February 8, 2026
Extravagant Love
Pastor Ricky Smith

Sermon Notes

Mark 14:1–11
It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth and kill him, for they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar from the people.” And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.” Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought an opportunity to betray him.

I. A Conspiracy of Cowards

Proverbs 29:25
“The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.”

II. A Portrait of Extravagant Devotion
III. A Tragic Trade

True love for Jesus looks extravagant to the world, but to God, it is a beautiful sacrifice that will never be forgotten.

Next Steps

• I confess my sin and turn to Jesus as King for the first time.
• I confess my heart fears men more than fearing God.
• I commit to surrender my yesterday, today, and tomorrow to Jesus.

Deep Dive

1. What are some modern examples of people living extravagantly for Christ? What might that look like in your life?
2. Read Galatians 1:10. How do we balance living faithfully before God with the pressure of people-pleasing?
3. Judas was close to Jesus, yet missed Him. How can we guard against growing near but remaining unchanged?

Springboards

1. Where in life do you tend to be “close” to something without fully committing to it? (Sports teams, routines, relationships, habits, faith, etc.)
2. Why do you think shared meals matter so much in relationships? What do they communicate beyond just eating together?
3. Have you ever been surprised by what a stressful moment revealed about your heart or priorities? What did you learn from it?