Relative Values
Fortifying the Foundations # 27
John 11:55-12:11[1]
1-25-04
This morning I would like to announce that we will be spending $ 200,000 on the inside of this sanctuary to make it more conducive to worship. We will be improving the acoustics and the lighting in addition to replacing carpet and improving our sound system. Everything will be done first class and the atmosphere will be extremely welcoming for anyone who comes here to worship.
I would like to make that announcement, but I’m not going to because that is not in our plans. I only mention it for one reason. So each of us can a gage our emotional reaction to such expenditure. How did you feel when that announcement was made? Hopefully some rejoiced wondering who the generous donor was. Some like me might wonder how it would be possible. But I hope there were not many who thought, “What a waste. That $ 200,000 could have been given to the poor.”
The question we address this morning is: What is God worth? If a fine race horse is worth a million dollars. What is God worth? If a man’s soul is worth more than all the material resources of the world, what value can we place on the infinite, eternal God?
To make the question more personal I can ask myself, “What is God worth to me?” “What amount of time and resources am I willing to expend toward His purposes and honor?”
Have you ever thought about the gold and silver Moses put into the tabernacle. There those people are in the wilderness living in tents and God tells them to put gold all over the Ark of the Covenant. Gold and silver are used where a much cheaper metal would have done the job—or would it?
Later, when Solomon built the temple he was even more extravagant than Moses. In
2 Chron 4:19-22 we read from TLB
“Solomon commanded that all of the furnishings of the Temple-the utensils, the altar, and the table for the Bread of the Presence must be made of gold; 20also the lamps and lampstands, 21the floral decorations, tongs, 22lamp snuffers, basins, spoons, and firepans-all were made of solid gold. Even the doorway of the Temple, the main door, and the inner doors to the Holy of Holies were overlaid with gold.”
How many homes in Jerusalem at that time do you think had doors overlaid with gold? I doubt many people even considered such a thing. What was God’s response to all this? Did God correct Solomon for his extravagant spending on the Temple? No, there in the Temple stood the Levites dressed in fine spun linen robes. That worship team alone represented a huge investment of time and effort. When the worship began did God say to them, “Why all this waste?” No, we are told that the glory of the Lord filled the temple!
Was it the gold and silver that attracted the Lord? Certainly not. But all that extravagance represented something in those people’s hearts. It was an indication of their priorities. It was a representation of the value they placed upon worship and their relationship with God.
To be sure, those kinds of extravagance have been expended for the wrong reasons at times and the glory of the Lord did not appear. There was extravagance in the building of Herod’s Temple later in Israel’s history. The motives behind that were political and very different from Solomon’s motives.
I am not contending for extravagance per say. But the value we place on worshipping God is highly significant. And when we place a high value on God and our relationship with him, our investment of personal time and resource will reflect that in some way. It may be reflected in money invested in missions. It may be reflected in time spent training children in the ways of the Lord. But we invest in those things that we think are worth the investment. And we love those things we have invested ourselves in. “Where your treasure is there will your heart be also.”[2]
There are many people in Springfield that drive by churches like this and wonder why people like you and me would get up early on Sunday morning (after a hard week’s work) and invest two hours of our free time in a church service. If I didn’t know God, I would think that kind of behavior to be very strange indeed. We do it because in our hearts we highly prize a relationship with God. We place supreme value on honoring and pleasing Him.
Why does a man work long hard hours to give his fiancé an engagement ring he cannot afford? He does it because of the value he places upon that bride. He does it because of something in his heart. He does it as an expression of love and esteem.
In our text this morning we have an amazing example of a person who absolutely loves and adores the Lord Jesus and expresses that esteem in an extravagant way. In one act of worship she expended $ 300 denarii worth of precious ointment (which was one year’s wages[3]). We will see some interesting reactions to that extravagance. And we will see Jesus’ answer to those reactions.
The story begins in the small town of Bethany just outside Jerusalem. Six days before the Passover[4] Jesus has arrived and Mary and Martha are still rejoicing over the resurrection of their younger brother, Lazarus. They have decided to have a party in Jesus’ honor and have prepared a feast. A man by the name of Simon has opened his for the event. Matthew 26:6-13 and Mark 14:3-9 tell us that the dinner takes place in his home. He is still referred to as Simon the leper. But he is no longer a leper. If he were, he could not be hosting such an event. He would have to constantly proclaim himself “unclean” and keep his distance from people[5].
But Simon too has good reason to be thankful to Jesus. Although we are not told the story, it is safe to assume that Jesus has healed Simon’s leprosy.
This is a joyous occasion. All the disciples are there. Martha is making sure every guest is enjoying the meal. Jesus and Lazarus are reclined at the table enjoying good conversation. In that culture they did not sit at the dinner table. The table was barely off the ground and they would lie facing the table resting upon their left elbow and eating with their right hand with their feet stretched out from the table.[6]
This is a precious time for Jesus to enjoy his closest friends. But he knows very well that within a week he will be crucified in Jerusalem. That has to weigh heavily on his mind.
One person at that event more than anybody else senses something of what Jesus is about to endure. She does not fully comprehend what she feels but intuitively she knows the end of Jesus’ earthly life is near. Of course, the circumstances outside that home are foreboding. The chief priests and Pharisees have decided to kill Jesus. And they have given public orders that if anyone finds out where Jesus is; it is to be reported immediately so they can arrest him. Everybody knows they are looking for Jesus.
I wish I knew fully what feelings were going through Mary’s heart as she approaches Jesus with that box of ointment. Certainly there is the gratitude for all he has done for them. But I think her heart is breaking in love for her Lord as she senses something of the sorrow he was about to endure. She has been saving this for the day of his burial. But now she has decided to give her gift before his death, in preparation for his death—as an expression of her deep love for her Lord.
As she breaks open the flask[7] she first pours the thick anointing oil[8] upon Jesus head. This is the customary manner of anointing. Remember on another occasion how Jesus corrected a host for not anointing his head with oil (Luke 7:46). Remember how Psalms 133 talks about the anointing being poured on Aaron’s head and running down his priestly skirts. Both Mark and Matthew tell us that Mary pours the ointment upon Jesus head.
I see it running down his face upon his beard and to his shoulders. It is a marvelous gesture of respect and admiration. But Mary’s intention goes beyond respect and admiration. For Mary is a worshipper. And as a worshipper of Jesus she falls at his feet in deep humility and gives him all the glory and honor she is capable of giving. There in that lowly position she pours the precious oil upon his feet as well.[9]
Have you noticed that Mary is always at the feet of Jesus? In Luke 10:39 she is at the feet of Jesus taking in his teaching. When she is struck with the tragedy of her brother’s death she falls at the feet of Jesus as soon as she sees him.[10] Her again she finds her place at his feet. It is a good place to be. John only has to use the word podas (feet) once but he uses it twice to make sure we know. Mary didn’t just anoint Jesus’ head but she fell before him in worship and anointed his feet as well.
We sing a song with the words about worship that say, “I will be even more undignified than this.” Those words come from David’s answer to his wife Michal in 2 Samuel 6:22.
In that story David was bringing the ark from the house of Obed-edom to Jerusalem. He got so excited about God in his worship that he laid aside his kingly robes and danced before the Lord with all his might. That act of humility disturbed his haughty wife, Michal. So when the worship was over she gave him a hard time about the way he had worshipped God. She thought he should have acted more dignified. In his answer to her David said, “I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes.” NIV
David had learned something very important about worship. You can’t be preoccupied with your own dignity and with the honor of the Lord at the same time. The person who is worried about how he or she is going to look to other people has a very limited scope of worship. That person is in more of a performance mode than a worship mode. David was not preoccupied with how he appeared to others in his worship. He was caught up in his gratitude and adoration of the Lord.
I hope in this church we have freedom to express our joy to the Lord without the kind of criticism David faced in Michal and as we will see in a moment Mary faced in the disciples. There ought to be an overflow of joyous dancing before the Lord at times. I’m not saying we should do these things because we’re Pentecostal. I’m saying we should have these expressions because we’re happy. There are a great variety of biblical ways we can worship the Lord. If we can lay aside our pride and enjoy God, those expressions will naturally flow out in a beautiful way.
Mary lays aside her concern about what people will think. She forgets about everybody except Jesus. That’s her point of focus. And as she pours the oil on his feet she takes down her hair and begins to wipe his feet with her hair. In that culture that was highly significant because a woman’s glory was considered to be the hair properly penned up on her head. It was considered a disgrace of her hair to be unbound in public.[11] But Mary is not concerned about her own image. She is anointing her king. She is worshipping the Lord Jesus Christ. She is giving all that she is and all that she has. Some have suggested that she only poured part of this expensive oil on Jesus[12]. I am convinced that she held nothing back and poured it all out upon him.
Her act of extravagance drew immediate criticism. John tells us that Judas was doing the talking. But Matthew and Mark let us know that the other disciples were following his lead and complaining as well.
Here we have a remarkable contrast between Mary’s devotion to Jesus and Judas’ betrayal. Why is Judas so upset with this extravagant offering to Jesus? John tells us that Judas was a covetous thief at heart and wanted the money for himself. He held the moneybag and had gotten used to taking some out for himself.
But I want us to look even a little deeper than that. Judas placed little value on Jesus or on the honor due Jesus. Mary placed great value on giving worship and honor to the Lord. This distinction powerfully determines how we will live our lives—how we will invest our time and our money.
For the person who does not value the Lord in his or her heart, time spent at church is a waste. That person goes as late as possible and leaves as early as possible. The tithe is an unbearable demand on that person’s pocketbook. He thinks of a thousand other ways he would like to spend that money. For that person money spent on the house of the Lord should be kept to a bare minimum. He or she may lavish themselves with little luxuries here and there. But we must be extremely frugal when it comes to church and missions and benevolence. What’s behind all that kind of thinking? A low evaluation of the honor due God.
In contrast, the person like Mary who has realized the infinite worth of the everlasting God sees no better place to spend the resource. Time with God is not wasted time but the best part of the day. That person works so he or she can give to the kingdom of God. The ten percent is a covenant commitment voluntarily invested. But the real joy is found over and above that. The real joy is found in sacrificial giving in whatever form that might take.
I read the story of a young Englishman named George Atley. While serving as a missionary years ago in Central Africa he was attacked by a party of natives. He had with him a Winchester repeating rifle with ten loaded chambers. He could have easily killed them and driven them back. But as they approached he evaluated the situation. He concluded that if killed them it would do the mission more harm than if he allowed them to take his life. So then and there he sacrificed himself for the work of the Lord. When his body was found in the stream, his rifle was still loaded with the ten rounds.[13]
Was that investment of his life a waste? Certainly Judas would have thought so. But Mary would have understood his decision.
Is the time you are investing this morning in worship of the Lord a waste? Many think so or they would be in church this morning. Is the time you spend in prayer a waste? The devil would like you to think so. But it is really the best investment any soul can make.
Every one of us has a flask of ointment to expend. Every one of us has a life to invest, time to spend. We all have to choose what we will do with it. Will I pour it out on the feet of Jesus or will I sell it and get something for myself? To the carnal mind it seems shrewd when I shortchange God with my money or my time.[14] But in the final analysis I will have only shortchanged myself.
Mary did not in any way do this for her own honor. Her motive was to honor the Lord. But listen to what Jesus said she would receive, Matt 26:13, “I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her." NIV
The Lord honors those who honor him.[15] Mary lives in perpetual honor. Judas lives in perpetual shame. The thing he grasped for was lost altogether.
John specifically tells us that the fragrance of Mary’s offering filled the whole house. What Mary did influenced everybody there. In fact, I believe that fragrance lingered on Jesus’ body for a long time. As he stood before the Sanhedrin later that week the fragrance of Mary’s sacrifice witnessed to Jesus’ enemies. As Pilate spoke with Jesus perhaps Pilate wondered what precious odor was in the room. As the soldiers struck Jesus on the cheek I think they too may have inhaled the message Mary was sending.[16]
No sacrifice for Jesus ever gets lost. Your worship of the Lord carries a spiritual fragrance with it. Have you ever smelled in the spirit? Did you know that your spiritual man has a capacity for smell at a higher level than your physical body? There have been times when I have discerned evil spirits because of the spiritual stench of that unclean spirit. On the other hand, there have been times in worship when I have experienced a heavenly fragrance. People of God, put on your spiritual perfume or cologne in the morning and watch how it affects those you encounter.
Judas’ criticism of Mary is full of hypocrisy. With angry passion he asks, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages."
The anger was not because of any real concern for the poor. Judas was angry because of his own loss of opportunity to steal. He was just using that statement to cover his real intentions. “Why this extravagance? Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor?”
Jesus patiently answers the question after he stops the attacks on Mary. He does not say that the poor should not receive ministry or help. The Bible teaches clearly that there is great blessing in giving to the poor and it ought to be done graciously and generously.
But there are many people who can see value in relieving human suffering but can see no value in honoring God. What is more valuable—all the people on the face of the earth or God? I would suggest that the infinite God is of greater value. His honor is of greater value than my comfort. The carnal mind rejects such a thought. But nothing is more important than God’s glory and honor.
Many people who understand that Jesus died on the cross to save sinners (to deliver us from an eternity of suffering) do not understand that equally as important, Jesus died on the cross to uphold the honor of God. Have you ever thought of the cross in those terms?
Only the cross could satisfy two paramount objectives. One the salvation of sinners; the other the integrity of Almighty God. God’s righteous character could only be maintained by the just punishment of sin and rebellion. Man’s salvation could only be gained by the pardon of his sin. On the cross Jesus endured the just punishment of sin so that you and I could be righteously forgiven. The cross is about my redemption. But it is also about the uncompromising honor and integrity of God.
What value do you place on honoring God? What would you give to worship Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords? Mary gave something that cost her very much. In one place David said, “I will not sacrifice a burnt offering that cost me nothing” (I Chron. 21:24). David knew how to give honor to the Lord.
The message today has to do with relative values. My life decisions are driven by my values. When I highly value God I will give Him the glory and honor due His name. I will invest myself in Him in some way. The investment God is speaking to your heart this morning may or may not have to do with money. It may have to do with humbling yourself in worship—laying pride on the altar. It may have to do with time we’re willing to spend in His word or in prayer. I encourage you to make investments in the Lord that become a sweet fragrance to God the way Mary did. She gave her very best—not left overs—but the best she had. May that be our hearts as well.
Text: John 11:55-12:11
55When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover. 56They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple area they asked one another, "What do you think? Isn’t he coming to the Feast at all?" 57But the chief priests and Pharisees had given orders that if anyone found out where Jesus was, he should report it so that they might arrest him. 12:1Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3Then 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.
4But 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." 6He 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. 8You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me." 9Meanwhile 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. 10So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him. NIV
Richard Tow
Grace Chapel Foursquare Church
Springfield, MO
www.gracechapelchurch.org
1 Chron 16:27-29
27Honor and majesty are before Him;
Strength and gladness are in His place.
28Give to the LORD, O families of the peoples,
Give to the LORD glory and strength.
29Give to the LORD the glory due His name;
Bring an offering, and come before Him.
Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness!
NKJV
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[1] Text which was read at the beginning of the service is provided at end of this message for convenient reference.
[2] Matthew 6:21
[3] Matthew 12:20
[4] Arthur Pink, Exposition of the Gospel of John, Vol.II (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1981) p.230 gives helpful insight on Matthew 26:2 and Mark 14:1 references to two days before the Passover.
[5] Leviticus 13:45-46
[6] Leon Morris, Reflections on the Gospel of John (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 2000) p. 427
[7] Mark 14:3 flask (from Vincent’s Word Studies of the New Testament, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1997 by Biblesoft)
[8] OINTMENT perfumed oil
(from International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, Electronic Database Copyright (c)1996 by Biblesoft)
[9] It seems more probable that she would begin with the more customary, less risky, anointing of the head first. Actually all we know for sure is that she anointed both his head and feet.
[10] John 11:32
[11] Leon Morris, p. 429
[12] H.D.M. Spence and Joseph Exell, eds., The Pulpit Commentary, Volume 17 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1962) p. 132
[13] Paul Lee Tan, Encyclopedia of 7,700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (Rockville, Maryland: Assurance Publishers) p. 1176 (Illustration #5182)
[14] Perhaps the greater danger is found in how urgent things can rob us of doing the important things if we are not very intentional about the way we spend our time.
[15] John 12:26
[16] Michael Hensley, “Extravagant Love” preached at First Baptist Church in Raton, NM in April 2001. His source is Phillip Keller.
