The Greatest GiftThe Greatest Gift

The Purpose of The GiftThe Purpose of The Gift• Luke 23:34 (NIV) Luke 23:34 (NIV)

34 Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do 34 Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. up his clothes by casting lots.

We Do Not Know What We Are DoingWe Do Not Know What We Are Doing

• The purpose of the cross is to forgive usThe purpose of the cross is to forgive us• Psalm 53:1-3 (NIV) Psalm 53:1-3 (NIV)

1 The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are 1 The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corruptcorrupt, and their ways are , and their ways are vilevile; there is no one who does ; there is no one who does good.good.

• Psa 53:2 God looks down from heaven on the sons of men Psa 53:2 God looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. 3 Everyone has turned away, they have together become 3 Everyone has turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.

We Do Not Know What We Are DoingWe Do Not Know What We Are Doing

• Psa 53:2 God looks down from heaven on the Psa 53:2 God looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. 3 Everyone has understand, any who seek God. 3 Everyone has turned away, they have together become turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.even one.

We Do Not Know What We Are DoingWe Do Not Know What We Are Doing

• Why did Judas betray Jesus?Why did Judas betray Jesus?• He wants a Jesus that rules and gives him a He wants a Jesus that rules and gives him a

high position; instead, he finally realized that high position; instead, he finally realized that Jesus was preparing to dieJesus was preparing to die

• He wants a rich Jesus that will make him rich He wants a rich Jesus that will make him rich too, instead, He commended a “royal waste” of too, instead, He commended a “royal waste” of moneymoney

We Do Not Know What We Are DoingWe Do Not Know What We Are Doing

• 30 pieces of silver is the price of a slave30 pieces of silver is the price of a slave• Many wants Jesus as a slave, not as King – they Many wants Jesus as a slave, not as King – they

will follow Jesus as long as their lust for money, will follow Jesus as long as their lust for money, power, prestige, etcpower, prestige, etc

• Who are the betrayers? Those who dips bread Who are the betrayers? Those who dips bread into the bowl with Him. The bowl contains bitter into the bowl with Him. The bowl contains bitter herbs, representing suffering (of betrayal and herbs, representing suffering (of betrayal and abandonment)abandonment)

We Do Not Know What We Are DoingWe Do Not Know What We Are Doing

• Psalms 41:9 (NLT) Psalms 41:9 (NLT) 9 Even my best friend, the one I trusted 9 Even my best friend, the one I trusted completely, the one who shared my food, has completely, the one who shared my food, has turned against me. turned against me.

Preparing Our HeartPreparing Our Heart

• Matthew 26:17-19 (NIV) 17 On the first day of the Feast of Matthew 26:17-19 (NIV) 17 On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Where do you want us to make "Where do you want us to make preparationspreparations for you to eat for you to eat the Passover?" 18 He replied, "Go into the city to a certain the Passover?" 18 He replied, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, 'The Teacher says: My appointed time is man and tell him, 'The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.'" 19 So the disciples did as Jesus had at your house.'" 19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and directed them and preparedprepared the Passover. the Passover.

Self ExaminationSelf Examination

• Matthew 26:20 When evening came, Jesus was Matthew 26:20 When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21 And while reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21 And while they were eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, they were eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of one of you will betray meyou will betray me." 22 They were very sad and ." 22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, "began to say to him one after the other, "Surely not I, Surely not I, Lord?Lord?" 23 Jesus replied, "The one who has " 23 Jesus replied, "The one who has dipped his dipped his hand into the bowlhand into the bowl with me will betray me. with me will betray me.

Self ExaminationSelf Examination

• 1 Corinthians 11:27-28 (NIV) 1 Corinthians 11:27-28 (NIV) 27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the 27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of 28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. the bread and drinks of the cup.

Renew Our Love and WorshipRenew Our Love and Worship

• Matthew 26:6 While Jesus was in Bethany in the Matthew 26:6 While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, 7 a home of a man known as Simon the Leper, 7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. 8 When the disciples he was reclining at the table. 8 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. "Why this waste?" they saw this, they were indignant. "Why this waste?" they asked. 9 "This perfume could have been sold at a asked. 9 "This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor."high price and the money given to the poor."

Renew Our Love and WorshipRenew Our Love and Worship

• 10 Aware of this, Jesus said to them, "Why are you 10 Aware of this, Jesus said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 The poor you will always have with you, but you will me. 11 The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. 12 When she poured this perfume on not always have me. 12 When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. 13 I tell you the my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. 13 I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her." her."