Perceptions part 3

The ability to worship is the highest honor bestowed to man.  Our depravity disqualifies us from worshipping by our own will- and yet God seeks to be worshipped by nothing other.  Today we will see 3 aspects of worship that are irresistibly, overwhelmingly and unmistakably ours to enjoy.

Here’s a little snack: John’s 12^th Gospel chapter plays as a sequel to the chapter before.  Lazarus, having been raised from the dead, is now sitting with the Lord at the house of Martha, eating a meal.  In the presence of a worker (Martha) a worshipper (Mary), and a wretch (Judas), Lazarus looks on as the product of resurrection power.  Each of these played as an example of what his new life could become.

Having the Savior as her focus, her surroundings, her sacrifice and her self gave way to the sweet smelling savor of worship.  Nothing else seemed to matter.  Her willful yielding at the feet of her Lord was the picture of selfless adoration to the resurrection and the life.  With her heart fully submitted to His, her knees collapsed to a most natural position- falling prostrate before her Lord.  Though her silhouette was positioned horizontally, her spirit was launched vertically into an atmosphere not commonly known to depraved man.  Mary became a worshipper.

At the height of her worshipful accent, Mary does the unthinkable.  She leaves the room abruptly; leaving the others to wonder what power she must be under.  Moments later, Mary reenters the room carrying a box reserved for the security of costly perfume.  Martha, Judas and Lazarus are utterly filled with wonder as they watch Mary effortlessly move toward Jesus as if she were floating.  As they watched her holding the box of ointment in her outstretched hands, an array of thoughts filled their minds.  Would she offer the perfume to Jesus as a payment for His working of this great resurrection miracle?  Would she seek to impress Jesus with the fact that she owned such a valuable thing?  What was Mary up to?

Before anyone could stop her, Mary breaks open the alabaster box of ointment and begins pouring it on the feet of her Lord.  Had she lost her mind?  Or was she simply surrendering all of her worth to Jesus in humble adoration?  Though the others were amazed, appalled and angered, Jesus approved.

Here we see 3 beautiful aspects of glorious worship that must take place if ever we are to believe that our time spent in the presence of our Lord was acceptable to a King.  First we see the sacrifice of worship.  May we know that true worship must cost us something; of our time, our emotion, our pride, our effort, our treasure, our talent and our self.  Secondly we see the sacredness of worship.  Mary knew that a woman’s hair was her glory, thus she used the most glorious thing she possessed to stroke the most glorious thing she knew- the feet of her Lord.  Finally, we smell the scent of worship.  May our worship toward Holiness leave the room, the building, the earth, with the sweet smelling aroma that can only be known after a time spent in the presence of God.  This is true worship!

Pastor Mike Carmody