Extravagant Worship

February 14, 2016
Extravagant Worship
John 12:1-8

SIS:  The only worship that is worthy of Almighty God is "extravagant" worship.

INTRODUCTION:

ex·trav·a·gant  [ik-strav-uh-guhnt]  –adjective
1.spending much more than is necessary or wise; wasteful: an extravagant shopper.  2.excessively high: extravagant expenses; extravagant prices. 3.exceeding the bounds of reason, as actions, demands, opinions, or passions.

Americans are an "extravagant" people, but not always in a positive sense.  Consider how "extravagantly wasteful" we are:

• throw away 106,000
  aluminum cans every 30 seconds,
• distribute 1 mil
  plastic cups on U.S. airline flights every 6 hours,
• go through 2 million
  plastic beverage bottles every five minutes,
• discard 426,000
  cell phones every day,
• use 1.14 million
  brown paper supermarket bags each hour,
• use 60,000
  plastic bags every five seconds,
• use 15 million
  sheets of office paper every five minutes and
• produce 170,000 Energizer batteries every 15 min.

“We can go on. Americans discard enough aluminum to rebuild our entire commercial air fleet every three months — and aluminum represents less than one percent of our solid waste stream. We toss 14 percent of the food we buy at the store. More than 46,000 pieces of plastic debris float on each square mile of ocean.”—motherjones.com/environment/2009/05/waste-not-want-not. Retrieved September 28, 2009.

Extravagant certainly describes our habits of consumption as Americans -- "excessively high; exceeding bounds of reason."

But, does "extravagant" apply to our worship experience as Americans?  I think you know where this is going.  Do we spend an "excessively high" amount of time reading our Bibles for instance?  Do we spend and "excessively high" amount of time in prayer?  Do we give an "excessively high" amount of our money in church donations?  Uh-oh!  It's getting "excessively hot" in here!

We all know the fact of the matter:  our worship to God through His church cannot be described as "extravagant" in the same measure as the amount of waste we produce through our daily living.

In regard to our lives, we consume extravagantly but in regard to our worship, the operative phrase is, "just good enough."

As we continue to examine God's Word in this time of Lent (40 days before Easter) we have been thinking about how we live our lives in light of the sacrifice God made on our behalf.

Certainly, we all agree that God's love for us qualifies as "extravagant" -- excessively high; exceeding the bounds of reason.

Today, we are going to look at an example of "extravagant worship" by a woman deeply thankful for what Jesus Christ had done in her life.  We are going to join a family "touched by the miraculous love of Jesus."  The response by Mary to Who Jesus is and what He had done was an act of "extravagant worship" -- or, "holy waste." 

Let's read this story together: (Jn 12:1-8)

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’ 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.”

This story pricks my heart. When I read it I become acutely aware that my love and devotion to Christ is almost a sham in comparison to Mary's. And, I have so much more to be thankful for than Mary.  At the time, Mary had only received the miracle of a "restored loved one."  However great a miracle that was, it is a small thing compared to the miracle of eternal life that I have received from the Lord.

Should not my worship to God be eternally more deep and sincere than that of Mary's?  I certainly think so.

As we explore this example of "extravagant" worship, I pray it will deepen our love for Jesus Christ and spur us on to a more vigorous, enthusiastic, and costly worship.  I pray that Mary's example will help us take more seriously the private and public times of worship in our lives.  There are at least four characteristics that made Mary's worship "extravagant." 

1.  First, EW involves GRATITUDE

On a recent religious talk show the hostess was interviewing a young woman who had just recently come to know Christ and had been received into the church. Until her recent conversion, she had lived on the wrong side of the tracks, lived in the fast lane, and teetered on the brink of destruction. So overwhelming was the sense of forgiveness that this young woman practically gushed with joy as she spoke. "I can't express," she said, "the sense of gratitude that I feel that God has changed my life."

The talk show hostess knew where she was coming from for she, too, had walked on life's wild side before coming to Jesus. She said, "I know what you mean. Every day I thank God for saving me!" And then she added a very profound statement: "You know what I've noticed though? People who have always been in the church, people who always do what they ought, who have never really gotten into trouble, always been prim and proper, don't have the same sense of gratitude that I do. In fact, I've noticed that for most church people, it's not so much what God had done for them, but what they still want God to do!"

It is easy for those of us who have been in church for a while to take the gift of salvation for granted.  It is obvious that Mary did not take the miracle Jesus performed for granted.  It meant something to her.  It moved her deeply both spiritually and physically.  Her gratitude could not be contained to just spiritual platitudes, but burst out in a physically tangible way.

People have always reacted this way in regard to spiritual matters.  Think of the ancients who offered sacrifice upon sacrifice upon sacrifice to show devotion to their deity of choice.  Certainly, we cannot commend such sacrifices, but it proves the point that worship which does not more than rattle around in one's head is not true worship.  True, extravagant worship, will always find a physical expression.

This is why we sing.  This is why we have public prayers.  This is why we have sacred dance and sacred art.  When God touches a person's heart, there is an unstoppable urge to do something with our hands.

Worship at the very core is a physical response of gratitude.  It is an outward expression of a thankful heart.  We can miss the reason for Mary's outburst of extravagance if we concentrate only on Mary's act.  We must look about the room to find the reason for Mary's extravagance.  Look in verse two:

"Lazarus was among those who were
reclining at the table with [Jesus]."

There he is.  Once dead. Once lost to his family. But now, back in the picture -- full of life.  One hundred percent huggable for his sisters.

When Jesus gave Mary back her brother, Lazarus, from the dead it was the greatest gift she had ever received, or could have ever conceived of.

Here's my point:  Mary found it very easy to pour out her life -- and the family's life savings -- to Jesus because she had received something of almost infinite worth -- a dead brother returned to her alive.

Now follow me here:  have we not received something of even more eternal value from Jesus than Lazarus and his family?  We do not know how long Lazarus lived after being raised from the dead, but we do know he eventually died and occupied a grave.

Yet, you and I have received our life back again and we will experience eternal life and bliss in heaven.  How can we consider what Jesus has done for us and not feel compelled to pour our lives out before him like Mary poured out her perfume.  This is the essence of the story:  Mary's gratitude for Who Jesus is and what He had done compelled her to EXTRAVAGANT WORSHIP.  No other response would be appropriate.

At the heart of extravagant worship is GRATITUDE.  If your worship has become lukewarm or flat it is because you have taken the gift of God in Christ for granted -- or worse yet, never received the gift of life in the first place.  In either case, this calls for some serious reflection.

Extravagant Worship involves GRATITUDE.

2.  EW requires HUMILITY (v 3; Mk. 14:3)

A little background is necessary to put this text in John into perspective.  This anointing of Jesus is mentioned in Matthew, Mark, and John.  Another anointing involving another woman -- who had lived a very sinful life-- and involving completely different circumstances is mentioned in Luke.

In this instance in Bethany there are minor differences that can be easily explained as just different perspectives on the same event.  But, there is a difference in John that I believe has special theological  reasons for being included.  Remember, John was written years later than the other gospels and was a theological study of the Life of Jesus, not so much a chronological record of His life.

In Matthew and Mark the writers record that after Mary broke the vile she

"poured it on His head" (Mt. 26:7; Mk. 14:3)

In our text in John, John adds theological insight by recording something that happened the other writers did not record.  John says that Mary

"poured it on Jesus' feet" (Jn. 12:3).

It was common when a guest came to your house to wipe a little oil on the forehead.  It was a gesture of kindness against the harsh, hot Middle Eastern sun. Anointing the head was also a common way to coronate a king.

Now, Mary did both.  But, John alone was led by the Holy Spirit to point out that she also anointed His feet. This would not be difficult to do.  In Middle Eastern fashion guests ate lying on cots with their head at the table and their bodies pointing away.  That's the reference given in verse two to Lazarus, "reclining at the table."  To me this is a very strange custom but it was the common way in the Biblical times.

John was pointing out the great "humility" of Mary.  Humility is a blessed virtue much commanded in Scripture.  The Lord Himself said,

"Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is
the kingdom of heaven." (Mt. 5:3).

Jesus also said,

"Whoever humbles himself like [a] child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven" (Mt. 18:4).

There was nothing more disgusting to a Middle Easterner of Jesus' day than to touch someone feet -- much less get your face down close enough to wipe the dust off with your hair.  This was so disgusting as to be almost disgraceful for a lady like Mary.  Plus, she let down her hair.  This was another act sure to bring her scorn.

Respectable woman did not let their hair down in public.  That was something only reserved for the husband.

Anointing the feet of a guest was the duty of the lowest slave in the household.  Mary gladly took upon herself that duty in order to show her Lord "extravagant worship."

Extravagant Worship will always open one up to the ridicule and perhaps scorn of others.  It did Mary.  Look in verses 4-5,

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."

Again, John writing much later for a more specific theological purpose adds the part about Judas.  Matthew and Mark point out that all the disciples had a problem with Mary's extravagance -- Judas just had different reasons for objecting.

It takes great humility to give "extravagant worship" to the Lord because I can guarantee you SOMEONE IS GOING TO OBJECT!

Take the example of David as instructive of this fact (2Sam. 6). 

¹² Now King David was told, “The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God.” So David went down and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing. ¹³ When those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. ¹⁴ David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the Lord with all his might,
...........................................
¹⁶ As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart.

If you are so humble as to allow yourself to give "extravagant worship" to God, don't be surprised if someone objects.

So often in our Baptist church we put way to much starch in our Sunday clothes.  We are so stiff in worship sometimes we can hardly sit down -- and when we do sit down, we are not about to get back up -- and certainly NOT DANCE.

Friend, pride in our tradition keeps us from giving God "extravagant worship."  And pride, is the deadliest of all sins.

We will do just about anything to protect our pride and our standing in the community.  We are like one man I read about.  This man was vain and self-centered.  He came from a prominent family and was going to write a book to make sure that his fine family name would live on long after he was gone.

But as he began looking into his family background, he discovered more than a few skeletons in his closet.

One example was the man's Uncle Fred who had been convicted of murder and eventually, after a long prison stay, electrocuted. Why, this would ruin the family name if it got out.  So, the man sort of rewrote the part about his Uncle Fred, the prisoner who was electrocuted.  The written version went like this:

"My Uncle Fred occupied the chair of applied electricity at one of our leading government institutions. He was attached to this position by the strongest of ties and his death came as a great shock!"

Our pride keeps us from giving our Lord "Extravagant Worship."  It keeps our voices soft when the Spirit calls us to shout.  It keeps our hands to our sides when the Spirit urges us to raise them in an act of humble surrender.

Mary's extravagant worship involved gratitude and it required humility. But, her EW did something special:

3.  EW influences OTHERS (v. 3b)

"And the house was filled with the
fragrance of perfume"

Mary's act of extravagant worship blessed the others in the room. Let me say that again . . . Mary's act of extravagant worship blessed the others in the room.

I would hope that my life would "sweeten" the little corner of life where I live.  Over the last week while meditating on this story, I have tried to be extra pleasant everywhere I've gone.  I've tried to be cautious of how I speak to others I meet in my daily life. 

In short, I decided it would be much better to leave a sweet perfume behind when I leave rather than the stink of self-centeredness.

When we come together in church to worship God together, we should be especially mindful of what kind of odor we are creating by our presence.

I read somewhere that "everybody brightens a room--some when they enter, and others when they leave!"

Over the years I have learned that there are certain people, that when you inquire upon greeting them: "Hello, so and so, how are you doing," they will actually begin to tell you in painstaking detail.

Two ladies were talking at the supermarket. "I ran into old Mrs. Burgess on my way up here," said one. "And I made the mistake of asking her how she was." "Did she tell you?" said the other woman.  "Yes she did. In groanological order."

Mary was no such person.  She was an "extravagant worshipper" of the Lord Jesus Christ and she positively influenced everyone around her. 

When we live in the attitude of "extravagant worship" where every thing we have, every thing we do, and every where we go we demonstrate the love we have for the Lord Jesus Christ, we will leave the sweet perfume of devotion wafting in the air when we leave.

Living a life of "Extravagant Worship" positively influences others.  EW involves gratitude.  EW requires humility.  EW positively influence others.  Also, 

4.  EW anticipates HEAVEN (v 7)

⁷ “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.

All three accounts contain this statement about Mary anointing him with one of the spices traditionally used to prepare a dead body for burial. 

Did Mary fully understand Jesus' words?  It is doubtful.  The Bible indicates that the disciples were surprised to see Jesus die. They certainly did not comprehend the substitutionary meaning of His death. No, sometimes there is more truth available to us than we can fully comprehend in one instance.  This seems to be such an incidence.

So, I'm not sure Mary fully comprehended the fact that Jesus was going to die on a cross in just a few days in order that she -- and all believers before, during, and after her -- could have eternal life.  Her gift anticipates this, but not in a manner fully understood by her or the disciples.

But, it is something fully comprehendable by you and I   we can clearly see that "extravagant worship" arises in part because we anticipate the great blessing of heaven that awaits us after we die.  Just as Jesus died and was raised from the dead, so every believer in Christ will likewise rise from the dead.  Paul writes in Rom 6:3-7:

Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴ We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. ⁵ If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. ⁶ For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— ⁷ because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.

This was what Mary act pointed to, eventhough she
and the disciples could not fully appreciate it -- yet.

WE  can fully appreciate it.  Our acts of "extravagant worship" arise out of a hopeful anticipation of that day when we will worship God around the throne in heaven.  The Apostle John describes that scene:

After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. ¹⁰ And they cried out in a loud voice:

“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”

¹¹ All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, ¹² saying:

“Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen! (Rev. 7:9-12)

Our worship here and now should be preparatory to a time when we will worship God in His very presence in Heaven.

EW arises out the grateful heart of person's who anticipate that day when we will worship around God's throne in heaven.

This message profoundly impacted my life as I've studied, meditated, and prayed about what it really means, and how it applies to our lives today.

So often -- perhaps most often -- our worship to God (in church or out) looks nothing like that which Mary gave to Jesus that day in Bethany.  This bears repeating:

So often -- perhaps most often -- our worship to God (in church or out) looks nothing like that which Mary gave to Jesus that day in Bethany. 

How many times when we come together for worship do we come only giving God what we consider "GOOD ENOUGH."  How many times do we enter this sanctuary and yet do not even intend to give God "extravagant worship."  How often do we gather in worship and all of our lives stay safely in the bottle of our religion? 

God wants us to come before Him broken, contrite, and all that we are poured out before Him.  Good Enough just ain't good enough when it comes to giving God our worship.

Friends, let's make a covenant with eachother and with God today that we will give only "extravagant worship" to God -- not only on Sundays, but every day of our lives.