Pure Worship Mark 14:
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 26 viewsNotes
Transcript
Love the Lord Your God
Love the Lord Your God
After Jesus’ parable of the vine dresser knowing that He had spoken the parable about them they sought all the more to lay hands on him but they feared the multitudes. Therefore there plan consisted of...
Then they sent to Him some of the Pharisees and the Herodians, to catch Him in His words.
Mark 12:
It is in these tricks they plan to catch Jesus in the heavily debated issues of the day..
Question on taxes. Whether or not they are to pay them.
Questions about the resurrection
Questions about the greatest commandment.
After these responses Jesus settles the arguments that have been heavily debated and searched out and silenced them.
Then He asked them a question that no one could answer about the coming messiah of how David could call his son his Lord. After that that no one ever dared question him again from that point forward.
Jesus then turns to the crowd and warns them of the scribes.
For they desire to go around in Long robes
Love greetings in the marketplace
The best seats in the synagogues
The best places at feasts
Devour widows houses
For a pretense make long prayers
The outcome of there life is not what would meet the naked eye.
But rather greater condemnation.
pretense A show, A cover…A pretense practiced by people for their own interests, The wearing of a disguise.
The depth of their disguise is even deeper than just a show for they themselve were deceived even by their own show in thinking it was achieving righteousness but rather on the contrary.
They were through and through hypocrites and were deceiving the people for their own gain. They were the whitewashed tombs. Proclaiming to love God rather they put to death the messengers of God.
Everything they lived for was for the praise and approval of men.
This is where we come to the contrast in this passage of True worship. These were not truly worshipping God as we had seen the description of the greatest commandments.
Its to love the Lord your God with all your heart and the second is like it, Love your neighbor as yourself.
It is not a care for the praise of people but rather the praise of God. Not prestige and position being the chief end of man. Not being the goal to achieve.
This in return then does not manifest itself in devouring widows but rather caring for them in their time of distress.
The bible says that you shall know them by their fruits.
We see a contrast then of worshipers for God.
a difference between:
Pure worship.
And
And
A Show.
Read .
Pray.
What a setting we see before us.
This is what this story unveils to us is Pure Worship.
We have to take a moment and just look at the guests who are filling this place. Jesus is accompanied by those that were dear to him.
He is eating at the house of Simon the leper. This should be the first indication of Jesus personhood. This man most understandably would have been healed during Jesus’ ministry. When was a leper they were outcast. The would have to scream out unclean unclean in the streets that they may not spread their infectious disease. They were separated from family usually to a camp outside the city. so this man sitting in his house and having a meal provided for guests leads us to assume this man was cleansed. Praise the Lord.
What a time of testimony that could take place beginning with this man but thats not all.
John gives us some deeper insight into who else was there and who anointed Jesus feet.
Before continuing on I think it is important to define what I mean when I say Pure Worship
Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.
John 12:1-
Lazarus who Christ had raised from the dead was dining at the table and his sister Martha who was serving them. This was not the first time that Martha had served but many times throughout Christs ministry. What a gift this was unto Martha who had a servants heart to serve others specifically through food was able to serve meals to the Lord. what an honor.
I just picture.
A former leper
A Man raised from the dead
A family who had their brother resurrected
not to mention the motley crew of disciples Jesus had filling the house.
fisherman, former tax collectors, a former Zealot amongst others.
If that isn’t a company knit together only by Christ then I don’t know what is. This should be the picture of the church. A company that is diverse by life, experience and vocation yet knit together as one. They all had a common denominator as a mathematician may put it, which was Christ.
Before continuing on I think it is important to define what I mean when I say Pure Worship
Before continuing on I think it is important to define what I mean when I say Pure Worship.
For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
James 3:17
The words of the Lord are pure words,
Like silver tried in a furnace of earth,
Purified seven times.
Psalm 12:6
Your word is very pure;
Therefore Your servant loves it.
Pure: clean, Flawless, perfect, without defect of any kind and so free from moral purity. When talking about an object it is not mixed with foreign particles or impurities.
So we could say then that it is worship that is not mixed with any other motives but is clean.
This is ultimately worship that is done in truth. This being sincere, authentic, genuine. As one would check a hundred dollar bill by holding it up to the light to ensure it is not counterfeit, may this be what our worship is when held up to the light of the world.
So James leads us right in saying:
For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
James 3
Now if we are not careful we will immediately assume when we mention worship that we are describing an allotted time on a Sunday morning in which we come to a building and corporately worship. If this were the case then we would assume a strict regiment for our sunday morning activities. This rather would be a misunderstanding of our worship. For it is but just a portion of our lives. And the standard is much higher than that.
This is ascribing worth and honor to something.
Honor, reverence, homage, in thought, feeling, or act, paid men, spiritual beings, and supremely God.
So by this we see that worship in the scope of devotion to God, if we love, him, if we seek to honor him, if we seek to revere him and fear him properly, then it is not merely an organizing of holy and sacred activities on a sunday morning but rather it is a life that is striving to be holy for He is holy. 24/7.
Everything we think, say, or do is ascribing to God His worth to us.
Thats a scary thought isn’t it?
How I love my wife is a form of worship to God
how I love my kids is a form of worship
How i work is a form of worship
How i wake up is a form of worship…Is it devoted in thought to him or the apps on my phone.
What we find in this anointing at Bethany was pure worship that now seeing we all could use a dose of in our lives.
Pure worship is chiefly concerned with what God thinks, Therefore Knows no cost, and is led by the spirit.
PURE WORHIP CARES WHAT GOD THINKS.
Pure worship holds God in the highest position of their heart. This is the beginning ground to building pure worship in our lives
The praise of men is not what they live for. knowing this is short lived and temporal.
This was the down fall of the religious leaders
They would sound the trumpet so that others will recognize before they did a charitable deed
They would wear long robes to appear holy by men
They would make long prayers to appear spiritual.
As we read earlier this is what they love but it
Does not do things for the praise of men and their doesnt care if they appear foolish as well in mens eyes.
After all this is the message that has radically changed our lives.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
Romans
A stumbling block to the Jew and foolishness unto the greek.
Nevertheless Marys act of worship was humble before the Lord in breaking policy, making a situation awkward, and possibly interrupting the night.
She poured the alabaster flask over his head then upon his feet and even wiped His feet with her hair the glory of a woman in that day.
Mary what are you doing we were having a good time testifying and reflecting on all the works Jesus had done…and you interrupted us.
Here in Marys instance look at the response of her worship.
But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”
But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.
John 12:4
It was rebuked first by judas and then the other disciples followed suit. There will always be those that will rain on our worship that God asks of us. Those that appear more spiritual.
and when it comes to worshipping with our money there will always be those that could have spent it more spiritually for us.
Ultimately its not what they think but what God asks.
Do you care more about what others would think that hinders acts of worship that God is asking of you?
Have you been decieved by false dignity that you would not bring yourself low and wash Jesus feet with your hair?
Knows no Cost.
Ultimately because God is her chief goal to please she properly understands that no COST is too great.
“Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.
John 12:5-6
Was Judas zeal for the poor here pure?
Was Judas zeal for the poor pure? Was his words of worship with no mixed motives? I think not.
He had his eyes on the cost. And what he could do with it instead.
This was a gift of 300 denari wasted over Jesus’ head…when there are hungry people in the world.
The question then is raised was this truly wasted?
A denari was a days wage.
This was 300 days of a working man poured over the top of Jesus head.
In america the average person works 260 days. Thats five days a week.
If we were to base this off of an average income of 30,000. According to this gift it was approximately $34,615.38.
And ol Judas is thinking of all that he could do with that money.
Don’t we do this ourselves?
How many times is there a struggle over our first fruits to the Lord and thinking of all the things we could do with that money.
Its not the amount that matters, that makes one spiritual. Jesus corrected this thought with the widows two mites.
Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.”
Mark 12:
Its a matter of the heart. Does God have your heart and do you worship him with your money knowing first and foremost that you are just a steward of what he has supplied to. This is the motivation in our liberty found in Christ.
And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.
2 corinthians 8:5-
In giving yourself to the Lord first it will manifest itself in giving to others. For this is the example of Christ himself.
I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.
2 Corinthians
The pure worship of one who gives is not grudgingly but cheerfully.
Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation.
But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:5-
It says in V. 8. She did what she could.
This is what she could. What she could doesn’t necessarily apply to me or to the widows two mites. For the widow gave all she had.
we need to get off the comparitive scale of who has given what and start saying what is God asking of me and am i cheerfully giving.
Not just of my money, but my time and even my talents?
In doing what she could is an emphasis that she had the proper understanding of what she possessed. She is just a steward of what God has supplied and what meager things she had are worthy to be given to the Lord. What she gave was what she had and if she had more she would have given that as well for nothing could amount to what her savior is worthy of.
Now we are getting into pure acts of worship that are removed from what others think, nor the cost of what the worship demands. Nothing refraining the heart from worshiping the Lord.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Now we are embarking upon our reasonable service.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
This brings me to the final point.
IS DRIVEN BY THE SPIRIT
When driven by the spirit it will always align itself with the word of God.
DRIVEN BY THE SPIRIT
As it is prompted and led by the spirit it is greatly fueled by the Word.
This is how we wisely think through what is being asked, through the filter of the Word.
Ran across this while preaching in the jail this week.
“True Worship with our lives from a spontaneous response to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. John Calvin insightfully says: “she was guided by the breath of the Spirit that in sure confidence she should do this in duty to Christ.” The Holy Spirit led her to do so for reasons she would only know in eternity, not the least of which was to be an example to the Church Universal. Among the tragedies of life are the times we are moved to do something fine or noble, and we do not do it.3 Instead, we yield to “common sense” or the busyness of life. We ignore the impulse to write a letter of appreciation, or the prompting to tell someone we love them, or the urge to give to a need. Thus the possibility of a thing of beauty is gone forever.”
A man asked me does God still speak through visions and dreams. Because he has been having dreams.
Im not going to say what God can and cannot do because he is God, but He will never contradict himself through his word.
Mark 14:
She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. 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.”
“True Worship with our lives from a spontaneous response to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. John Calvin insightfully says: “she was guided by the breath of the Spirit that in sure confidence she should do this in duty to Christ.” The Holy Spirit led her to do so for reasons she would only know in eternity, not the least of which was to be an example to the Church Universal. Among the tragedies of life are the times we are moved to do something fine or noble, and we do not do it.3 Instead, we yield to “common sense” or the busyness of life.” Kent hughes
So Jesse your telling me to give away everything I own and follow Christ.
If thats what you got out of this then have misunderstood the point of pure worship. Because i doubt you would do that cheerfully.
The question we must ask is does Jesus have your heart?
If he does then He will have your possessions as well right?
If we rightly understand that I have nothing apart from him from my job, to my health, to my family, to my savings account, then all is his. Therefore I am steward.
Now as a steward what we see is this Mary had aquired a flask of very expensive oil. Was this the only thing she possessed? I think not. I would say as well that she probably had other costly things as well.
But this day there was a prompting. There was a special act of worship that God was going to allow Mary who loved Jesus partake in.
It was going to appear as foolish to men. Your going to be out of place in their eyes. They will probably rebuke you. And its going to cost you.
One that Loves the Lord above all else says what is it Lord?
Go and anoint the head of my servant with the jar of costly oil that is in your cabinet.
Though you don’t fully understand now why you soon will.
Yes Lord. Anything for you.
When the Lord allows you to partake of these things it truly is a blessed thing.
others will always be able to spend our money for us but God has called us to be stewards to him not men. Therefore for this task it was not to give to the poor though that is needed but above all to give to him.
Our worship being led by the spirit and fueled by the Word.
Preaching the Word: Mark—Jesus, Servant and Savior Jesus’ Defense of Mary’s Act of Worship (v. 6)
The second reason it was beautiful is that it came from a spontaneous response to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. John Calvin insightfully says: “she was guided by the breath of the Spirit that in sure confidence she should do this in duty to Christ.” The Holy Spirit led her to do so for reasons she would only know in eternity, not the least of which was to be an example to the Church Universal. Among the tragedies of life are the times we are moved to do something fine or noble, and we do not do it.3 Instead, we yield to “common sense” or the busyness of life. We ignore the impulse to write a letter of appreciation, or the prompting to tell someone we love them, or the urge to give to a need. Thus the possibility of a thing of beauty is gone forever.
The third reason Mary’s work was so beautiful was that it was not dominated by practicality. It was simply done to and for Jesus with no thought of whether it was practical or sensible. If you are an artist or a musician, you can find affirmation in knowing that Jesus aligns himself with you by praising Mary’s non-productive act of devotion.
Jesus has a lot of strange things in his treasury: widows’ pennies, cups of water, broken alabaster vases, ruined recipe boxes. Has he anything of yours? Do you feel the impulse to do something beautiful for God? Then crown it with action.
And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”
This was not the great significance of cost or time but rather of heart and it is remembered by the Lord.
Matthew 10
Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
Matthew 25:
Preaching the Word: Mark—Jesus, Servant and Savior The Motive of Mary’s Act of Worship (v. 7)
Our Lord’s commendation to Mary for putting him above all else, properly understood, condemned an either/or approach to spirituality. Christians are to worship God and minister to others. The ideal is a lavish, contemplative devotional life in which we love Christ so much that we pour ourselves out for others. One without the other falls far short of the dynamic that Christ wants for us.
Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Mark 12:29-
Where is God demanding pure worship of you today?
Your mouth?
Your hands?
Your home?
Your pocket book?
Your Work?
Heart?
What shapes does this worship need to take on within your life?
Whats the steps of action God is calling you to?
Will you OBEY?
Is your worship for show just fooling yourself or is it pure towards God?
In doing what she could is an emphasis that she had the proper understanding of what she possessed. She is just a steward of what God has supplied and what meger things I have are worthy to be given to the Lord. What i gave was what i had and if i had more i would have given that as well for nothing could amount to what my savior is worthy of. Now we are getting into pure acts of worship that are removed from what others think, nor the cost of what the worship demands. Nothing refraining the heart from worshiping the Lord.