JOHN 4:
23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
What is worship?
A study of worship will produce a number of ways in which we can worship the Lord.
Singing, dancing, clapping, kneeling, shouting , musical instruments spontaneity, emotions, meditation, songs of the Lord. The list gos on.
Lets take a look at an act of worship that Jesus himself said would always be talked about.
JOHN 12:
12:1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.
2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honour. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.
3 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.
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."
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.
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, 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 putting their faith in him.
In two other gospels the story is similar, but Jesus says. This is such a great story it shall be always told in memory of what she did.
Time: Six days before Passover A little over a week till the death of Jesus.
Place: A home group meeting at the home of Lazarus, Maratha & Mary, His disciples were there (Verse 4) and a large group of Jews, some came to see Jesus others to see Lazarus, Others looking for a way to kill Jesus & Lazarus. ( verse 9& 10).
Quite a diverse home group: I am sure there was lots of activity, many things spoken, lots of questions, food, then something happened to change the evening and history forever.
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.
IN THIS ACT OF WORSHIP, MARY SHOWED THE TRUE CHARACTER OF WORSHIP:
Mary did not come to hear a Sermon:
Preaching is important, How can they know unless someone tells them, how can they hear unless someone preaches.
Mary was in the presence of the greatest preacher there will ever be, probably one of the greatest testimonies you will ever hear. (Lazarus) but she chose an act of worship.
We need to test our motives: why do we go to a meeting?
No 1 reason should be, To worship.
Many there that night were spectators. Just wanting a touch perhaps. Or to hear some more about Lazarus, or to discredit Jesus
Same Today:
Mary did not bow at His feet to hear His word, but to minister to Him!
Mary did not come to make a request:
Although she was in the presence of the one who had Omnipotence at His comand.
Remember it was Mary who had petitioned Jesus:
32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."
When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.
Mary had moved Jesus before with supplication. But this time she said nothing.
She simply came to minister to Jesus
She didn’t come for the fellowship:
Verse 12 says “A great many were there.” I am sure Mary enjoyed the crowd and the fellowship, It is both good and biblical for believers to gather together.
Mary did not allow the fact that others were around to crowd her desire to worship
Woman were not permitted to sit so close
There were people there who were trying to kill her brother
There was food and or dishes to be done.
Don’t tell me it wasn’t hard for her to worship!
This is the k worship God wants. Ministering to Him because he is who He is:ind of
She simply came to minister to the Lord!
She did not come for a refreshing
She came to refresh the Lord.
What Mary did caused every eye to turn to Jesus. The smell of perfume filled the air, this single act of worship drew attention to Jesus.
Different motives, but attention on Jesus.
To the political spirits in the room it was offensive. They wanted Jesus alive to fight a battle with Rome:
To the religious spirits it was offensive: Judas tried to turn attention to the poor.
In the face of rejection, like this do we continue to worship?
Mary was identifying with His suffering & rejection not hers!
She was not doing it because this was the latest trend in worship.
She was simply ministering to the Lord!
She gave no thought to the cost of her worship
It was Judas who bought this to everyone’s attention.
A whole years salary. When we count the cost of our worship, we cease to worship.
How much is too much? There is no too much! David said>
Psalms 132:4-5
I will allow no sleep to my eyes, no slumber to my eyelids,
till I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob."
Mary did not set out to impress:
Nothing could have kept her from her task
Had she looked around the room there may have been an Albert Einstien. Or A David Tua. Or Dick Reuben, or Jenny shipley, or perhaps even the high priest
Her heart was bound and fixed on worship.
Only true humility releases true worship, and true worship releases a depth of anointing.
What if Mary had been ministering at the feet of Jesus, when Lazarus jumps up, and begins to lead a frenzied version of “We bring a sacrifice of praise” then saying shake hands with five people before you sit down.!
Folks I have seen it happen!
When mary worshiped she exposed her heart. (It was pure)
She also exposed the heart of Judas. He tried to camouflage his true motives with high sounding words.
This act of worship set off a chain of events that led to Jesus dying on the cross for us.
When pure worship occurs it will stir the spirit of everyone present,
Both good & evil.
Verse 7 & 8.
Jesus said leave her alone: Let her worship.
