Go! And Pour Out Your Worship - John 12:1-11 Series

Go! And Pour Out Your Worship - John 12:1-11

Introduction: A Moment of Extravagant Worship

Picture the scene: Jesus is reclining at a dinner table in Bethany. The fragrance of a costly perfume fills the air. Mary, the sister of Lazarus, has just broken open a jar of expensive oil and poured it over Jesus’ feet. The act is one of total devotion, extravagant love, and wholehearted worship.

But not everyone sees it that way. Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray Jesus, mocks the act of worship. He criticises Mary, claiming that her offering could have been put to better use. Yet, Jesus defends her. He sees the heart behind her worship.

This passage teaches us what it means to truly worship Jesus—not just with our words but with our whole lives. Today, God is calling us to go and pour out our worship just as Mary did.

John 12:1-8 (NLT): "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’ honour. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with him. Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar 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.

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.’ Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.

Jesus replied, ‘Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.’"

This passage challenges us to examine how we worship Jesus. Do we honour Him with true devotion, or do we hold back? Are we willing to pour out everything for Him, or do we reserve parts of our lives for ourselves?

Today, we will explore three key truths about true worship from this passage:

True worship is costly.

True worship fills the atmosphere.

True worship is defended by Jesus.

1. True Worship Is Costly

Mary’s worship was extravagant. She didn’t just offer a little—she gave everything. The perfume she poured out was made from pure nard, an expensive oil extracted from a plant in the Himalayas. This perfume was worth a year’s wages!

This was not a casual act. It was sacrificial worship. Mary was demonstrating her love for Jesus by giving Him her very best.

Jesus taught that true worship always costs us something:

Luke 9:23 (NLT): "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me."

The Greek word for "give up" here is "aparneomai" (?pa????µa?), which means to completely disown, to renounce claim to. Worship requires letting go—of comfort, pride, possessions, and even our own desires.

Charles Spurgeon said: "No sacrifice is too great to be offered upon the altar of our Lord. He is worthy of all we can give, and infinitely more."

What are we holding back from Jesus? Is there a cost we are unwilling to pay in our worship?

Charles Spurgeon’s words remind us of a powerful truth: Jesus is worthy of everything we can offer—and infinitely more. He gave His very life for us, pouring out His blood so that we might be saved. How could any sacrifice on our part ever compare?

Romans 12:1 (NLT) urges us: "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."

True worship isn’t just about singing songs—it’s about surrender. It’s about giving our time, talents, and treasures to the One who gave everything for us. It’s about living each day in devotion to Christ, recognising that no offering is too great when given in love to our Saviour.

So let’s lay our lives on the altar. Let’s serve, love, and live for Jesus—not out of obligation, but out of gratitude and awe for all He has done!

2. True Worship Fills the Atmosphere

John tells us that when Mary poured out the perfume, "the house was filled with the fragrance" (John 12:3).

This is a powerful image. Worship is never silent, never invisible, never hidden. True worship affects the atmosphere—in our homes, our churches, and our communities.

The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 2:15 (NLT): "Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God."