********John 12:1-9

Filling the House with Worship John 12: 1-9

John 12:1–9 (NRSV)

1 Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 2 There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. 3 Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” 6 (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. 8 You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” 9 When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.

John 12:1-9

A PORTRAIT OF EXTRAVAGANT WORSHIP

Intro: The word “extravagant” is defined as “1. spending too much: characterized by spending excessively or wastefully; 2. beyond what is reasonable: exaggerated or unreasonable; 3. unreasonably high in price: unreasonably high in price or cost; 4. flamboyant: profusely or exaggeratedly decorated, decorative, or showy.”[i] It has the idea of “going overboard, of doing too much.” Our text talks about a woman named Mary. We are told that she gave a gift to Jesus that some people thought was overboard. Some people thought what Mary did for Jesus was excessive, over the top, simply too much. In other words, many thought Mary’s gift to Jesus was extravagant.

Now, I would be the first to agree that many things in our society are extravagant. When I hear of someone spending 2 million dollars on a wedding, I think that is extravagant, over the top, simply too much! When I hear of someone spending $10,000 for one night in a hotel room, I think that is extravagant. I think spending $250,000 on an automobile is extravagant. I could go on and on telling you what I think is extravagant.

Now, often the word “extravagant” has negative connotations. It is used in a bad way. And, when we see people take the blessings they have been given by the Lord and squander them on themselves, it is a bad thing. However, when a person expresses their love and worship for Jesus Christ in an extravagant manner, there is nothing negative about that! After all, He is worthy of everything we can render to Him, because all we have comes from Him anyway. No gift is excessive; no expression of love is over the top, and no form of worship should ever be considered too extravagant to give to Jesus.

I would like to take a few minutes to look in on this scene as it is presented in our text today. I think the worship of Mary has much to teach us about what our own worship of the Lord Jesus should be like. Let’s look into these verses together and learn how to worship our Savior in an extravagant manner. I want to preach for a few minutes on A Portrait Of Extravagant Worship.

I. THE EXPENSE OF HER WORSHIP WAS EXTRAVAGANT

A. She broke a box of ointment and poured it on the head of Jesus and the feet of Jesus, See Mark 14:3. This ointment was valued at 300 pence. A pence was the daily wage of the average worker. Therefore, in modern terms, it would be worth fifteen and twenty thousand dollars!

This spikenard was produced from a rare plant that grew in India. It was hard to acquire and it was very expensive. People were forced to save for many years just to be able to provide enough ointment for their own funeral.

B. In the breaking of this box, two ancient eastern customs are in view. The first has to do with the breaking of glasses. When a distinguished person ate in a home, often the glass they had used was broken to prevent a lesser person from using it in the future. This may have been in Mary's mind as she broken the box.

Another custom had to do with burial rituals. After the body of the deceased had been washed and anointed, the box that had contained the embalming spices was broken and the fragments were buried with the individual.

Perhaps these were in Mary's mind. However, I like to imagine that she broke the vessel so that she might extract every drop of ointment for use on the Lord Jesus.

C. Regardless of the reason, one thing is clear: Mary gave everything she possessed to the Lord Jesus Christ! I wonder, have we broken the alabaster box of our life and poured out ourselves, every drop for Him? This is the thought that occupied the mind of Paul as he faced his own death, 2 Tim. 4:6!

D. We should look at our lives and ask ourselves if we have given everything we have and are to Him. You see, Mary's sacrifice was the ultimate expression of her love and worship of the Lord Jesus. She gave all she had! After all, Jesus said, “She hath done what she could,” Mark 14:8.

Have we placed everything we are on the altar for Him? Think about it seriously. What have you given to Him and what have you held back for yourself? When we love Jesus with all of our hearts, and when He occupies the proper place within our hearts, no price will be too great and no gift too extravagant to give to Him for all He has given to us!

(Ill. 0. Henry's short story called "The Gift of the Magi," illustrates the idea very well. It is the story of a young couple named Della and Jim. They were a poor couple but they loved each other deeply. Each one had their own unique possession. Della's hair was her pride and joy. When she let her hair down it was like a robe on her back. Jim had a gold watch, which his father had given him.

On the day before Christmas, Della had exactly $1.87 with which to buy Jim a present. She wanted to get him something he would really like, but she knew that she could not get much with a $1.87. She did the only thing she could do. She went and sold her hair for $20.00. With the money she bought a platinum chain for Jim's precious watch.

Jim came home from work that night. When he saw Della's shorn head, he was left speechless. Slowly he handed her his gift. His gift was a set of expensive tortoise-shell combs with jeweled edges for her lovely hair. He had sold his gold watch to buy them for her. Each had given all he or she had to give.)

II. THE EXPRESSION OF HER WORSHIP WAS EXTRAVAGANT

A. In Christ's day, people did not sit at a table to eat their meals. The tables they used were low to the floor, and the people reclined around the table at meal time. Typically, their heads were near the table while their feet were farther away. This would mean that anyone walking up to a person in such a position would be considerably taller than the person at the table. It is, therefore, assured that Mary would have assumed a kneeling position near Jesus, in order to anoint His head and His feet with the ointment.

In this one moment of time, Mary was making a great statement of surrender. By kneeling to Him and anointing Him, she was declaring her faith in Him as the Messiah. She was telling everyone who saw her do what she did that her faith was in the Lord Jesus Christ. She, at that moment, surrendered all to Him!

B. By her selfless act of love and worship, Mary was making a tremendous statement concerning Who she believed Jesus to be. Four classes of people who were anointed those day: Kings (2 Kings 9:3), Priests (Ex. 29:7), Prophets (1 Kings 19:16) and the dead (John 19:39-40; Luke 23:56; Mark 16:1). I believe that by her act of worship, Mary was acknowledging Jesus to be all of those things to her heart.

Certainly, Jesus is all of those things. He is the King of Kings, Rev. 19:16. He is the Great High Priest, Heb. 3:1. He is the Prophet, Matt. 13:31. He was dead, but is alive forevermore, Rev. 1:18. This is what Mary believed about Jesus and she demonstrated her surrender to Him as all those things by her act of love and worship.

C. Mary was more in touch with Who Jesus was and is than His own disciples were. She believed that He was about to die. They did not! Apparently she knew that His body would not available to anoint after death, so she did it ahead of time. No doubt her faith enabled her to see beyond the cross and the tomb to a day when Jesus would rise from the dead and occupy the throne of glory in Heaven. She was absolutely surrendered to the Lord Jesus Christ.

D. Her humility is on display in two profound ways. First, Mary was willing to do the work of a common slave for the Lord Jesus. Then, she was also willing to be seen in public with her hair down. This was a sign of an immoral woman. It appears that Mary was totally unselfconscious in her adoration and love of the Lord Jesus.

She didn't care what others thought. She didn’t care about their gasps, their stares or their ridicule! Not only has she surrendered her possessions, she had also surrendered her pride. Her primary focus was serving and honoring the Lord.

E. What about us? Are we as surrendered as Mary? Does the life you live reveal you kneeling before Him as absolute Lord and God? When Mary came to the feet of Jesus and gave her all; truly she had done all that she could do. When we get there, we can go no farther with Jesus. Just as Mary broke the box of ointment so that every drop might be extracted, let us break our lives on His altar so that He might extract the very last drop of glory from us. That is the price of surrender!

We should be so grateful for all that He has done for us that we are totally uninhibited and unashamed in the expression of our love and worship for Jesus. Therefore, we should allow our pride to die and show a lost and dying world that we are not ashamed to worship, witness, or work for the glory of Him who died to set us free. After all, our love for Him is in direct response to His love us, 1 John 4:19.

III. THE ENLARGEMENT OF HER WORSHIP WAS EXTRAVAGANT

A. Mary appears center stage three times in the Gospel record. Every time she shows up, she is doing the same thing: she is found at the feet of Jesus. The first time she appears it is at her own home. Martha is working, preparing a meal for Jesus and the others and Mary is sitting at His feet listening to Him teach, Luke 10:38-42. The next time we meet her is at the tomb of Lazarus. He has just died and Jesus has arrived at the tomb. Mary runs to Jesus and bows at His feet in supplication, John 11:28-32. The last time we see her is here, in our text tonight. She offers her worship to Him because of what He means to her. John 12:1-12; Mark 14:1-9; Matt. 26:6-13.

As we see Mary on the three occasions I mentioned, it is easy to witness the enlargement of her heart for worship, and of her capacity to worship, the Lord Jesus. The first time we see her in Luke 10, she is sitting at His feet as one Learning. She wants to hear His Word. The next time we meet her, in John 11, she is at His feet as oneLeaning. She wants to experience His Works. Here, she is at His feet as one Loving. She wants to declare His Worth.

B. Mary demonstrates the kind of steady progress that should mark the worship of every child of God! As we mature in the Lord, as we learn from His Word; lean on Him and experience His mighty Works in our live and as we learn to love Him more than anything, our worship should become more and more extravagant.

C. You see, everyone there that day had a reason to worship the Lord Jesus. Let’s look at the evidence:

1. Lazarus had just been raised from the dead; but he is not worshiping, he is watching!

2. Simon the Leper has been healed of leprosy, and the God of creation is dining at his house; but he is not worshiping, he is also watching.

3. Martha had witnessed Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead just like Mary did; but she is not worshiping, she is working and worrying.

4. Eleven of the disciples had experienced the saving touch of Jesus Christ and had been called to follow the King of Kings and Lord of Lords; but they are not worshiping, they are just watching.

5. Judas Iscariot is in the presence of the only One Who could save him from his sin and deliver him from Hell; but he is complaining and finding fault, instead of worshiping. In fact, all eyes had been on Jesus until Judas opened his mouth! (Ill. Some folks ought to think about that!)

6. Then there is Mary! She did what any of the others could have done. But, instead of holding back, she took the initiative and honored the Lord Jesus. Here was a woman who loved the Lord more than anything. As a result, she engages in profound worship at His feet. She bowed herself before Him. She did not care what anyone else thought. She opened her heart, and then she opened her hands, giving all she had in humble, intense worship of the Lord.

D. Is your worship experience growing deeper as the days go by? As

you walk in His light, enjoy His salvation and experience His power day by day, can you honestly say that your worship is enlarging? If you will stop and think for about 1 second, you will realize that you have many wonderful reasons for worship. Think of all He has done for you! Think of His salvation, His love, His provision, His grace, His mercy, His presence, etc. Think of Who He is, what He has done and what He has promised you, then be like Mary, not like the others, and give Him the worship He deserves.

Conc: When Mary broke that box and poured out that ointment on the head of the Lord Jesus, the Bible says that the “house was filled with the odour of the ointment.” Everyone there was made a part of the experience. There was no denying that Mary was giving her all in an effort to honor Jesus. Even those who criticized her could enjoy the fragrance of her sacrifice for the Lord. It probably wasn’t long before the fragrance drifted outside so those around the house could smell it.

You see, when the Lord is worshiped by His people in Spirit and in truth, it will be hard to keep it quiet. The fragrance of our worship will fill this house and follow us out into a lost and dying world. Like Mary, there may be those who will criticize us, v. 5, but in spite of that, there will always be One Who will receive our worship and honor those who honor Him, Matt. 23:12; 1 Pet. 5:5-6.

Friends, it honors the Lord when His people express their love for Jesus in extravagant worship. We should consider no gift too excessive. We should look at no sacrifice as being too great. We should praise God for every opportunity to give our all to Him is worship and humble service.

Has the vessel of your life been broken? Is the worship of your life being poured out at the feet of Jesus? Does the scent of your love for Him permeate your life with the sweet fragrance of Heaven? Or, is there room for more sacrifice; more love and more worship? Why don’t you bring all you have and all you are to Him tonight? Why don’t you lay it all down at His feet as the ultimate expression of your love and worship?

In the eyes of believers, this is one of the most beautiful passages in Scripture. The setting for this gathering is in the house of Simon the leper, Mk.14:3. The guest list is quite impressive. They are gathered in the home of a man who has been healed of the dreaded disease of leprosy. Lazarus is there whom Jesus raised from the dead, along with his two sisters, Martha and Mary. Jesus had been invited with His disciples. In such a gathering it would be easy to focus on the miracles rather than the Miracle Worker. Many had come to see Lazarus alive and well, but Mary had come to spend time with the Lord. She is mentioned three times in Scripture and each time she is found at the feet of Jesus. Of all that were there that day, Mary appears to be the only one who has a heart for worship. Today I would like to spend a few moments considering the life of a woman who had her priorities in order. She lived a life that bore a tremendous testimony for the Lord. I want to preach on the thought: Filling the House with Worship. In these verses Mary’s life reveals several aspects of heart-felt worship.

I. The Abundance of Her Worship (3a) – We know that Mary was a guest in the home of Simon, but she brought more abundant worship than any of the others. The events that are unfolding here are just prior to the Lord’s crucifixion and Mary has come to offer all that she can for her Lord. She took a pound of spikenard ointment and anointed the feet of Jesus. This was a tremendous sacrifice on the part of Mary.

 The ointment was valued at 300 hundred pence, a year’s salary. A pence in that day was a days’ wages. It was one of the most prized possessions that a person owned. Many would spend a lifetime acquiring enough money to purchase the ointment needed for their own burial. Mary had likely given all that she possessed in an offering to the Lord. She had sacrificed greatly to anoint His body prior to His death and burial. Mary spared no expense. She didn’t offer a small portion of the ointment, but she broke it open and poured all that she had upon the Lord.

 What a beautiful picture of sacrifice for the Lord. Mary literally poured out all of her being for the Lord. Jesus deserves the abundance of our worship. We ought to give Him all that we have, all that we possess. How many of us have poured out all of our existence unto the Lord? True worship must be abundant worship; it must be a sacrificial worship.

 Many today are unwilling to pay the price for real worship. Jesus must be the priority of our lives. He must be the desire of our hearts! Rom.12:1 – I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. What type of worship are you offering today? The Lord is worthy of all we can give and more. He deserves the sacrifice of our time, the service of our talents, and the support of our tithes. Your worship will have little impact on your life if it isn’t abundant worship.

I. The Abundance of Her Worship (3a)

II. The Attitude of Her Worship (3b) – As I said, Mary is always found at the feet of Jesus. She has humbled herself before the Lord and is anointing His precious feet with the valuable ointment. Her devotion is so great that she wipes His feet with the hair of her head. She was totally unconcerned about what others thought of her. She was determined to worship regardless of what others thought. She had assumed the position of a slave as she washed and anointed the Master’s feet.

 Many had come to see the One who had performed such miracles, but Mary saw the Lord in a different light. Yes He was the Miracle Worker, but He was much more than that to her. Jesus was her Lord and Master. She was looking beyond the meal that they shared. She was looking ahead to the cross, the death He would die, and the burial that would follow. She wanted to do all she could prior to the Lord’s great sacrifice.

 You see Mary had experienced the mighty power of Jesus as He called for her brother to come forth from the grave, but there was something that went beyond what had happened to Lazarus. I believe that Mary had trusted in Christ as the Messiah. She believed that He was the Savior of the world. In His presence she humbled herself before Him.

 We must develop that attitude of worship. Jesus has done great things for us, but nothing exceeds the sacrifice that He made that we might be saved. As you come before Christ, come humbly, mindful of all that He has done for you! Mary had given her all and she isn’t looking around to see who has noticed; she is humbly bowed at Jesus’ feet. How is your attitude of worship? Have you come today to honor the Lord and thank Him for what He has done? Are you willing to submit your life unto the Lord, whatever the cost?

I. The Abundance of Her Worship (3a)

II. The Attitude of Her Worship (3b)

III. The Aroma of Her Worship (3c; 9) – There must have been a large gathering at the home of Simon. As Mary anointed Jesus, the fragrance of the ointment filled the house. Can you imagine the scene of that day? As the people began to gather at the home of Simon a sweet fragrance filled the air. They had come to catch a glimpse of those who had been healed and of the One who had performed these wondrous miracles.

 As they stepped through the door they caught the fragrance. As they moved closer to the place where the Lord was sitting, the fragrance grew stronger. No doubt it was soon apparent that the beautiful smell was coming from the Lord. Mary had offered her worship and the aroma of that worship pointed to the Lord. In her act of obedience she drew attention to the Lord whom she loved.

 What kind of fragrance does our worship reveal? Is it something pleasant that draws attention to the Lord or is something that has no fragrance at all? I pray that or worship doesn’t send forth a fragrance that would hinder others from drawing nigh to the Lord. Mary’s worship didn’t send forth a stench, her worship declared, “Here is the Lord; He is the One that you need to see and recognize. This is the Messiah, my King!”

 Worship is a thing of beauty unto the Lord. It offers a sweet smell unto Him. May we let the aroma of our worship fill the house of God each time that we gather? I pray that it will well up in our souls and resound with the praises of God!

 May we live in such a way that our worship points folks to the darling Son of God? Let the fragrance of worship serve as a testimony to all that Jesus has done for us!

I. The Abundance of Her Worship (3a)

II. The Attitude of Her Worship (3b)

III. The Aroma of Her Worship (3c; 9) IV. The Assumption of Her Worship (4-5)

IV. The Assumption of Her Worship (4-5) – It doesn’t take long for the critics to show up. I don’t see anyone else ministering unto Jesus in this passage, but there are those who are quick to criticize her act of devotion and love. Judas, the betrayer, sees this as an act of extravagant excess rather that devoted worship. He is only concerned with the value of the ointment, which in his mind, has been wasted. We must remember that Judas was one of the twelve, but he had never recognized Christ as Lord.

 We can’t expect those who don’t know Christ to understand our worship. The world doesn’t see why we do what we do. Why would anyone give of themselves unto the Lord as we do? Why would we live our lives in submission to God?

 Mary offered genuine worship and adoration and yet she was ridiculed for her offering. Each of those present had plenty of reason to worship the Lord, but rather than offering any worship themselves, there was only criticism of Mary. Simon had been healed of leprosy, Lazarus had been raised from the dead, Martha was also Lazarus’ brother and should have been thankful, eleven of the disciples had come to know Jesus as Lord, Judas was one of the 12 who desperately needed to see Christ as the Savior, and yet all of these see no need to honor the Lord. There may have been criticism and doubt, but Mary had determined in her heart to honor the Lord with all that she had.

 There will be times when the world is critical of our worship. There will be times when you are looked upon as strange or fanatical, but even then we must continue to worship our Lord. I don’t know what all Jesus has done for you, but I know what He has done for me! I have every reason to worship Him today.

 Were it not for the loving favor and grace of my Lord I would still be dead in trespasses and sin. He has given me life abundantly and forgiven my sin. Let the world call me a fanatic; let them criticize and ridicule my faith; I will worship the Lord anyhow! I don’t expect them to understand, but I can’t let that hinder me from giving my Lord the praise He is due! I. The Abundance of Her Worship (3a)

II. The Attitude of Her Worship (3b)

III. The Aroma of Her Worship (3c; 9)

IV. The Assumption of Her Worship (4-5) ******

V. The Approval of Her Worship (7-8) – Here we find that Judas may have objected and the others may have been unconcerned, but her act of devotion didn’t go unnoticed. Jesus came to her defense. She was one of His and Jesus wanted them to know that He was mindful of her sacrifice. Of all who knew Jesus, Mary was the only one who offered any compassion for His coming crucifixion and death. She alone seemed to know what was coming and she did what she could.

 In Mark’s gospel Jesus declares that Mary will never be forgotten for her act of devotion. Mk.14:9 – Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her. Some 2,000 years later we are still talking about the worship of Mary. Her act of devotion serves as a testimony and challenge for those who follow the Lord.

 It doesn’t really matter what the world thinks of our worship. It doesn’t matter whether they approve, what matters is that Jesus is lifted up and magnified! The world may not notice or care, but Jesus is keeping a record. He is aware of each time we come before Him with a heart of worship.

 A heart of devotion and a life lived for the Lord is the greatest thing that we can leave our families. It will far outweigh the material possessions of this life. I want to challenge each of you, whether you are a young or old, you can make an impact on others and influence them to live for the Lord. Wouldn’t it be great to be remembered most for your love and devotion to the Lord?

A godly inheritance is far more valuable than a box of ointment or money in the bank! What kind of worship have you offered unto the Lord? Is He not worthy of all that we can bring before Him? Jesus wants to be the priority of our lives. We need to be willing and ready to worship as Mary did. She gave all that she had; she literally poured out her existence unto the Lord. How long has it been since you’ve spent some time at the feet of Jesus? Are you willing to submit yourself in service unto Him regardless of what others think? Why not come today and offer the sweet smelling aroma of worship unto the Lord and thank Him for all he has done for you? We need to fill His house with the sweet odour of worship!