Riverside Church, Birmingham, Uk

Title: Costly Love By: Judy Moore Bible Reading: Book of John (Chapter 12, verses 1-11) Recorded: Sunday 24/05/2020 (Online Service) Longing For Hope: Costly Love It’s noticeable who the heroes have been during this crisis. From the nurses to the delivery drivers, from the shelf stackers to the carers, many of the heroes have been people that are not often publicly praised. And yet, these painful times have given us a glimpse of how crucial some roles really are. And so we have rightly honoured them. We celebrate what we value. And in this passage we have two very different examples of giving honour where honour is due. Firstly, we read that Jesus is being thrown a banquet (v1-2). And it’s important where this meal takes place - the home town of Lazarus. If ever there was a reason to publicly honour someone, it is when they have demonstrated the power to overcome death! And into this party comes a second display of love and honour as Mary recklessly, extravagantly, pours expensive perfume over Jesus. A