WORSHIP THE SON!
Introduction:
As
Christian and Jewish Americans prepare to celebrate Easter and Passover,
respectively, Gallup finds the percentage of Americans who report belonging to
a church, synagogue, or mosque at an all-time low, averaging 50% in 2018.[1] The COVID-19 has further
contributed to that decline. Post-Pandemic, it is unlikely the Church
attendance will increase.
A new Pew Research Center survey finds that the main
reason people regularly go to church, synagogue, mosque, or another house of
worship is an obvious one: to feel closer to God.[2]
Many people say one fundamental reason they don’t regularly attend church
is that they practice their faith in other ways. Others cite things they dislike
about particular congregations.
They haven’t found a home church, don’t like the
sermons, the music, or the people. Still, others name logistical reasons such
as lack of transportation, being in poor health or sick with COVID-19, or
afraid of getting sick with COVID or not having the time to go, and so on.
What is the prime reason why God created and saved us?
Does the Bible say you have to go to Church? If I were to ask you why do you
come to Church, what would you say? On Redemption Road, we found out how
repentance plays a crucial role in receiving salvation and living a life of no
regrets. We have also discovered that there is life in the Son.
It was nearing Sabbath. Jesus was on the way to
Jerusalem, getting ready to complete his mission. Along the way, Jesus
established what should be the primary purpose of every person who decides to
follow Him. In the passage we read, we will meet an earnest disciple who
expressed her love and devotion to God unashamedly by giving up something
precious and valuable. Though she was dead over two thousand years ago, her
story will live on for generations to challenge believers worldwide in their
worship of Jesus the Son. John 12:1-11
I.
DINNER AT A FRIEND’S HOUSE
Vs. 1-2, “Six days before the Passover
celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had
raised from the dead. A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and
Lazarus was among those who ate with him.”
As per the Jewish custom, all the Jews in the region
would come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. It was six days to Passover;
Jesus and his disciples were on the road to Jerusalem. Along the way, they
stopped at his friend’s house in Bethany.
Bethany was some two miles east of Jerusalem, on the Mount
of Olives’ eastern side. Because the number of pilgrims would increase Jerusalem’s
population even “six days before the Passover,” it makes sense for Jesus to
stay with friends in Bethany and enjoy their hospitality one last time before
heading to Jerusalem. It was the home of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus.
Hearing the arrival of Jesus, the crowds gathered,
wanting to see Jesus and Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead. Out
of gratitude and honor of Jesus, Martha cooked up a huge meal. While
they were reclining at the table and eating, something unusual happened.
II.
EXTRAVAGANT DEVOTION
Vs. 3, “Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar (327 grams) of
expensive perfume made from essence of Nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with
it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.” What do we know
about Marth and Mary? On one occasion, when Jesus visited their home, Martha
was caught up in the busyness of preparing a meal for Jesus.
Whereas Mary sat at the feet of Jesus listening
to what he taught, for which Jesus commended her, saying, “There is only one
thing worth being concerned about, Mary has discovered it, and it will not
be taken away from her.” Luke 10:42. Mary had found something precious that no
one could ever take it away from her. What is that one thing of worth?
This feast was in honor of Jesus, who was the chief
guest of the occasion. While everyone is reclining and eating, Mary again chose
her favorite spot, “at the feet of Jesus.” Vs. 3, “Then Mary took a
twelve-ounce jar (327 grams) of expensive perfume made from essence of Nard,
and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house
was filled with the fragrance. “I want to share the significance of the
extravagant acts of Mary’s devotion.
The Spikenard (KJV) or Pure Nard (NIV) was a costly
perfume worth a year’s wages. It was found in northern India in the Himalayan
regions. It has been speculated that this jar may have been Mary’s dowry or her
inheritance. In other words, this jar of spikenard ointment may have been all
she had of value, and she poured it out on Him.
Her extravagant gift is a picture of the kind of
offering expected of each of us. Numbers 18:29, “You must present as the
LORD’s portion the best and the holiest part of everything given to you.” Mary
offered the best, the pure, and was willing to give everything as an act of
worship.
Preachers preached on principles of worship using Mary’s
extravagant acts of devotion. As I was preparing, I felt one of the ideas of
this passage was Worship of the Son. How do we know what Mary did was an act of
worship? The oil was costly, pure, and when she poured it on the feet of Jesus,
the house was filled with fragrance, symbolizing adoration, honor, and worship.
In the OT, the anointing oil was used to consecrate
priests to serve in the presence of the Lord. There was an altar of incense in
the Tabernacle, and later in the Temple, Aaron and the priests must continually
burn fragrant incense on the altar each morning (Exodus 30:7).
What prompted Mary to do such extravagant acts of love
and devotion? Could it be that she saw in Jesus what her sister, the crowds,
including the teachers of the law, have failed to see? Mary’s acts of anointing
Jesus’ feet with pure oil and publicly wiping his feet with her hair evoked
sharp criticism from Judas Iscariot and words of recognition and affirmation
from Jesus.
III
WORSHIP THE SON
Vs. 4-8, “But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would
soon betray him, said,
“That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been
sold and the money given to the poor.”
Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did this in
preparation for my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you
will not always have me.” What do we see in these verses?
Judas’s
words were contrary to what was going on in his heart. Outwardly he showed
concern for the poor, but in reality, he was stealing the money perhaps was
given to be spent on the poor. He indeed realized the worth of the perfume that
Mary poured on the feet of Jesus.
Jesus
being the reader of everyone’s heart and mind, rebuked Judas not to bother
Mary. He affirmed Mary, “she did this in preparation for my burial.” Mary saw
Jesus being worthy of her worship and love, so she gave up what was precious to
her. Jesus was pleased with that gift.
Jesus
said, “You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have
me.” Jesus’ point here is to prioritize devotion to him, not to diminish the
importance of serving the poor. As Mary worshipped Jesus by giving up all she
owned at that point, we are called to worship the Son by offering up ourselves
as a living sacrifice.
Romans 12:1“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give
your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and
holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to
worship him.” How are we today? Are we like Judas, who only does the lip
service to God? Or like Mary, who showed extravagant devotion to the Lord? From
the reading of Luke 10:41, “Mary discovered one thing, that was the Lord
Himself.
On the Redemption Road,
may we all discover the Son and Worship Him. In closing, let us pray as David
did, Psalm 27:4, “The one thing I ask of the Lord—the thing I seek
most—is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,” May the Lord
grant our desire. Amen!
