John 12:1-8 – 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 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.”
I will be speaking at The Porch, here in Spokane on March 17th. They have asked me to teach from John 12. The story is fairly familiar to most Bible readers. A few usual suspects: Jesus, of course, Lazarus, Judas Iscariot and the polar opposite sisters of Martha and Mary. The center of the story captures Mary pouring out a seemingly inordinate amount of expensive perfume (pure nard) on the feet of Jesus. Crazy, right?
In looking at the story I’m struck initially by a couple of things.
The first is Mary’s apparent imperviousness to the pressure to do domestic stuff with Martha. We know from their other encounter with Jesus (Luke 10) that Martha was quite a fastidious (and demanding) hostess and almost certainly wanted Mary to help with the service part of caring for Jesus. Mary, however, was resolved. She must have been incredibly focused on what she was about to do.
The second thing, however, is the difficulty of how to describe what Mary did. The common homiletical description is that Mary “worship.” For me though, that doesn’t sum up what was happening accurately. It almost seems trite and a bit lazy to describe it that way. I was trying to think of several other words that described what she was doing. It very well could be called worship, but I think what was going on was more along lines of “adoration.” A definition of “adore” is, “To regard with deep, often rapturous love.” She was expressing adoration. I don’t think she was thinking I’m going to worship Jesus, but she was simply expressing her love for him in the way that made the most sense to her.
So, what of it? What are the take aways?
- It was sacrificial. It cost her a great deal. We see that in the response from
Judas Iscariot in the text. It says that it cost about a year’s wages! That’s
why Judas got so bent out of shape. It says that he was dipping into the
community purse at his pleasure and when he saw this un-collected bit, he
sanctimoniously weighed in, “We could use that for the, a-hem, the poor…and
stuff.” Here’s a question: When was the last time, in one sitting, have you committed the equivalent of a year’s wages (without any tangible ROI) as a gesture of love for Jesus? My answer, “A…ne-ver!” - The second thing though, it must’ve been awkward. Try to put yourself in the room…even as a back row
bystander. I have a hard time conceiving of the scenario that took place without some feeling of awkwardness in the room. Though I am not one of those who believe anything weird went on between Jesus
and the women around him, this event is incredibly sensual (related to our senses). It may have been slightly more comfortable in their context, but can
you imagine a group of people in the room and all of a sudden such an intimate
act begins to happen? If I were there I would almost go, “Um, would you put
your hair away? It’s quite distracting! I’m trying to pay my respects to this guy and you’re making a spectacle.”
Mary seemed indifferent to the excessive expense or the potential awkwardness. She simply loved…in a tangible way.
One other thing about this beautiful story though is it says that because of this self-effacing and astonishing act of Mary’s, the room, no the whole house was filled with the stunning fragrance of the perfume. I suppose that could be the missional element of the narrative. By a real person extravagantly adoring Christ, in a natural way, there was a beautiful fragrance that billowed through the entire house. Could that be a model for us? In our homes? In our churches? In our cities?
I’m afraid that many people I hang around with are more concerned about what others think of them than an unrestrained gesture of adoration of Christ. I’m afraid I might be one of them.
Chardonrose – you are asking great questions.
As far as worship being cool or un-cool, might be just a phenomenon that exists around me. I think that people might just be bored with contemporary worship more than simply think it’s un-cool. That said, I believe that there is a transition coming, which I think people like you can truly inform.
I love what you are doing and how the extravagant (unreasonable) love of Christ is manifested to people on the margins and without your gestures of worship through service might never get to experience the fragrance that the text says, “filled the entire house.”
Peace to you!!!
Thank you for responding. I think you’re right that it’s our deep love and adoration of Christ that moves us out towards others. I agree that if that element is missing, our external gestures may be flesh rather than spirit-led. Which is not bad in itself (there’s many great non-Christian humanitarian organizations doing awesome, sacrificial and essential work) but if we’re trying to be the body of christ, it’s problematic! It would certainly seem that there’s an amazing dynamic for the Kingdom when spirit lead worshippers of Jesus love and serve as He did.
Do you think that the feeling that public praise is un-cool is a cultural/generational phenomenon in your context? What is the cause of this negative feeling towards public worship? Has it become a barrier for people? I am interested why people around you might feel that way.
I am interested in this because I am a church planter in a very different cultural climate/context. It’s not that people here believe public praise is un-cool, but that they have never seen it or experienced it because they have no prior knowledge or experience of any form of Church/Christianity. It would seem that the role and form of a gathered community’s commitment to extravagant worship would look different depending on the culture.
In our context (which you know personally!) we initially had no gathered community, as we didn’t know any believers. As time has gone on and people are moving towards Christ, and we have grown into a community who identifies with Christ, it would seem that our public worship of Jesus as a gathered community has come as the fruit of the love and service that has been experienced/received. And not the other way round. And our ‘public’ gathered worship is quite unlike any western worship service I have ever participated in!
Anyway, I guess as I’m learning what the gospel looks like in my context, I’m just thinking out loud and wrestling with what is learned and expected because of our cultural lens, and wondering how that impacts us, and creates barriers or opportunities.
I couldn’t agree with you more. In fact, your comment could be my song. If we can embrace the idea that as we love others, in extravagant and tangible ways, we are truly loving Christ, I think it changes the entire orientation to Christianity.
That said, I certainly don’t want to exclude the beauty and strength of a gathered community extravagantly worshiping Jesus. I think it is a both/and. Maybe more than that…if we are not committing to unashamedly worshiping Jesus as a gathered community, there probably is something missing in our external gestures. I say that, because I think there is a with many I know right now, an un-coolness to public praise.
Thanks for your thoughts.
I love this story and what you have written! And I love the question you are asking (your title) how do we demonstrate Mary’s kind of ‘extravagant gesture of love for Jesus’?
I wonder if we perhaps limit the discussion if we understand it only as about extravagant love demonstrated towards Christ….In the parable of the Sheep and the Goats, Jesus explains ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matt 25 v40. Jesus makes it clear that a life of showing tangible (extravagant?) compassion and care for others is essential if we hope to inherit the kingdom!
I believe that an ‘unrestrained gesture of adoration of Christ’ can be found in extravagant, above and beyond caring and loving of others in need. Christ went about his life, serving, touching, healing the hungry, oppressed and marginalized. We must make the link between showing genuine, tangible, extravagant (ie it costs us to do it) compassion and care for the oppressed and how doing so allows us to encounter Christ, draw near to Him and so worship Him.
As we choose to draw near to the poor and oppressed, we encounter Him. As we are humbled and moved by the pain and suffering of others, we are changed. This kind of active, messy love brings us to new and uncomfortable places and so transforms us in ways we couldn’t even imagine. We see that He does indeed heal the broken and bring hope to the hopeless and all kinds of miracles in what seem impossible circumstances, so our hearts worship Him more than they ever could if we never left the comfort of our privileged lives, trendy coffee shops and cool worship services. I think we learn to love Him more deeply as we learn to feel and show true compassion for people.
Imagine a whole community of people really living, loving and serving the oppressed as Jesus did! With the kind of extravagance, generosity and abandon that Mary demonstrates! That would indeed be a beautiful fragrance that wouldn’t go unnoticed.
Maybe this is not relevant to this text. I am interested in your thoughts. I just think that as we wrestle with what our worship, adoration and response to Christ looks like, as individuals and as a Body, we should be thinking outside of the walls of the church building…..
No, probably different folks, but the question is begged! What would cause anyone to do something so outlandish? As parents I think we get a bit of that – we would easily give up a years of wages for one of our kids. Parental love is one that sacrifices all if need be – even our lives. What was it that drove the lady in Luke 7 and Mary in John 12 to this. It cannot be explained, IMHO, in any other way but out of a response to something equally profound – or more so.
I’m preaching on Sunday the Luke 7 account of a similar incident (don’t think they’re the same, but nobody is certain). Jesus calls her actions “faith” and evidence of salvation (“your faith has saved you”). Her faith is contrasted with Simon’s unbelief, evidenced in his lack of any real hospitality or welcome of Jesus. Faith is a humble, joyful, grateful weeping at Jesus’ feet, a treasuring of the Savior, a love that springs from the forgiveness of a massive debt.
That’d be swell, Rob! I’d love to. I’ll shoot you an email.
Thanks for weighing in Phil. Wanna have coffee?
Real great. Convicting.