Extravagant Worship

Today we will be studying John 12:1-11. I encourage you to open your bibles to that passage, or follow along using the Bible Study App, or on the screen behind me.

As you open to that passage, let’s review the background to this event, which occurs just before the final week of Jesus before His death and resurrection.

Jesus had recently raised Lazarus from the dead. When he did this, many people believed in Him, the Son of God, the Resurrection and the Life! The One that can give us new life, and eternal life.

However, some were so opposed to Jesus, that even the raising of Lazarus from the dead would not persuade them. Rather, they plotted to kill Jesus because they were worried that more people would follow Him.

So, Jesus withdrew from Bethany, which was a short distance from Jerusalem, to Ephraim (John 11:54) until it was almost time for the Jewish Passover.

When it was nearly time for the Passover, Jesus once again travelled to Bethany. Here is where Mary annointed Jesus with her very expensive perfume.

John records this in John 12:1-11, our passage for today. This incident was also recorded in the gospels written by Matthew and Mark. As is so often the case, eye-witnesses often give different details. So what I have done is combined the passages for us to read and get the full picture of what took place.

Let’s read the account of what took place together.

John 12:1 NIV

Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.

John 12:2 NIV

Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.

Mark 14:3 NIV

While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.

John 12:3 NIV

Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

John 12:4–6 NIV

But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

Matthew 26:8–9 NIV

When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.”

John 12:7 NIV

“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.

Mark 14:6 NIV

“Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.

John 12:8 NIV

You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

Mark 14:7–9 NIV

The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

John 12:9–11 NIV

Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.

Prayer

Extravagant Worship

As we study this passage, I want to look at a few of the people mentioned, and learn what God has for us from the examples of their lives.

We will see three things that should be a part of every believers’ life, and one thing that should not.

We will see service, fellowship and worship. Then we will also see judgment and condemnation.

Martha

The first person mentioned in this account is Martha. What is she doing?

She is working. She is serving everyone.

This seems to be who Martha is. This is what Martha does. She is a server. We see that in another account of Jesus’ life as recorded in Luke. On another occasion, Jesus had been in Lazarus, Martha and Mary’s home, and there we see...

Luke 10:38–42 NIV

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Martha

Martha was serving then as well! This is what Martha did. Even on this occasion, when the dinner for Jesus was being given in the home of Simon the Leper, Martha is serving! I wonder if she was in charge of the meal?

I’ll bet she worked hard all day to make sure everything was just right. The aroma from the food must have filled the house and everyone was likely entering the home in anticipation of the meal. Then, once everyone was there, Martha began serving.

This was her thing. This is what she loved doing, and I’ll bet she was happy and in great spirits as she served a dinner in honor of Jesus, who had raised her brother from the dead! This was truly a joyous event. I wonder if she was almost doing a dance as she served?

This is certainly different than the previous dinner isn’t it? At the previous dinner, Martha was serving, but her attitude wasn’t so great. She was all upset because Mary was not helping. Jesus had told Martha on that occasion, that just sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to Him was even better than serving, and that He would not take that away from Mary. I think she learned that day, that enjoying and worshiping Jesus was the truly important thing.

On this day, that is what she was doing. She was no longer just the hostess with the mostest. She was no longer just about all the details, and worried about everything being just right. On this day, her attitude was one of joy and worship. She served. She did attend to the details. She did everything she could to serve well. But it was not out of an anxious spirit. It was out of a spirit of joy and worship! She was worshipping extravagantly through her service!

The difference is all in the attitude, isn’t it?

Martha served with an attitude of extravagant worship, focusing on Jesus, and not on what anyone else was doing or not doing.

Lazarus & Simon

The next people mentioned are Lazarus and Simon the Leper. What a name! Simon the Leper. How would you like a name like that?

It is likely that had been a leper. He likely HAD leprosy in the past, because if he still had it, he would have been required to live away from home in a cave, and away from people. He would never be allowed to eat with people.

Since he was obviously no longer leprous, what happened? Back then they had no medicine or cure for leprosy. But they had Jesus! Jesus had healed a number of lepers in the years He ministered. And Simon was likely one of them.

Can you imagine what dinner with Simon and Lazarus was like? The stories they were telling?

They were truly fellowshipping with Jesus! They were enjoying His presence. They were remembering all Jesus had done for them. They were worshipping extravagantly as they recounted the different Jesus made in their lives! They were honoring and worshipping Jesus!

Oh what a time that must have been, extravagantly worshipping Jesus by recounting what He had done; remembering the great change and difference He made in their lives!

Mary

Then enters Mary. Into this seen where Martha is truly serving with a worshipful attitude, focusing on Jesus instead of the others around her, where Lazarus and Simon and telling everyone how Jesus had radically changed their lives, Mary comes and does the unexpected.

Mary worshipped extravagantly by giving Jesus her treasured possession. She gave her life savings.

The perfume that is described here would have been imported from India. It was kept in a sealed alabaster jar. And it was about 12 ounces worth. It would have cost the amount of money that a laborer would make in an entire year! It was a lot of money in that little jar! It was like a life’s savings for Mary.

However, Mary truly loved Jesus. He had changed her life. He had saved her life by raising her brother, and through his teaching, she believed in him and had eternal life! She loved Jesus, and was thankful for all He had done.

She loved Him for what He was about to do! This was just 6 days before He would give His life by dying on the cross for her sin. Jesus had been talking about this over the past few months. The disciples didn’t get it, even though He said it plainly. I believe Mary understood. She believed what He said. Jesus even said, she was doing this for His burial! She knew what was coming, and she loved Jesus so much for what He was about to do to give her forgiveness for sin, and eternal life!

So, she worshiped extravagantly!

What could she do to Jesus to show Him how she loved Him? She could think of nothing better than her life savings wrapped up in that bottle of perfume. She gave sacrificially! She gave extravagantly! He was going to give His life for hers! She wanted to give sacrificially her life for Him!

I love the way Jesus said it as recorded in Mark. “She did what she could!”

So she took her life savings. She broke it, and poured on His head, and His feet. But she did not want it just to be running all over the place. She needed to rub it in. She wanted it to stay with Him. Not having anything else, she let down her hair and wiped his feet. She loved Him so much she was willing to humble herself to wiping his feet with her hair!

And then, her sacrifice filled the entire house!

As the wonderful aroma of that extravagant worship filled the house, we then see the next character enter the scene… Judas.

Judas

Judas couldn’t believe what was happening. How could she waste that expensive perfume! She should have sold it and given the money for the poor… poor him, that is.

Judas was self-centered, and self-focused. He took all that God provided, and decided it was meant for his own use and benefit. He wanted the proceeds for his own gain.

So, he judges and condemns Mary for her extravagance. He influences others to the same mindset.

He is not about focusing on Jesus and extravagantly worshipping Him, even after seeing all that Jesus had done over the years; the healings, the miraculous feeding of the 5000 and then the 4000, the calming of the storms, the casting out of the demons, the raising of the dead. He did not remember what Jesus had done for him, giving him power to perform miracles, and giving him a part in blessing so many others. He did not remember all that Jesus taught. He did not allow Jesus to change him. He heard what Jesus taught, and then lived his life his way.

Judas. An example of what believers are not to be.

What about me?

That brings us to consider the application in our own lives.

First, am I like Judas in any way?

Do I hear the teachings of Jesus and walk away to live my life my way?

Do I fail to remember what Jesus has done for me?

Do I fail to consider others, or am I judgmental and condemning?

If so, let us confess that sin to Jesus, and ask Him to change us to be more like Lazarus and Simon!

Fellowship

Lazarus and Simon extravagantly worshipped by taking time to remember Jesus, and all He had done for them. They talked about it with others. The told it back to Jesus! They extravagantly worshipped by fellowshipping in this way with other believers, and spending time with Jesus.

They allowed Jesus to change their lives. Like we discussed last week, they did not look back to the grave, to their past. They did not allow their old way of living to keep them bound. They lived and rejoiced in the new life Jesus had given them, and they told others!

Are we doing that? If not, let’s make that our goal this week. Let’s take time to tell Jesus and others the things He has done; the difference He has made in our lives. Let’s worship Him extravagantly for what He has done!

Service

Martha served Jesus. Many of us do things to serve the Lord. But do we do it with the old attitude like the old Martha? Do we serve out of anxiousness? Are we serving so others can see what we do? Are we serving so everyone will be impressed? Do we allow that attitude to creep in and make us anxious about what people think? Do we allow that attitude to make us upset with others who do not serve as well as we do? Do we talk and complain about others not doing it as well as we would? If so, we have a sinful attitude that is really serving out of self-glorification. Let’s admit that. Let’s confess that, and ask God to make us like this new Martha!

Let’s serve because we love Jesus! Let’s serve out of a heart of gratitude for Him! Let’s serve doing everything we do for Him and Him alone, not worrying about others and what they think!

Extravagant Worship

Finally, let’s be like Mary.

Mary worshipped by giving extravagantly.

Jesus gave His all, His very life, for you and me. He doesn’t just sit in Heaven and say, “I will forgive you.”

He suffered and died for all of our wrong thoughts and deeds. Because He took our punishment, He gives forgiveness and power for a new way of living!

What is that worth?

What is your life worth?

What is the freedom of forgiveness worth?

What is the peace and hope of eternal life worth?

What is a relationship with our God and Creator worth?

That is why we give, like Mary gave.

That is why I believe the standard we see going all the way back to Abraham is people giving a 1/10 of what God provides back to Him! We give extravagantly to worship Him! We recognize that we would have nothing if He did not provide for us daily!! So we worship Him!

Some think that 1/10 is too much of a sacrifice. I know that there have been moments in my own heart where I think that if I did not give a tenth to God I could have a new car, or something else that I would love to have.

But Jesus sacrificed so much for me! He provides so much for me. I need to be thankful and worship Him for His provision. And I need to obey like Mary did, and give back to Him extravagantly!

David faced this himself. Once he was going to buy a plot of land and cattle to offer to God. The owner wanted to honor David as a king and give him the land and cattle.

David said,

2 Samuel 24:24 NIV

But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them.

How can we give God something that really doesn’t cost us anything?

Some people give what doesn’t really cost them much.

We need to be like David and give sacrificially as a means of worshipping our savior who sacrificed all for us!

We need to be like Mary, and give extravagantly!

Are you giving sacrificially to truly make giving an act of worship?

Are you giving extravagantly, like Mary did, because Jesus is worth it! A life is worth is! Freedom, forgiveness, peace and joy are worth all we can give?

Let’s give sacrificially and extravagantly to worship Jesus for who He is, and all He has done, is doing, and will do for us in all eternity!

Homework

Read Luke 10:38-42. Then read John 12:1-4. Consider Martha. How would you describe Martha? What was Martha’s attitude while serving in Luke 10? How did she respond to Mary not helping? Does she act that way in John 12? What was different? Was Mary helping to serve in John 12? Or was Martha’s attitude different? What do you think is different about her attitude? How can we learn to have a better attitude in serving? How do Colossians 3:17, 22-24 speak to our attitudes while serving? Ask God to give you the right attitude when serving.

Read Luke 10:38-42, and John 12:1-4. Consider Simon and Lazarus. What were they doing in John 12? What do you think they were doing while reclining at the table with Jesus? Might the change Jesus made in their lives have been a topic? Do you think they spent time reflecting on all Jesus had done for them and thanking him? How important is it in Jesus’ eyes to spend time with Him? How can you spend time ‘reclining’ with Jesus each day? Take time to reflect upon, and thank Jesus for the changes He has made in your life.

Read John 12:1-3, and Mark 14:3. Consider Mary. Why would she break the jar and pour out the entire contents on Jesus’ head and feet? Why use such expensive perfume (John 12:5)? This was likely her life’s savings… and she gave it all! Consider all that Jesus has done for you over all the years of your life. The protection. The provision. The salvation. The hope. The peace. The joy. The comfort. The future glory. The eternal life! How much is all of that worth? How might we express our appreciation back to Him? How does our worship in giving reflect our dependence upon Him? How does our worship in giving show our obedience to Him? Why do you think sacrificial giving is—as Mary and David learned (2 Samuel 24:24)—important?

Read John 12:4-6. Consider Judas. Doesn’t giving to the poor sound reasonable? Why did Judas say this? Have you ever tried to justify your actions, even using something you were not truly going to follow through on doing? What does Jesus response in John 12:8, and Mark 14:7 mean? What can we learn from Judas, and Jesus’ response? Consider Romans 14:4, 10-13.

Read John 12:9-11. Lazarus was living proof of the change Jesus can make in a life. How are you living proof of the change Jesus can make in a life? Are you like Lazarus? Are you letting others know and see the difference that Jesus makes in your life? How are you letting others see, and telling them about the difference Jesus makes in your life? Tell someone today.

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