triumph of his love for his Father God. His heart was troubled. But he did not pray saying, “Father, save me from this hour.” He prayed saying, “It is for this reason I came to this hour; Father, glorify your name.” (27,28) Jesus’ love triumphs over the power of the devil. He said, “It is the time for judgment...the Prince of this world will be driven out.” He triumphed over sin and death. ...by his death he destroyed the devil. (Heb 2:14,15) By his resurrection he freed those who were held in slavery by their fear of death. He rode triumphantly into Jerusalem because he loved and obeyed God. He rode triumphantly into Jerusalem because he loved sinful mankind. He rode in as God’s Messiah, the Son of Man, on God’s mission, to die for the sin of the world. He was truly the victor.

Surely he knew that to ride triumphantly into Jerusalem in this way was like signing his own death warrant. His enemies were waiting for him. They had already decided to kill him.

They were only looking for an opportunity. The crowd that followed him hailed him as king. They testified to his kingship and praised his victory. He was the king who saves. The Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!” These words were prophetic.

Part 3 – Love falls to the ground and dies (20-36) Just at this time, the world came to him (as the Pharisees said). It came in the person of some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem to worship. Most likely, they were Greeks who worshiped God in synagogues scattered throughout the Roman Empire. (Acts 15:17; 18:7) They were truth-seekers who were coming to the light. In John 3, Jesus said, “Whoever lives by the truth comes into the light...,." These Greeks came to Jerusalem at Passover time to worship God. They came to the light. In verses 35 and 36 Jesus invites all people: “walk in the light before the darkness overtakes you...Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light.” These Greeks had heard of Jesus. They spoke to Philip, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.” They were almost too late. Philip and Andrew told Jesus. Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” Very soon, he would be glorified on the cross, for his love would be poured out on the ground there. His obedience to death glorified God. His resurrection would glorify God. And God would glorify him. He would be glorified as he ascended to take his place on the throne at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

Jesus’ short life, poured out on the cross would spread God’s love throughout the whole world. He said, “I, when I am lifted up from the earth will draw all men to myself.” (12:32) The Son of Man would be glorified. Jesus gave his disciples and the Greeks and all of us the kernel of wheat message: “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”

The kernel of wheat is a seed. It has life in it. When it is planted, it dies as a seed and sprouts up to new life and produces many seeds. If it is not planted, it remains as a single seed. Jesus himself is the kernel of wheat. In Verses 25 and 26 Jesus explains the kernel of wheat principle. It is a principle of love and sacrifice. Selfishness is excluded. He said, “The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” Death is the prerequisite of resurrection.

Apostle Paul said, “What we sow does not come to life unless it dies. (1 Co 15:26). If there is no death, there is no resurrection. No pain, no gain. No practice, no concert. The kernel of wheat must die to produce many seeds. We must die if there is to be the fruitful victory of resurrection.

Consider the life of William Borden, who was the heir of the Borden millions. He met Jesus in high school. His family gave him a trip around the world for a graduation present. He felt the pain in Jesus’ heart for the world’s hurting people who were living without Christ, so he made a decision to give his life to Jesus for world mission. He loved Jesus and he wrote in his Bible, “No Reserves.” He would hold back nothing. He went to Yale, studied hard, and challenged fellow students to answer God’s call for world mission. After graduation, he turned down lucrative job offers and set out for China. He wrote in his Bible, “no retreats.” He wanted to preach the gospel to the Muslim people of northern China. He stopped in Egypt to study Arabic; and while he was there he contracted spinal meningitis. In a month, at the age of 25, he died. Was his short life wasted? Not from God’s perspective. Before he died he wrote in his Bible, “No regrets.” He had followed Jesus to become a kernel of wheat which was planted and died to produce many seeds. Many students were moved by his love and sacrifice for Jesus, and a great student missionary movement was born.

Jesus did not want to die. He was a young man, full of vigor and life. He could have lived out a long life and done much good in the world. He prayed saying, “Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!” (Jn 12:27-28) His death at the age of 33 seemed wasted. But by his death he planted God’s life in everyone who puts their trust in him. He opened the way to God and to his kingdom. He could freely give his life because he knew that his Father God loved him. He could surrender to God’s will because he loved God. The Gospel story is indeed a love story. Sacrifice is love. Love is sacrifice.

Consider also David Livingstone, who loved Jesus. He also loved Africa. Africans knew he loved them. He hated slavery. He wanted to give every African a chance to hear the gospel and find life and real freedom.

He wanted to open up Africa for legitimate commerce so that slave trade could be outlawed. He gave his life for Jesus and Africa. His wife died in Africa. He also died in Africa. Because of his explorations and travels in Africa, Africa was opened for the gospel. Love produces sacrifice. Sacrifice produces much fruit. David Livingstone followed Jesus to become a kernel of wheat that died and produced many seeds. Also, I was touched by the story about Ruby Kendrick, a missionary who voluntarily went to Korea and died in less than one year. On her tomb stone it says, “If I had a thousand lives to give Korea should have them all.”

If we love ourselves and cling to the material or human things of the world in order to enhance and protect ourselves, we lose the life that is life indeed. If Mary had taken Judas’ advice and saved her perfume, she would never know the real meaning of love and life. She poured out her most precious possession and held back nothing and she found love and eternal life. The secret of love and life is sacrifice and giving. Judas didn’t love Jesus. He loved money. He tried to save something for himself. He found bitterness and failure and death.

Also consider the life of Lottie Moon, who was a Baptist missionary; her act of going to China as a single woman missionary at the turn of the century is very beautiful. Baptists all over the world take a special Lottie Moon offering for world mission every Christmas. Lottie Moon lived in China for 39 years, sharing the gospel of Jesus and her own life and love with the Chinese people. In 1912, there was a terrible famine in China. Lottie Moon shared everything she had, including her food, with the Chinese around her.

She lost weight until she only weighed 50 pounds. She died of starvation on Christmas Eve on the way home to America. People say that Mother Sarah Barry made a sacrifice to go to Korea in her youth and live there as a single missionary. But she confessed saying she never felt that she had sacrificed anything. Certainly, she never starved. She confessed saying, “Jesus loves me. I know he loves me because he died for me. He kindled his love in my heart. He gave me a love for Korean people and I felt very much loved.” So, you see, love and sacrifice go together. If there is love, no one feels the sacrifice.

Jesus went on to say (in verse 25), “Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.” To be with the one we love gives us joy. Jesus promised that if we serve him, we will be with him. If we love God, we will obey him and he will come and make his home in our hearts. (Jn 14:23)

Recently we have been studying about house churches. Jesus never married, so he never had family or a house church as we use the word. But the principle of the kernel of wheat, love and sacrifice, which he taught is basic to a family and basic to a house church ministry.

First, the kernel of wheat and the godly family. When we become Christians, we die to ourselves. We are united with Jesus in his death and united with him in his resurrection (Ro 6:5). Paul said, “I have been crucified with Christ. And I no longer live. It is Christ who lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Gal 2:20) So my union with Christ is first of all, personal. Those who belong to Christ have crucified the sinful nature with its passion and desires. (Gal 5:25) So then we are set free to live by the Spirit. He is the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead.

I noticed many new godly families have been established in the U.S. recently. According to the Bible, two people who marry are joined together by God to become one new person. It seems to me that this can only happen if both of them die. In order to become one new person, two people must die. Each must die with Jesus. They cannot hold on to their old ways of living and thinking. Each must think not only of himself or herself, but of Jesus first and the other person next. Selfishness has to go and love and sacrifice must come in. So love and sacrifice, the principle of the kernel of wheat, is the foundation of the family. May God establish many godly Christian families among us.

Second, kernel of wheat and the house church ministry. Adam and Eve’s family was established by God for mission. I believe that God establishes every family for his mission. He calls each family to serve him. One missionary who left the mission field said, “I can go anywhere and suffer in any kind of environment for the sake of mission, but how can I ask my wife to suffer? How can I ask my children to suffer?

This is a real question and it does not have an easy answer. Every family must answer it for itself. On the other hand, it does have an easy answer. “Have faith in God.” God asked Abraham to take his son, whom he loved, and offer him as a sacrifice on Mt. Moriah.

God wants us to love him without reservations. I believe that loving God should enable us to love our husband or wife or children even more–and to love them in the right way. Taking children to the mission field is a sacrifice that God can turn into a blessing. Dr. Esteban Cho of Bolivia, and Pauline Cho have three children: Maria, Ester and Daniel. He told me that he had worried about depriving his children of the good life in Korea or in America, but he found that they studied well and grew up in the humble country of Bolivia with pure and loving hearts. He is thankful to God. This is not true of all missionary second gens. In any environment, we need much prayer and wisdom to raise our children as godly offspring. We need Jesus’ help and the help of the community of believers. In the long run, parents can’t control the decisions of their adult children. Every person, especially our adult children, must make his or her own decision about faith and marriage and mission. But, with much prayer and God’s help, from the beginning we can teach them to be unselfish. We can teach them the principle of love and sacrifice–the kernel of wheat principle. It is the right and the best foundation. The sovereign God calls and equips each person for his mission.

Obedience to God’s calling is another level of love and sacrifice. Every Christian family is established by God for his mission. We must meet and know the Creator God in order to find his mission for us. It is the time for each of us, in his or her own situation, to remember Jesus’ love and sacrifice with thanksgiving. As families and as individuals we must renew our love for Jesus and our commitment to him and to the mission he has given us.

Jesus is the kernel of wheat. He calls us to follow him. We must learn what it means to love and sacrifice in everyday life. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” Amen