Introduction

Good morning, dear friends,

Isn't it a joy to gather today in the presence of our Lord? In His house, under His love, and with His people. We are here, not by chance, but by His divine appointment. He has called us together to hear His Word, to feel His love, and to experience His grace.

Today, we are going to open up the pages of the Gospel of John, chapter 12, verses 1 through 8. These verses tell a story, a beautiful story of devotion, love, and sacrifice. A story that centers around a woman named Mary, and her extraordinary act of worship. This story is not just about Mary, it is about each one of us. It is about how we can magnify our devotion to Christ, how we can manifest God's love in our worship, and how we can make our lives a fragrant offering to our Lord.

But before we do that, let's hear a word from Charles Spurgeon. He once said, "A good character when established is not easily overthrown, and it is by such actions, done on the impulse of love, that the character is established." What a profound truth! It is our actions, done out of love for God, that establish our character. And isn't that what we see in Mary's actions?

Now, let's read the scripture passage together:

"Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 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. 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. 'Leave her alone,' Jesus replied. 'It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.'"

Let's bow our heads in prayer.

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your Word. We thank You for the example of Mary, who showed us what it means to love You with all our hearts. As we reflect on this passage, open our hearts and minds to understand Your message for us today. Help us to live lives that are pleasing to You, lives that are filled with devotion, love, and sacrifice. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

Magnifying Mary's Model of Devotion

As we look at the actions of Mary in this passage, we see a woman who was deeply devoted to Jesus. She didn't just admire Him from afar, she didn't just listen to His teachings, she showed her love and devotion in a tangible, costly way. She took a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume, and poured it on Jesus' feet. This was not a small act. It was not a casual gesture. It was a profound display of devotion.

The perfume that Mary used was worth a year's wages. Imagine that. A year's worth of work, a year's worth of sweat and toil, poured out in a single act of worship. This was not a decision made lightly. Mary must have understood the cost of her actions. She must have known the value of what she was giving. Yet, she chose to give it anyway. She chose to pour out her most valuable possession at the feet of Jesus.

This act of devotion was not just about the perfume. It was about the heart behind the action. Mary's heart was filled with love for Jesus. She was not concerned about the cost, she was not concerned about what others might think. She was focused on Jesus. Her devotion was not divided, it was not distracted. It was single-minded, it was pure.

Mary's act of devotion was also a humble act. She didn't pour the perfume on Jesus' head, as was the custom for honored guests. She poured it on His feet. And she didn't use a cloth to wipe His feet, she used her hair. In those days, for a woman to let down her hair in public was considered a disgrace. But Mary didn't care about maintaining her dignity. She didn't care about preserving her reputation. She humbled herself before Jesus, she lowered herself to the position of a servant.

Mary's devotion to Jesus was not just an emotional response. It was a deliberate choice. It was a conscious decision to put Jesus first, to put Him above everything else. She didn't let her emotions dictate her actions. She let her love for Jesus guide her. She let her devotion to Him determine her choices.

Mary's devotion to Jesus was not a private affair. It was a public demonstration. She didn't hide her love for Jesus. She didn't keep her devotion to Him a secret. She expressed it openly, she displayed it for all to see. She was not ashamed of her love for Jesus. She was not afraid to show her devotion to Him.

Mary's devotion to Jesus was not a momentary impulse. It was a consistent pattern. It was a lifestyle. She didn't just show her love for Jesus on special occasions. She showed it in her everyday life. She showed it in her actions, in her words, in her attitudes.

Mary's devotion to Jesus was not a burden. It was a joy. She didn't see her love for Jesus as a duty, as an obligation. She saw it as a privilege, as an honor. She found joy in serving Jesus, she found joy in loving Him, she found joy in giving to Him.

In Mary, we see a model of devotion that we can emulate. We see a love for Jesus that is deep, that is costly, that is humble, that is deliberate, that is public, that is consistent, and that is joyful. We see a love that is not based on feelings, but on a decision. A decision to put Jesus first, to put Him above everything else. A decision to love Him with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind, and with all our strength.

Manifestation of Sacrificial Love in Worship

As we continue to reflect on the passage from John 12, we see that Mary's actions were not just a demonstration of her devotion, but also a manifestation of sacrificial love in worship ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO