Extravagance

A few years ago there was a true story about a man in New York City who was kidnapped. His kidnappers called his wife and asked for $100,000 ransom. She talked them down to $30,000. Wasn’t that nice of her. I guess the husband finally found out his worth. The story had a happy ending: the man returned home unharmed, the money was recovered, and the kidnappers were caught and sent to jail. But, don’t you wonder what happened when the man got home and found that his wife got him back for a discount? You could imagine what the negotiations must have been like: “$100,000 for that old guy? You have got to be crazy. Just look at him! Look at that gut! You want $100,000 for that? You’ve got to be kidding. Give me a break here. $30,000 is my top offer.”

I suppose there are some reading this who can identify with the wife, but for some reason I find myself identifying with the husband. I’d like to think if I were in a similar situation, there would be people who would spare no expense to get me back. They wouldn’t haggle over the price. They wouldn’t say, ‘Well, let me think about it.‘ I like to think that they would say, ‘We’ll do anything for you.’

The point of that story is this: sometimes it’s ok to be extravagant. It has its place and can be very fitting. Usually happens quite naturally when someone loves another. This is precisely what John 3.16 is about. Some may say that Christ’s Death, Burial, and Resurrection was just an act of prophetic accomplishment, but John 3.16 says— “for God so loved the world…” His was an act of passion. His was more than mere obedience to the fulfillment, but the reason behind the obedience to fulfill. 

If you lived strictly by the mind-set that obedience is king, you would have no aspiration to make your Church better. No ‘extra’ would flow from you; no focus on improvement in the lives of others; no flowers on the altar; no art on the wall. None of it would make any sense to you, because you have lost your love for it all. Simple obedience is absolutely essential, just ask King Saul. Without the heart to obey, the finer points are missed. This is what I see in churches today. There seems to be a minimalistic view of church things in general. Someone will scoff at the expense of a fellowship opportunity, or the ‘need’ for a get-together, yet in their personal world they spare no expense on the things they truly love. Season tickets are no problem for someone who loves what the season is all about. Same is true for the Christ-follower who sees the opportunity for souls in the light of the love of God Himself. What does this result in? What happens when the necessary and often essential extravagance is lost? You tend to consider worship as something I sit and enjoy instead of participate in. You trust your feelings instead of truth. You seek the counsel of the world and lose your bearings. You become lukewarm due to other extravagances (Revelation 3.14-22).  

Sometimes in the name of love, it’s okay, indeed, it’s beautiful to be extravagant. First, we have to ask ourselves the question… what happens after the ‘after’. What happened after the resurrection? The week after, and the in-between, to the next Sunday?

There are 324 verses concerning the subject of Jesus’ resurrection in the New Testament. There are more passages discussing His resurrection than there are His death and burial put together. We are told that this event is a sign for unbelievers (John 20.29). That it is the center of the gospel itself (Romans 10.9). It’s the reason for the total commitment of our lives (Romans 7.4). The resurrection even addresses the fear of death (John 11.25). And thank God, this event is a model of the our own resurrection from the dead (1 Corinthians 6.14). Consider life if Jesus would have not risen. If He had simply died, we might not have not heard of Him. He would have been just another martyr, just another victim of injustice, just another lost cause in this world’s parade of lost causes. But He did rise from the grave, and death is not the end of this story. Good overcame evil. Light overtook darkness. Love overthrew hate. Life overwhelmed death.

The home of Paul Laurence Dunbar, noted poet, is open to the public in Dayton, Ohio. When Dunbar died, his mother left his room exactly as it was on the day of his death. At the desk of this brilliant man was his final poem, handwritten on a pad.  After his mother died, her friends discovered that Paul Laurence Dunbar’s last poem had been lost forever. Because his mother had made his room into a shrine and not moved anything, the sun had bleached the ink in which the poem was written until it was invisible. The poem was gone. In the same way, after the physical appearances of Christ, we no longer see the followers of Jesus going back to the tomb. They did not inshrine it. They did not mention it again. Why? He’s no longer there. It was time to move on. I see Jospeh of Arimathea as a man of righteous extravagance, don’t you? He lent his very expensive tomb to the Savior. What an amazing extravagance, well worth the expense. His love, his secret discipleship, all exploded in one move along with his friend Nicodemus. They bravely sought the body, prepared it, and laid it in his tomb. If he believed in the resurrection, he wasted some serious cash. But it was no waste was it? I bet we will all see him paid back in the Bema Seat Judgment shortly. 

How do you react to the resurrected Lord?  Revelation 1.12-16 says – “And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;  And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.  His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;  And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.  And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.” Snowy white hair…eyes of fire…feet of polished bronze…voice like a mighty waterfall…and His face like the sun itself. No wonder John face planted as though he were dead. This is where terror and joy meets. This is the resurrected Lord! Who wouldn’t extravagantly give to Him?! Verses 17-18 states further – “And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” Power! Power over hell and death itself. Whatever you’ve lost in your life for Him. Whatever death has surprised you this last year. Whatever bits of your life are locked away—He’s got the keys! He is resurrected, alive, and reigning! That deserves some extravagance from us.

Mary Magdalene is one we can look at to see extravagance in action. A heart of love, poured out. John 20 tells us she is troubled and confused, she stands in the doorway of a miracle (literally) weeping so much that she doesn’t see and yet doesn’t seem to realize that she is talking to angels. In 11-13 it says— “But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.” Maybe it was hazy and foggy, maybe her eyes were blurred by tears, maybe Jesus is the last person she expected to see. Nevertheless, when she turns around, she doesn’t recognize the One for whom her heart in aching. “And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.” (14-15). Jesus first kindly addresses Mary as “Woman.” She still doesn’t recognize His voice though.  But when He calls her by name He immediately comes into focus. “Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.” (16).

Although it is not defined it seems according to the next verse that Mary tries to cling to the Lord. “Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.” (17). Do you see the subtle shift in choice of words? In the upper room you see Christ using the word “friends”. Now they are His brothers. Mary, overjoyed, runs to tell the disciples what has happened. Her initial reaction was sorrow and confusion. I wonder if we are this way? Going on from the last tragedy or disappointment with gloom tied around us like a weight. There is no reason for this, He is risen! 

The scene immediately switches to a dimly lit room. “Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.” (19). When they first see Christ they panicked according to Luke 24.37. Indicating that they apparently they did not believe Mary, nor Peter’s encounter, nor the men on the road to Emmaus. They reacted in fear and unbelief. Yet as soon as He proves Himself to them they switch— “And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.” (20). And I wonder if we react this way? Got to have some proof just to be glad again. Where was the faith? I also am overwhelmed by the grace and mercy of Christ here. They did not deserve to be shown anything… nor do we. 

Of course we know of Thomas, who ‘demanded’ proof and was not ready to settle for any answer but from the Lord. It turned to pride. He was in a place of lacking faith in a promise already given. Nevertheless, the Lord demonstrated Himself again to just Thomas— “Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.” (27). I wonder if the lack of Thomas’ faith is the same lack of faith many of us have today? Having a problem, walk away and pout about it. Maybe even take a week to sulk in it. Then when confronted, we stand stoic until broken by Jesus. 

Maybe you heard about the man who was told by his doctor: ‘Yes indeed, you do have rabies.’ Upon hearing this, the patient immediately pulled out a pad and pen and began to write. Thinking the man was making a will, the doctor said, ‘Hey friend, we can treat this.’ To which the man replied: ‘I know that, I’m making a list of people I am going to bite.’ Your reaction is all about your focus at the time. How do you react to life right now? How is your worship? Extravagant? Excessive in a good way? Have you allowed the pressures, pleasures, and disappointments of this present life nail you to the floor of melancholy? Why? 

Are you like Thomas and the disciples: you have a problem you think God can’t handle? God be merciful to us for our lack of faith. As they did, when He proves Himself (and He has already), turn it into extravagant worship.  

Look at the people that saw the Lord in His glory. To Paul near Damascus (Acts 9.3-6; 1 Corinthians 15.8). What happened? To Stephen outside Jerusalem (Acts 7.55). What happened? To Paul in the temple (Acts 22.17-21; 23.11). What happened? To John on Patmos (Revelation 1.10-19). What happened? Maybe it’s time to be extravagant again. Go back to the first time you worshipped. Go back to the first time you witnessed God working in your life. Go back to the first fruits of your relationship with Him. Genesis 13.4— “Unto the place of the altar, which he had make there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the Lord.”

Little Philip, born with Down’s syndrome, attended a third-grade Sunday School class with several eight year old boys and girls. Typical of that age, the children did not readily accept Philip with his differences. But because of a creative teacher, they began to care about Philip and accept him as part of the group, though not fully. The Sunday after Easter the teacher brought ‘L’eggs pantyhose’ containers, the kind that look like large eggs. Each receiving one, the children were told to go outside on that lovely spring day, find some symbol for new life, and put it in the egg-like container. Back in the classroom, they would share their new-life symbols, opening the containers one by one in surprise fashion. After running about the church property in wild confusion, the students returned to the classroom and placed the containers on the table. Surrounded by the children, the teacher began to open them one by one. After each one, whether a flower, butterfly, or leaf, the class would ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh’. Then one was opened, revealing nothing inside. The children exclaimed, “Somebody didn’t do their assignment”. Philip spoke up, “That’s mine.” One of the students said, “Philip, you don’t ever do things right, there’s nothing there!” Philip replied, “I did so do it… it’s empty, the tomb was empty!” Silence followed. He died not long after from an infection most children would have shrugged off. At the funeral this class of eight year olds marched up to the altar not with flowers, but with their Sunday school teacher, each to lay on it an empty pantyhose egg.

Extravagance is beautiful. Just ask Mary. Just ask Thomas. Just ask Philip when you see him one day. I never want to negotiate a lower price. I want to give it all. He did for me, I must for Him.