Costly Worship

Introduction

Have you ever misjudged the value of something?

ILLUST - My Coke bottle collection

Not worth much, “But you never know.” What if we misjudged the value?

When you find something valuable, how much are you willing to pay for it?

The more you misjudge the value of something, the more you miss out on experiencing its worth.

Is it possible to misjudge the value of Jesus? What if we miss out on experiencing the worth of Jesus?

John 12:1–8 (ESV)

1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table.

Six days before Passover

Likely falling on the Saturday before Jesus’ crucifixion

they gave a dinner

Indicates large evening meal. It is in Jesus’ honor.

At Simon the Leper’s house? Mark 14

John doesn’t tell us whose house it is but Mark says it was at the house of “Simon the leper.” Could be that Simon is the father of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary or they are guests in his home (he is the one throwing the party?) but we really don’t know.

3 Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

pound = Litra

pure nard

Spikenard was a rare and expensive fragrant oil imported from northern India.

Has a sweet smell, like a gladiola.

Used for medicine, breath mine, perfume.

Because it was so rare, it was often diluted to make it more affordable. This nard was pure - most expensive.

anointed feet

sitting at the table with feet out

the act itself wasn’t uncommon (everyone stank) but much about this particular act by Mary does stand out

wiped with hair.

4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.

Judas — other Matt / Mark - don’t name Judas

7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”

Contrasts

Belief / Unbelief

Recently resurrected from dead / One preparing for death

Radical devotion / hypocritical religion

Let’s take a look at what Mary’s act in this story says about the value and worth she places on following Jesus as expressed through her act of worship. And ask yourself if it describes your devotion in following Christ.

The Essence of Worship

It was unconditional.

She broke the flask. (found in Mark’s account). Often perfume was sealed and the only way to open it was to break it.

It was an alabaster flask. Expensive flask - maybe an heirloom. Unless they were very wealthy could have been financial security for them.

She poured it. (Mark) This was not a little dab of essential oil.

This takes the story from ordinary to almost scandalous. When they saw Mary come in with the jar, they probably thought “How nice and appropriate to give Jesus a few drops of this special perfume.’

Then Mary breaks the jar, and pours it on Jesus.

She didn’t commit some of her devotion to Jesus, she committed ALL of it.

She is all in.

She didn’t commit some; she committed all. She didn’t commit a tithe; she trusted Jesus with everything.

The moment she poured it it became holy — set apart.

Where are you in your devotion to Jesus? Sometimes we want to give Jesus a few drops of our life instead of everything. We need to save some “in case.”

If you can’t commit to Jesus with your all, are you really committing to him at all?

John 12:25–26 (ESV)

25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

Jesus is worth our unconditional devotion.

It was unhindered.

“anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair.”

In her devotion to Jesus, Mary didn’t care what anyone else thought.

The anointing of feet was not all that uncommon, but doing so during dinner was considered improper among the Jews.

More than this, she let down her hair.

Women would not allow their hair to be seen in public. They would only let down their hair in front of their husband or family.

Mary doesn’t care. She uses the very object of her own glory, her hair, to dry the feet of Jesus.

She worships Jesus with reckless abandon and hopes that those around her will not judge her as a loose woman but for what she is — a woman confident in the safety of simply being with Jesus.

She doesn’t care what Martha thinks

She doesn’t care what the culture thinks

She only cares what Jesus thinks

She is showing Jesus the extent of her humility and devotion, and she feels safe to do this.

What if we all worshipped this way? What if we could worship with reckless abandon instead of worrying about what others think?

Illustr - eastern region conference worship - sad white guy

But even more than how we express worship at church, what if we lived our lives with such unconditional devotion that we were completely unhindered by what the world thinks.

Instead of Tik Tok, Instagram, Facebook, young ladies learn their worth is not in how other people rate them — it’s in how Jesus accepts them.

Instead of needing to have a certain title or payscale, men learn their value is being found in Christ and what He says about them.

It was shared.

John 12:3 (ESV)

The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

Others were brought into the experience and affected by Mary’s devotion to Jesus.

It affected everyone there — even Judas.

positively and negatively - to Judas it was a stench

When you live a fully devoted life, it affects others. They smell it. They can smell a genuine follower of Jesus as opposed to simply a religious follower.

Have you ever been in a room with, had a conversation with someone who truly understood the value and cost of following Jesus?

It was extravagant.

John 12:5 (ESV)

5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”

1 denarius = 1 day’s work

300 denarii = 1 year’s work (days off for Sabbath)

Cost today = $30,000 - $50,000

It was extravagant. Notice I didn’t say, “It was excessive.”

Judas (and others according to Mark / Matt?) believed it was excessive.

Not a matter of proportion, but devotion.

v 5-6

Because. . .

It was relational (not religious).

John 12:5 (ESV)

5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”

(6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.)

Judas objects and give a religious reason. Seems like a practical reason.

I could even see myself objecting the same way — Mary, you could have done so much ministry with that money!

John 12:7–8 (ESV)

7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”

Not neglecting the poor or devaluing ministry to the poor, instead, it is pointing out the immense value in the presence of Jesus.

Jesus hinting at his death — when he is gone there will be time to take care of the poor (not really Judas’ concern anyway).

Judas concerned with religious duty while Mary sees the value in the relationship.

ILLUST - Duty and value to fix a damaged car - when estimating, some people wanted me to ‘save’ the car beyond it’s value because of their sentimental relationship with the car

[It was theological AND emotional]

The Object of Worship

And look at Jesus’ feet. She pours this lavish love on his feet. His dirty, smelly, human feet. Why? Because the least of Jesus is worthy of the best of us. You don’t put the best ointment on his head, and the worst ointment on his feet. Because the lowliest part of Jesus is infinitely more precious than the highest gift of man.

John Piper, Sermons from John Piper (2000–2014) (Minneapolis, MN: Desiring God, 2014).

The value of the Object

Here is the key: Understanding the value of Jesus.

If Jesus is only:

religious figure

tradition

genie when you’re in trouble

Then this story will make no sense to you.

ILLUST - Baptism with 1 Corintinos church - “Who is Jesus to you?” “Él es mi vida.” Jesus is my life.

How many of us really understand or remember the value of Jesus?

This perfume was probably soaked into his clothes and one of the last smells as he makes his way into Jerusalem to be killed.

Matthew 13:44–46 (ESV)

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

The Reason for Worship

Because of Jesus, a person was raised from death to life and there are profound implications for Mary’s (your) life.

The Resurrection and Life was sentenced to death so you might live.

Conclusion

3 possible characters in worship:

Jesus - not you

Judas - You?

I’ll follow Jesus if I see the value in it — if / when he meets my desires.

See Jesus only as an object of religion — not of worship / relationship

See ANYTHING as more valuable than following Jesus

Mary - You?

See the true value of Jesus and what he has / can do.

Willing to unconditionally give EVERYTHING to follow him.

More satisfied in being found simply at Jesus’ feet that with anything else.

What is the proportion of your devotion?

When I survey the wondrous cross

On which the Prince of glory died

My richest gain I count but loss

And pour contempt on all my pride

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast

Save in the death of Christ, my God

All the vain things that charm me most

I sacrifice them to His blood

See, from His head, His hands, His feet

Sorrow and love flow mingled down

Did e’er such love and sorrow meet

Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine

That were a present far too small

Love so amazing, so divine

Demands my soul, my life, my all