Worth of Worship

Mark 14:3–9 NKJV

3 And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head. 4 But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? 5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply. 6 But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. 7 For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. 8 She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. 9 Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”

What have you brought?

Mark 14:3 (NKJV)

3 And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head.

This woman identified as Mary brought the most prized possession she had to worship Jesus. What do we bring? Are only seeking to receive? Our Lord says according to Acts 20:35 it is better to give than receive. We often only come with empty open hands to get not give! The Lord says Luke 6:38 “38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.””

The Balance in the Box

Mark 14:4–5 (NKJV)

4 But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted?

5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply.

Some of the disciples were angry because they only seen the possible worth of the oil. They wasn’t sure because they said it “might” have been sold but in reality they didn’t know. They only looked at the potential gain from using this item for something other than worship. When we look at our buildings as what’s valuable in ministry or the goods we provide as what is important we join them in their ignorance to what is truly important. This woman brought and gave the greatest possession she had to offer to Jesus. She could have sold it herself and received great gain but instead chose to use her most prized earthly possession in full worship of Jesus. We can become like those who became indignant and only come to get from Jesus and criticize those who come to give because their sacrifice doesn’t benefit us only Jesus. True revival comes when we are sensitive to the spirit of worship and rejoice when it is given only to Him.

The Worth of Worship

Mark 14:6 (NKJV)

6 But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me.

Jesus knew the worth of Mary’s worship in that all she came to do was give to Him. There was a unknown purpose behind what she was doing that no one realized. Jesus says that she was “preparing Him for burial”. This single act of worship is also recorded in Luke’s Gospel and tells in greater detail what this moment of worship looked like Luke 7:38

Luke 7:38 NKJV

38 and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.

What does our worship look like? How do we respond to the goodness of the Savior? Do we only worship and praise Him for what He’s done or who He is? The way we offer worship says a lot about who we perceive Jesus to be. Is He a kind man or King of kings? Is He a likable leader or Lord of lords? Is He a satisfying safeguard or Savior of the world?

Mary got it and she came not holding anything back. She left broke and broken because the presence of the Almighty! How do you leave? Full or empty? She walked away with a great loss and because of her sacrifice she received the greatest treasure. Having worshipped at the feet of Jesus.