Worship: A Heartfelt Response to God's Magnificence
Summary
In our ongoing series, "Encounter," we delve into the Gospel of John, exploring the unique ways Jesus interacts with individuals, leading them to faith. Today, we revisit the story of Martha and Mary, focusing on their acts of worship. Previously, we discussed how Jesus comforted Martha and Mary in their grief over Lazarus' death. Martha's faith was simple yet profound; she needed only to hear Jesus affirm His divinity to find comfort. Mary, on the other hand, needed Jesus' compassionate presence in her mourning.
In John 12, we see another encounter with Martha and Mary, this time highlighting their worship. Martha serves Jesus dinner, an act of worship through service, while Mary anoints Jesus' feet with expensive perfume, demonstrating worship through love and humility. Worship, as we see, is not confined to singing but is a heart condition that aligns us with God, manifesting in various forms like service and sacrificial giving.
Mary's act of anointing Jesus' feet with costly perfume is a profound expression of love and humility. She gives extravagantly, not calculating the cost, and humbles herself by using her hair to wipe His feet. This act signifies her deep love and gratitude for Jesus, who resurrected her brother Lazarus. Worship, therefore, is an intimate act of love, giving our all to Christ.
We also heard a powerful testimony from Heather Gunn, who shared her journey of faith and worship amidst her husband John's life-threatening accident. Despite the trials, Heather's unwavering faith and continuous worship through adversity exemplify the heart of true worship. Her story reminds us that worship is a choice, a heart condition that remains steadfast even in life's darkest moments.
As we reflect on these encounters, we are reminded that worship is about where our heart turns in times of trial. For Mary, it was Jesus. For Heather, it was Jesus. Worship is an act of love and devotion, a response to the magnificence of God, and a testament to our faith in Him.
Key Takeaways:
- Worship is a heart condition that transcends mere rituals or songs. It is the reverential response of creation to God's magnificence, manifesting in acts of service, love, and humility. Martha's service and Mary's anointing illustrate that worship can take many forms, each deeply personal and meaningful. [08:38]
- True worship is rooted in love, not obligation. Mary's extravagant gift of perfume reflects her deep love for Jesus, teaching us that love does not calculate the cost. Worship should stem from a desire to honor God, giving our all without reservation. [11:03]
- Worship involves humility, as demonstrated by Mary anointing Jesus' feet. In the ancient world, anointing the head was an honor, yet Mary chose to anoint Jesus' feet, showing her humility and reverence. True worship acknowledges our unworthiness and exalts God's greatness. [13:43]
- Worship remains steadfast in adversity. Heather Gunn's testimony of worshiping through her husband's critical condition exemplifies unwavering faith. Worship is a choice, a heart condition that draws us closer to God, especially in life's trials. [26:55]
- Jesus values our worship and defends our devotion. When Judas criticized Mary's act, Jesus defended her, emphasizing the importance of worshiping Him while we have the opportunity. Our acts of worship, no matter how small, are precious to God and reflect our love for Him. [48:13]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [05:19] - Revisiting Martha and Mary
- [08:38] - Defining Worship
- [11:03] - Mary's Extravagant Love
- [13:43] - Humility in Worship
- [17:39] - Heather Gunn's Testimony
- [26:55] - Worship in Adversity
- [44:03] - A Child's Faith
- [48:13] - Jesus Defends Mary's Worship
- [52:00] - Closing Worship and Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- John 12:1-8
Observation Questions:
1. How did Martha and Mary each express their worship of Jesus in John 12:1-8? What were their specific actions? [05:19]
2. What was Judas Iscariot's reaction to Mary's act of anointing Jesus' feet, and what does the text reveal about his motives? [48:13]
3. How did Jesus respond to Judas' criticism of Mary's actions, and what does this reveal about His view on worship? [48:13]
Interpretation Questions:
1. What does Martha's act of serving dinner to Jesus reveal about her understanding of worship? How does this compare to Mary's act of anointing Jesus' feet? [08:38]
2. In what ways does Mary's use of expensive perfume to anoint Jesus' feet demonstrate the concept of worship as an act of love and humility? [11:03]
3. How does Heather Gunn's testimony of worshiping through adversity illustrate the idea that worship is a heart condition that remains steadfast in trials? [26:55]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: In what ways do you express worship beyond singing? Are there acts of service or giving that you feel called to as a form of worship? [08:38]
2. Consider a time when you had to choose between worshiping God and focusing on a personal trial. How did you respond, and what might you do differently in the future? [26:55]
3. Mary's act of anointing Jesus' feet was extravagant and costly. Is there something valuable in your life that you feel called to offer to God as an act of worship? [11:03]
4. How can you cultivate a heart of humility in your worship, similar to Mary's act of anointing Jesus' feet? What practical steps can you take to demonstrate humility in your daily life? [13:43]
5. Heather Gunn's story highlights the importance of worshiping through adversity. How can you prepare your heart to remain steadfast in worship during difficult times? [26:55]
6. Jesus defended Mary's act of worship against criticism. How can you support and encourage others in their unique expressions of worship, even if they differ from your own? [48:13]
7. Reflect on the idea that worship is a choice. What intentional choices can you make this week to prioritize worship in your life, regardless of your circumstances? [44:03]
Devotional
Day 1: Worship as a Heart Condition
Worship is not limited to rituals or songs; it is a heart condition that aligns us with God. Martha and Mary demonstrate this through their acts of service and love. Martha serves Jesus dinner, showing her devotion through service, while Mary anoints Jesus' feet with expensive perfume, expressing her love and humility. Worship is a personal and meaningful response to God's magnificence, manifesting in various forms. It is about where our heart turns in times of trial, as seen in the lives of Martha, Mary, and Heather Gunn, who worshiped through adversity. [08:38]
"Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." (Hebrews 10:22, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you express your worship to God beyond traditional rituals today? Consider an act of service or love that aligns your heart with Him.
Day 2: Love as the Root of True Worship
True worship is rooted in love, not obligation. Mary's extravagant gift of perfume reflects her deep love for Jesus, teaching us that love does not calculate the cost. Worship should stem from a desire to honor God, giving our all without reservation. This act of love and devotion is a testament to our faith in Him, as we see in Mary's willingness to give her best to Jesus. Her actions remind us that worship is an intimate act of love, giving our all to Christ. [11:03]
"And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." (Ephesians 5:2, ESV)
Reflection: What is one way you can demonstrate your love for Jesus today without calculating the cost? How can you give your best to Him in your daily life?
Day 3: Humility in Worship
Worship involves humility, as demonstrated by Mary anointing Jesus' feet. In the ancient world, anointing the head was an honor, yet Mary chose to anoint Jesus' feet, showing her humility and reverence. True worship acknowledges our unworthiness and exalts God's greatness. Mary's act of using her hair to wipe Jesus' feet signifies her deep love and gratitude for Jesus, who resurrected her brother Lazarus. Worship is an intimate act of love, giving our all to Christ. [13:43]
"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you." (James 4:10, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to practice humility before God? How can you demonstrate this humility in your worship today?
Day 4: Worship in Adversity
Worship remains steadfast in adversity. Heather Gunn's testimony of worshiping through her husband's critical condition exemplifies unwavering faith. Worship is a choice, a heart condition that draws us closer to God, especially in life's trials. Her story reminds us that worship is about where our heart turns in times of trial. For Mary, it was Jesus. For Heather, it was Jesus. Worship is an act of love and devotion, a response to the magnificence of God. [26:55]
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." (James 1:2-3, ESV)
Reflection: How can you choose to worship God in the midst of your current challenges? What steps can you take to maintain a heart of worship during difficult times?
Day 5: Jesus Values Our Worship
Jesus values our worship and defends our devotion. When Judas criticized Mary's act, Jesus defended her, emphasizing the importance of worshiping Him while we have the opportunity. Our acts of worship, no matter how small, are precious to God and reflect our love for Him. Worship is a testament to our faith in Him, and Jesus cherishes our devotion. This encounter reminds us that our worship is significant and valued by God. [48:13]
"Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her." (Matthew 26:13, ESV)
Reflection: What small act of worship can you offer to Jesus today, knowing that He values and cherishes your devotion? How can you make worship a priority in your daily life?
Quotes
Well, Church, we are in this powerful series called Encounter, and we are reading through the Gospel of John as we are approaching Easter, and the reason that we chose the Gospel of John is there are so many incredible miracles that happen, and the way John records them and the interactions that Jesus has with people are really amazing, and it leads people to Christ, and so we were intentional about this, and if you've ever read the Gospels, you know that Jesus encounters people differently. Not only does he encounter different people, but along the way, how he encounters them, he does differently. So this series, every week, we're looking at these different encounters. So, somewhere along the way are desires that you hear Jesus speak to you, because there is an encounter that happens with each and every one of us. [00:00:08] (61 seconds)
But what Martha needs in her grieving is to hear simply truth from Jesus. And so Jesus' response to Martha was that he says, I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even if he dies. And everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this? Well, Martha believes Jesus, and affirms that he is the son of God. This is all that she needed. She just needed to know that he was the son of God who provides eternal life. She needed to hear that from Jesus. So Martha has this very powerful, but at the same time very simple faith. She doesn't need a lot. She just needs to be reassured from Jesus. [00:02:18] (50 seconds)
Now this is the point of this encounter series and why we're used in the Gospel of John, we come to know that Jesus is both fully God and fully man through this series. And the reason that's important is because we have a God that we worship who took on this form, who chose to come down and be like us and experience everything we've experienced. So when we pray to Jesus, we're not praying to some stone idol or some wooden carved image or something like that. We're praying to a God who understands what pain is, what loss is. He's experienced that already. So we have this connection with a God who can comfort us. [00:04:23] (51 seconds)
Mary then took a pound of very expensive perfume of pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, the one who intended to betray him, said, why was this perfume not sold for 300 denarii and the proceeds given to poor people? Now he said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he kept the money box, he used to steal from what was put into it. Therefore Jesus said, leave her alone so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me. [00:06:04] (52 seconds)
Worship is the reverential response of creation to the all-encompassing magnificence of God. In the Old Testament, worship encompassed a variety of activities. Bringing forward an offering to God was an act of worship. Bowing down in the presence of God was an outward display of an inner attitude of reverence before the Creator. The Hebrew verb room could indicate that a person was lifting up or exalting God with praise. Together, these last two terms provide a rich image of worship. People both bowing down before God and lifting Him up in praise and wonder. And the Hebrew verb halal could be used to designate the act of celebrating God. The word hallelujah is derived from the Hebrew meaning praise Yahweh. This praise could involve singing. [00:08:23] (64 seconds)
Mary took the most precious thing she possessed and spent it all on Jesus. Right? This was a perfume that would have come from India. So this is the ancient world. This is something that literally would have been shipped. And it cost this incredible amount. But you see, love is not love if it calculates the cost. Love gives its all. Its only regret is that it does not have more to give. When you're worshiping, and if it's an act of love, you give everything. You give your heart to Christ. This is what Mary's doing. But she's doing something else. When Mary worships, she does so with humility. [00:11:32] (59 seconds)
But Mary would not look so high as the head of Jesus. So she anoints his feet. The last thing Mary thought of was to bestow an honor upon Jesus. She never would have dreamed she was good enough for that. How Mary spreads the oil on his feet adds to her humility. Mary wiped Jesus' feet with the hair of her head. Think about that. This is an ancient world. Feet are really dirty. People are walking around. They step in things. I don't even have to step in anything. When you take my boots off, nobody wants to be in the room. Right? Right? And here we find Mary with this incredible, incredible perfume. [00:12:43] (60 seconds)
She's like, I'll give whatever I can possibly give because he's worth that and so much more. Now here's the thing. Worshiping Jesus is easy when life is going well, right? When we think about worshiping, I'm sure everybody in here loves to worship what we call the worship team this morning. A closing song, I heard you all, right? It's a beautiful song and you were getting into it. It's easy when we feel good. What about when life is not going well? Do you still worship in those moments? [00:14:20] (49 seconds)
And so this morning, I want you to hear this story. that is an incredible testimony to the power of God and the love that we can have when we worship Jesus. So would you welcome Heather Gunn up to the stage, please. So, before we jump into this, I want to start out with, tell us a little bit about your life with John. So let's go back one year ago to April of 2024. What was your life like with John? He is your person. Now, you guys would go on dates all the time, right? Even when you're married, you still continue to go on dates. [00:15:55] (94 seconds)
And how many surgeries slash major procedures did he go through in that time frame? Yeah. about that that you are um watching your your spouse struggle just to survive and uh you you every time there's a little bit of progress you're like okay well he he's stable enough now now we don't have to worry about this but we have to worry about this and we have to go in and fix this and it was just um at times it was a daily thing i remember in the beginning like it was like okay yesterday we fixed this so today we're gonna have another surgery and fix this and uh for over four months that was life [00:27:09] (51 seconds)
And there is so much more to this story. I mean, we could go on for hours and hours of everything that has happened. But the important thing, and where I wanna land today, is you never stopped worshiping Jesus in this. Yeah. One of the things, and you didn't get to see today, but every time I went up there, you had placed your phone beside John's head and was playing worship songs, just non-stop. And that's what John heard non-stop all the time. And you continually worshiped your God in this process. [00:45:18] (49 seconds)
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