The Path of True Value: Worship that Matters

JHester7458 / General Adult

Journey Through the Gospel of John / John 12:1–8

Series Theme: The Path to the Cross (A Series from John 12)

Text: John 12:1-19

Sermon Thrust (Urgency): The Urgency of a Decisive, Unconditional Response to Jesus's Ultimate Claim.

Introduction: The Crisis Point (v. 1-2)

Let me start this morning’s message with a question.

What is the most valuable thing you own?

No need to answer out loud, but think about it! For some of you, the most valuable thing you own, materially speaking, might be a family heirloom passed down from generation to generation. Perhaps the most valuable thing you own is a hard-earned savings account or even a hard-won reputation in the community. Now imagine a moment so significant, or a person so compelling, that you take this thing that is so precious to you, remember that it is the one thing that is your security, glory, and “safety net.” You break it, pour it out, and watch it disappear forever, so that you can honor this person.

In John 12, we are six days from the Passover, in a small house in the village of Bethany, where something of this kind occurred. Today, as we return to our Journey Through the Gospel of John and begin with chapter 12, we start a new series for this chapter, “The Path to the Cross.” As we do, we find ourselves at a dinner party that was anything but ordinary. If you recall, a recent miracle caused considerable concern in this small village. In fact, two people at this little dinner party are at the center of the miracle. There is Lazarus, who had been dead for four days, sitting at the table and eating as if he had never died. There is also Jesus, the Resurrection. Now, as you can imagine, the air was filled with a mix of emotions. People were ecstatic about Lazarus and the great miracle that had just occurred. However, there was also a sense of heaviness from the shadow of Jesus’ impending execution. This is the point in John’s gospel where Jesus begins His march into Jerusalem. And, as we will see, His movement to Jerusalem and the cross of Calvary forced what I like to call a “Crisis of Value” upon everyone around Him. In today’s story, we are not just reading about a meal; we are reading about a spiritual audit.

The truth we face this morning is that we all struggle with the “weight” of our own lives. We have this fallen tendency to hoard our “jars” and protect our “bags.” You will understand the phrase more in a few moments. The fact is, we like a faith that is “sensible,” a faith that fits neatly into our spare time and whatever we have left over from our budget. We want a Savior who improves our lives without actually demanding our lives. We are often more concerned with the “value” of our religion - what it can do for us - than we are with the “worth” of our King. Every one of us, whether we have attended church for years or are just beginning to seek Christ, is tempted to calculate our devotion rather than sacrifice our hearts.

Our story today, in John 12:1-19, pulls back the curtain, exposing three different ways in which Jesus is valued. We see it in the silent, sacrificial tears of Mary; we see it in the cold, calculated heart of Judas; and, finally, we see it in the fickle praise of the crowds and the desperate plotting of the religious elite. Every character in this story is forced to decide: Is Jesus a King to be worshipped at any cost, or is He a threat to be managed?

As we examine these verses, we must come to terms with one defining truth:

The value we place on Jesus dictates our spiritual future, because true devotion is a sacrificial, costly commitment that inevitably entails a separation between faith and rejection.

Today, we are looking at “The Path of True Value: Worship that Matters.” And as we walk this path, we must ask: What is Jesus truly worth to us?

So, let’s step through the door to this house in Bethany, and, as we do, the first person we encounter is not a theologian or a priest; it’s a woman with a jar. While the world around her was busy calculating the politics of the moment, Mary was busy calculating the worth of her Savior. To understand what God truly expects of us on the path to the cross, we must first look to her - in doing so, we discover that...

We Must Embrace the Standard of True Value: Sacrificial Worship (Mary) (v. 3, 7-8)

Everything Mary does in our story this morning forces a decision. At the center of this decision is something that Christ said.

Matthew 16:24 KJV 1900

24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

We know from this story and from the entire chapter 12 of John’s Gospel that it marks a turning point in Jesus’ ministry. His path changes from ministering to everyone to ministering to those who have chosen to follow Him. In fact, as He enters Jerusalem, His path becomes the path to the cross. Everything about the cross is centered upon sacrifice. As noted, Christ said that all who follow Him must also take up their cross, meaning that their lives must be lives of sacrifice. Following His path to the cross requires moving beyond a faith of convenience. It means we embrace a standard that values sacrifice. In fact, the life of a faithful follower of Christ must be characterized by sacrificial worship. The actual value of our lives is revealed when we are willing to give up what is precious to us in exchange for Jesus. In doing so, we announce to all that He is the most valuable person in our lives.

This is what happens with Mary in John 12. Note verse 3.

John 12:3 KJV 1900

3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

Christ later noted this about her act of sacrificial worship.

John 12:7 KJV 1900

7 Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.

Consider for a moment the sheer weight and cost of Mary’s sacrifice. The Holy Spirit immediately notes that the “spikenard” she poured out was “very costly.” It was, in fact, so costly that Judas was swift to assess its value.

John 12:4–5 KJV 1900

4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him, 5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

Three hundred pence or “denarii” was roughly a year’s wage for a common laborer. Consider that in today’s terms. The value of her sacrifice was approximately $ 50,000 –$60,000 in today’s market.

Furthermore, she didn’t pour just a small amount of it on Jesus’ feet. She poured an entire pound of it. Then, in a very selfless act, she wiped His feet using her own hair. Not only did she sacrifice something valuable using the spikenard, but she sacrificed her own dignity and glory to honor Him. All of which was validated entirely by Christ as He linked what she did to His impending death. Again, I remind you that His death atoned for our sin. It was the ultimate sacrifice for us.

Mary’s sacrifice demonstrates the true meaning of sacrificial worship. Sacrificial worship is worship that comes at a great price. Worship is never truly sacrificial if it costs us nothing. Our issue is that we often prefer to live out a “safe” faith - faith that fits our spare time or our leftover budget. Sacrifice, by its very definition, requires loss. Sacrifice is all about giving up something valuable so that its fragrance can be released. Mary did just that. She wasn’t just throwing “money” away. Instead, she was most likely giving up her entire life savings or, maybe, her family inheritance. She understood what most failed to understand. She understood the path Jesus was walking as He approached Jerusalem. He was walking a path toward His own ultimate sacrifice as He went to the cross. Thus, the only appropriate response to Him was a sacrifice of her own. We cannot truly value the sacrifice of Calvary if we are unwilling to carry our own crosses of sacrifice in how we love Him.

Mary’s sacrifice forces us to ask ourselves, “When was the last time our worship actually cost us something?” As you reflect on your life, especially as we enter this new year and look back on the past year, can you honestly say that your following of Christ required you to give up a comfort, a grudge, a portion of your security, or even a piece of your reputation? In other words, what valuable sacrifice did you make for Christ, who sacrificed everything for you? As I think about Mary taking that jar of ointment, opening it, and pouring out the very valuable contents as she prepared to wash Jesus' feet, I realize that we all have “jars” in our lives as well. We hold on to certain things because they provide a false sense of worth or future security. Actual spiritual growth occurs when we stop admiring our “jars” and instead open them and pour them out for Christ’s sake. The fantastic thing about Mary was that she didn’t walk around that day, mourning her loss of wealth; instead, she sat in a house filled with the fragrance of her King. It is a lesson we all need to learn. We must recognize that the “loss” of sacrifice is, in fact, a “gain” of intimacy with Christ. We need to be people who find our greatest joy not in what we are hoarding, but in what we are sacrificially laying at His feet.

Sacrificial worship is motivated by genuine motives, not pretenses.

Now, remember, at this moment, the atmosphere in the room was transformed by the fragrance of Mary’s sacrifice. It was a beautiful, holy moment. But as the scent of that spikenard filled the house, it also began to expose the hearts of those sitting at the table. True sacrifice often acts as a light that reveals hidden shadows. While Mary was busy breaking her jar, someone else was busy clutching a moneybag. To truly walk the path of the cross, we cannot just admire Mary’s devotion:

We Must Reject the Deceit of False Value: Hypocritical Calculation (Judas) (v. 4-6)

Everything we do must be grounded in the right motivation. If we are going to truly follow Christ’s path to the cross (the place of true sacrifice), then we must be honest with ourselves about our motivations. Mary was motivated to sacrifice the most valuable thing she possessed in her worship of the Savior. However, Judas did not share that same desire. Judas portrays a great danger. He revealed that many have hearts that calculate what they can get out of life while simultaneously acting as if they cared for others.

Taking up our cross and following Jesus not only means we sacrifice our “jars,” but it also means we reject the deceit of “false value.” What do I mean by “false value?” False value is the temptation to prioritize our own comfort, security, or control while masking it with religious excuses. Essentially, it is valuing our own “bag” more than the Savior. Those who take this approach are missing the path of the cross entirely.

Judas is the perfect example of this in his reaction to Mary’s true act of worship.

John 12:4–6 KJV 1900

4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him, 5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

The Holy Spirit gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the darkness of Judas. He shares with us how different Judas’s words were from his private heart. Remember that man sees only the outside, but God sees the heart. Judas, in verse 5, is shocked at Mary’s worship. He protests that it should have been sold and “given to the poor.” Yet, as noted, the Holy Spirit opens the door of his heart and reveals his true intention. He was not really concerned about the poor. No, he was a thief. Judas was upset that he had lost the opportunity to steal Mary’s valuable gift. Consequently, Judas used a feigned protest on behalf of the poor to mask his own greed.

Judas did something that many of us do without even realizing it.

He made a hypocritical calculation. Hypocritical calculation is when we recognize that it is possible to do “religious acts” for entirely “selfish reasons.”

Please remember that Judas is one of the disciples. He is part of Christ’s circle of constant companions. Here he is sitting with everyone in Mary’s house watching Mary’s act of worship. He even talks good talk. I mean, who would be against helping the poor, right?  On the surface, he makes a good argument. However, Judas represents the part of us that refuses to “take up our cross.” The cross requires sacrifice and, more importantly, the death of our own self-interests. You see, Judas wanted a Messiah who would fill his pockets and make him rich. He was not looking to serve and sacrifice himself for a Messiah who would die on a wretched and despised cross. Whenever we start measuring our devotion by what we can get out of it, or when we use “good causes” to justify holding back from our total surrender to Christ, we are walking the very same path of Judas, not the path of the cross.

Here is where we must ask ourselves, “Am I using ‘practical’ excuses to avoid complete obedience?” Often, we say we are being “good stewards” of our time, talent, and treasure, yet in reality, we are being stingy with God. May I ask what is in the “bag” of your life? What are you holding back from God? Are you more concerned about your reputation, your position, or even your financial security? Being right with God is when we realize that everything in our “bag” belongs to Him. By the way, if the bag is more important than Christ, it is a snare to you. We need to “unmask” our hearts. We must become people who care more about the Lord of the work than the work of the Lord. Never allow your service to the Lord to become a cover for a heart that is actually “stealing” glory or comfort for itself.

Two people with two very different hearts: Mary with her beautiful sacrifice and Judas with his bitter calculation. A line has been drawn in this house in Bethany. However, the story doesn’t stay in the house. It spreads beyond. As Jesus steps out of Bethany and toward the gates of Jerusalem, the private heart-decisions of both Mary and Judas become the public divisions of the city. The path to the cross never leaves us where it found us. It forces a final separation, and if we are to follow Him,

We Must Accept the Outcome of Value: The Final Verdict (The Crowds & Rulers) (v. 9-11, 19)

Here is something that became evident to me as I was studying for this message. The path to the cross is a path that divides. Note that as Jesus moves toward Jerusalem and the final week before His arrest, we see that how we value Him is not merely a private opinion; it is, in fact, a decision that determines our spiritual destination.

Here is the thing. To follow Christ, to follow the path to the cross, we must recognize that our response to Jesus leads to an inescapable verdict. How we value Him will either lead us to trust Him more deeply or to reject Him firmly. There is no middle ground. There is no straddling the fence. As I already said, following Christ requires a decision.

We see this in both the throng of people surrounding Jesus and the religious leaders. Look at our text.

John 12:9–11 KJV 1900

9 Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death; 11 Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.

John 12:19 KJV 1900

19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.

Note the contrasting reactions of the crowd and the religious leaders. In verse 11, the word “believed” provides a strong indication of how many responded to Lazarus’ resurrection. It compelled them to leave their old life and place their trust in Jesus Christ. However, in verses 10 and 19, we see the opposite outcome. Note that the chief priests and Pharisees didn’t just disagree; they consulted to commit murder. Do you understand how the very presence of Jesus forced a separation? Some believed, but the religious leaders became entrenched in their opposition to Him. They realized that they were “prevailing nothing.” Thus, the OUTCOME OF VALUE was realized as people were choosing the King, and it forced the religious establishment to choose between total submission and total opposition. We know what they chose!

Even now, Christ forces a decision.

You can either go the path of belief or the path of rejection. You cannot encounter the Savior and remain the same. It was the same as it is today. Lazarus was “living proof” that taking a neutral stance was impossible. For those who chose to believe, valuing Jesus was a source of freedom. However, for the Pharisees, Jesus was a source of fear and desperation. Both saw Jesus for who He truly was - the King who raises the dead. In the same way, when we finally see Jesus as the King who raises the dead, we too are forced to make a decision. We can either “go after Him” as many did in verse 19, or we can try to “put to death” the evidence of His work in our lives, knowing that it threatens our control. In a sense, Christ is the line drawn in the sand of our souls.

Sitting on the fence is not an option on the path to the cross. Ignoring “Lazarus,” complete evidence of Christ's saving and resurrecting power, is itself a choice of rejection. That is the danger of trying to remain neutral.

Here is the real question. Are we willing to be part of the “many” who went away from the religious status quo of their day to follow Jesus? If we are to remain right with God, we must leave behind the approval of the “chief priests” in our lives. As we examine this scene, we are compelled to ask: Is my life evidence that leads others to believe, or is it a barrier? When people see how we “value” Christ - our sacrificial worship (Mary) versus our hypocritical calculation (Judas), what verdict are they forced to make about the King we claim to serve?

Conclusion: The Unconditional Response (Closing Challenge)

As we look back on the path we walked today, we see that, to follow Jesus to the cross truly, we must choose the sacrificial worship of a broken jar over the hypocritical calculation of a guarded money bag, knowing that our valuation of Christ ultimately determines our final verdict before God.

I encourage you this morning: do not leave with your “spikenard” still sealed. The path to the cross is narrow, and you cannot walk it while clutching the things you think provide security or status; break your jars of pride, open the bags of self-interest, and pour your life out lavishly upon the only King who is worthy of it all.

The house in Bethan eventually became quiet, and the three hundred pence was spent, but the fragrance of Mary’s love still lingers in the pages of our Bibles today. I, for one, don’t want to stand at the end of my life having played it “safe” with Savior who gave me His everything; I want my life to be a broken vessel that leaves the scent of Jesus in every room I walk into, because a life spent on Him is the only life that is never wasted.

You will eventually leave behind everything you hoard and value in this world, but you will never lose what you sacrificially leave at His feet.

Altar Call: At the Feet of the King

Please stand and, as you do, remain in an attitude of prayer with your head bowed and your eyes closed. I want you to visualize that room in Bethany. Jesus, the King of Kings, is there. The cross is just around the corner. Some of us have been sitting at the table with Him. Unfortunately, we have been more like Judas - calculating the cost, weighing our options, and holding tight to our “money bag” of security. Yet, right now, the Holy Spirit is speaking to you, saying it’s time to move. It’s time to move from the seat of the spectator to the feet of the Savior.

For those of you who realize that you have been holding back, you have been playing it “safe,” but you know there is a “jar (something)” in your life - a talent, a resource, a dream, or perhaps your very heart - that you have kept sealed. If you are ready to say, “Lord, I stop calculating, and I start worshipping; I’m breaking the jar today,” I invite you to step forward. Come and lay that sacrifice at the altar as a sign that He is your most significant value.

Perhaps you are here today and realize you have been using religious language to mask a self-interested heart. You’ve been going through the motions, but the “bag” has become more important than the Master. If you need to repent of your “hypocritical calculation” and ask God for a pure, unreserved heart, the altar is open for you. Don’t leave here wearing a mask; leave her with a clean heart.

Finally, there may be someone here who has been “straddling the fence.” You’ve seen the evidence - you have seen the “Lazarus” miracle in the lives of others - but you have remained neutral. Today, the line is drawn in the sand of your soul. The path to the cross demands a decision. If you want to go “after Him” today for the first time, to move from death to life, I invite you to come as well. Don’t wait for a more convenient season; He is here now.

The fragrance of Mary’s worship only filled the house AFTER THE JAR WAS BROKEN. If you want your life to be a sweet aroma to God, the breaking must happen. Whether you come to the altar or pray where you are, would you tell Him right now: “Jesus, You are worth it all.”