February 21st, 2024
The Upward Look, by Jon Forrest
Extravagant Love
On May 2, 1962, a dramatic advertisement appeared in the San Francisco Examiner: “I don’t want my husband to die in the gas chamber for a crime he did not commit. I will therefore offer my services for 10 years as a cook, maid, or housekeeper to any leading attorney who will defend him and bring about his vindication.”
One of San Francisco’s greatest attorneys, Vincent Hallinan, read or heard about the ad and contacted Gladys Kidd, who had placed it. Her husband, Robert Lee Kidd, was about to be tried for the slaying of an elderly antique dealer. Kidd’s fingerprints had been found on a bloodstained ornate sword in the victim’s shop.
During the trial, Hallinan proved that the antique dealer had not been killed by the sword, and that Kidd’s fingerprints and blood on the sword got there because Kidd had once toyed with it while playfully dueling with a friend when they were both out shopping. The jury, after 11 hours, found Kidd to be not guilty. Attorney Hallinan refused Gladys Kidd’s offer of 10 years’ servitude.
What a demonstration of extravagant love. Is there someone you love enough to offer your life as a servant to save? In John 12:2-11, Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha and dear friend of Jesus anointed him with expensive perfume as an extravagant offering of worship. She could have sold it for a large sum of money and used it for anything she wanted, but she desperately desired to bless her Lord and Savior with the very best she had. Even the disciples criticized her extravagance, but Jesus honored it with his approval.
How extravagant are you in praising Jesus your Lord?
Resurrection (Easter) Sunday is drawing near. We are in the season that many call Lent. Over the coming Sundays, I will share a series of messages on some of the events from the last days of Christ’s life leading up to his amazing resurrection from the dead. This Sunday, we will look at an event described in all four of the Gospels. Our main text will be John 12:2-11 and titled Extravagant Worship. Plan to be here and share in this exciting series of events from the amazing life of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Loving Jesus with you,
Jon
Extravagant Love
On May 2, 1962, a dramatic advertisement appeared in the San Francisco Examiner: “I don’t want my husband to die in the gas chamber for a crime he did not commit. I will therefore offer my services for 10 years as a cook, maid, or housekeeper to any leading attorney who will defend him and bring about his vindication.”
One of San Francisco’s greatest attorneys, Vincent Hallinan, read or heard about the ad and contacted Gladys Kidd, who had placed it. Her husband, Robert Lee Kidd, was about to be tried for the slaying of an elderly antique dealer. Kidd’s fingerprints had been found on a bloodstained ornate sword in the victim’s shop.
During the trial, Hallinan proved that the antique dealer had not been killed by the sword, and that Kidd’s fingerprints and blood on the sword got there because Kidd had once toyed with it while playfully dueling with a friend when they were both out shopping. The jury, after 11 hours, found Kidd to be not guilty. Attorney Hallinan refused Gladys Kidd’s offer of 10 years’ servitude.
What a demonstration of extravagant love. Is there someone you love enough to offer your life as a servant to save? In John 12:2-11, Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha and dear friend of Jesus anointed him with expensive perfume as an extravagant offering of worship. She could have sold it for a large sum of money and used it for anything she wanted, but she desperately desired to bless her Lord and Savior with the very best she had. Even the disciples criticized her extravagance, but Jesus honored it with his approval.
How extravagant are you in praising Jesus your Lord?
Resurrection (Easter) Sunday is drawing near. We are in the season that many call Lent. Over the coming Sundays, I will share a series of messages on some of the events from the last days of Christ’s life leading up to his amazing resurrection from the dead. This Sunday, we will look at an event described in all four of the Gospels. Our main text will be John 12:2-11 and titled Extravagant Worship. Plan to be here and share in this exciting series of events from the amazing life of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Loving Jesus with you,
Jon
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