Risky Worship
Six days before Jesus' death, his friend Mary and Martha and their brother, Lazarus, who Jesus raised from the dead, threw a dinner party. Part of the occasion was giving thanks for Jesus' miracle for their brother, and the unintended purpose was to anoint Jesus for the cross. While Mary was serving as usual, Mary anointed Jesus with pure nard an expensive perfume, whose fragrance filled the house. This is called spikenard, and was made up of oil derived from varying kinds of flowering plants, like lavender. It was also used as an incense in the temple of worship back in the Old Testament. It was very expensive as well. When translating into today's worth, it is estimated to be about $10,000.
The fact that Mary anointed Jesus with the oil by using her hair was also an act of extreme devotion. In some ways it might have been considered scandalous, as women were not allowed to let their hair down in public. Meanwhile, all Judas can do is complain that it wasn't used for the poor. Of course Judas in his jealous heart is already starting to be filled with other plans. Judas does not yet have his mind on heavenly things, and is mainly preoccupied with money. Later he will sell out Jesus for a mere pittance.
So what can we learn from this story? Importantly we see what true worship looks like. For Mary shows us that worship is a matter of offering up to God what is ours in response to who He is. Mary knew she was worshipping the living God, who would prove this a few days later. Coincidentally Mary would be one of the first people he revealed himself to, after he was raised from the dead. Not only was worship costly for Mary from the sense of buying the expensive perfume, but she also showed her love of Jesus by anointing him with her hair. As we have said Mary's worship was not only costly but also risky. Letting her down was a cultural "no-no", but she was more interested in admiration of Jesus, than cultural taboos.
It makes me wonder what kind of worship I offer to Jesus. What do I hold back? Am I more concerned with what people think about me, or what I think about Jesus? When is the last time I worshipped Jesus in a risky and costly away? My tendency is to stay in my comfort zone and not take risks. When we understand the magnitude of what Jesus did for us in love, I think we will be less concerned about what others think and more caught up in offering ourselves back to him in thanksgiving and gratitude. How might Mary's example inspire you as we near Holy Week, and remember what Jesus did for us in giving us everything?
Jesus Anointed at Bethany
12 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint[a] 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.
4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.[b]” 6 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.
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7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you,[c] but you will not always have me.”
9 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. 10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.
The fact that Mary anointed Jesus with the oil by using her hair was also an act of extreme devotion. In some ways it might have been considered scandalous, as women were not allowed to let their hair down in public. Meanwhile, all Judas can do is complain that it wasn't used for the poor. Of course Judas in his jealous heart is already starting to be filled with other plans. Judas does not yet have his mind on heavenly things, and is mainly preoccupied with money. Later he will sell out Jesus for a mere pittance.
So what can we learn from this story? Importantly we see what true worship looks like. For Mary shows us that worship is a matter of offering up to God what is ours in response to who He is. Mary knew she was worshipping the living God, who would prove this a few days later. Coincidentally Mary would be one of the first people he revealed himself to, after he was raised from the dead. Not only was worship costly for Mary from the sense of buying the expensive perfume, but she also showed her love of Jesus by anointing him with her hair. As we have said Mary's worship was not only costly but also risky. Letting her down was a cultural "no-no", but she was more interested in admiration of Jesus, than cultural taboos.
It makes me wonder what kind of worship I offer to Jesus. What do I hold back? Am I more concerned with what people think about me, or what I think about Jesus? When is the last time I worshipped Jesus in a risky and costly away? My tendency is to stay in my comfort zone and not take risks. When we understand the magnitude of what Jesus did for us in love, I think we will be less concerned about what others think and more caught up in offering ourselves back to him in thanksgiving and gratitude. How might Mary's example inspire you as we near Holy Week, and remember what Jesus did for us in giving us everything?
Jesus Anointed at Bethany
12 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint[a] 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.
4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.[b]” 6 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.
M
7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you,[c] but you will not always have me.”
9 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. 10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.
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