Worship That Costs: Giving Our Best to Jesus

John brings Jesus back to Bethany six days before Passover, back to the place where Lazarus had been raised from the dead. The meal at Simon’s house becomes more than dinner with friends. Jesus sits with Lazarus, the man He raised, and Simon, the former leper who had been healed, while Martha serves and Mary worships. Jesus shows again that He meets people in their tears and rejoices with them in their joy.

Martha’s serving is not treated as a lesser thing. Martha does what God wired her to do, and her work becomes worship when it is done for the Lord. Mary, though, takes a pound of pure nard, something worth almost a year’s wages, and pours it out on Jesus. Mary breaks the flask, anoints Jesus, and wipes His feet with her hair. The house fills with the fragrance of the perfume, because her love for Jesus is not hidden, cautious, or cheap.

Mary’s loose hair would have turned heads in that culture, but Mary does not seem concerned with what anybody thinks. Mary’s love and devotion for Jesus override societal correctedness. Mary has spent time at Jesus’ feet before, and that time has shaped her heart to give Him what is costly. The closer a heart gets to the glory of Christ, the more open that heart becomes to give.

Judas stands as the sharp contrast. Judas sees a costly act of worship and calls it a waste, pretending that concern for the poor motivates him. John exposes what lies under Judas’s words: Judas is a thief, and money has his heart. Judas gives nothing, takes much, and even spiritualizes his selfishness. Mary gives much because she loves Jesus. Judas complains because he loves himself more than he loves the Lord.

Jesus tells Judas, “Leave her alone.” Jesus receives Mary’s act as preparation for His burial, even if Mary may not have fully understood all that it meant. Jesus does not dismiss care for the poor, but He declares that His presence in this moment is unique and precious. Mary does not wait until Jesus is gone to honor Him. Mary gives Him her costly gift while He is still with her.

David’s refusal to offer God what cost him nothing gives language for Mary’s worship. Real worship costs the worshiper something: time, talents, agenda, status, possessions, and financial resources. Christ’s sacrifice at Calvary makes every gift offered to Him look small by comparison, yet Christ is worthy of all of it. Lazarus also becomes a marked man because his very life testifies that Jesus is who He says He is. Jesus calls His people to sit at His feet, remember that their stuff is not really their stuff, and live as stewards whose lives belong to His kingdom.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Real worship will cost something Mary’s gift was not casual, and it was not leftover worship. David’s words still stand: God is not honored by offerings that cost nothing. Sacrifice does not purchase God’s favor, but it reveals that Christ is treasured above comfort, control, and personal gain. [1:02:29]
• 2. Sitting with Jesus changes giving Mary’s costly devotion grew out of time spent at Jesus’ feet. A heart that slows down to behold Christ begins to see possessions, plans, and status differently. Christ’s love loosens the grip on things that once seemed impossible to release. [56:31]
• 3. Selfishness can sound spiritual Judas used concern for the poor to cover a heart ruled by money. Religious words can hide a desire to protect personal comfort, reputation, or control. Christ sees beneath the explanation and knows what truly motivates every gift and every refusal. [1:01:41]
• 4. Jesus is worthy while present Mary did not wait until Jesus’ death to show Him honor. Love gives flowers while the person can still receive them, and faith responds to Christ now rather than someday. Christ’s presence and grace call for present obedience, not delayed devotion. [1:06:41]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [29:51] - John 12 and the Costly Gift
• [30:37] - What Is Worth a Year’s Wages?
• [34:33] - A Costly Gift and a Selfish Heart
• [37:31] - Reading John 12:1-11
• [41:19] - Jesus Returns to Bethany
• [45:42] - Lazarus, Simon, and Martha’s Service
• [50:03] - Mary Anoints Jesus with Pure Nard
• [55:31] - Serving and Sitting as Worship
• [58:21] - Judas and the Love of Money
• [1:02:29] - Worship That Costs Something
• [1:06:05] - Jesus Defends Mary
• [1:08:47] - Lazarus Becomes a Marked Man
• [1:09:37] - Sitting at Jesus’ Feet

Bible Reading

John 12:1-11
“Jesus, therefore, six days before the Passover came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they made Him a supper there, and Martha was serving; but Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him. Mary then took a pound of very costly 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, who was intending to betray Him, said, 'Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and given to poor people?' Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it. Therefore Jesus said, 'Let 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.' The large crowd of the Jews then learned that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He raised from the dead. But the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death also; because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and were believing in Jesus.” [37:31]

2 Samuel 24:24
“However, the king said to Araunah, 'No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price, for I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God which cost me nothing.' So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.” [01:03:17]

Romans 12:1
“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” [47:36]

Observation questions

1. What details in John 12:1–3 show the different ways Lazarus, Martha, and Mary respond to Jesus at the meal in Bethany? [55:31]
2. What made Mary’s perfume a costly gift, and what happened in the house after she anointed Jesus?
3. What reason did Judas give for criticizing Mary’s gift, and what reason does John give for Judas’s real concern? [01:01:41]
4. Why did the chief priests begin making plans against Lazarus as well as Jesus? [01:09:17]

Interpretation questions

1. Martha serves while Mary pours out a costly gift at Jesus’ feet. How do these different actions show that worship can involve both serving faithfully and giving devoted attention to Jesus? [55:31]
2. Jesus tells Judas to leave Mary alone and connects her gift with His burial. What does this reveal about the uniqueness and urgency of honoring Jesus in that moment? [01:06:41]
3. Judas used concern for the poor to criticize Mary, but John reveals that Judas loved money. What are some ways selfishness or a desire for comfort can hide behind words that sound wise or spiritual? [01:01:41]
4. David refused to offer God something that cost him nothing. How does that principle help distinguish costly worship from trying to earn God’s favor? [01:03:49]

Application questions

1. What possession, comfort, plan, or source of security is hardest to hold with open hands before Jesus? What makes it difficult to see it as something entrusted by God rather than something that belongs completely to us? [01:10:09]
2. Mary’s giving flowed from time spent at Jesus’ feet. What could it look like for each person to create regular, unhurried time this week for Scripture, prayer, quiet, and attention to Christ? [57:02]
3. Martha’s serving was worship because it was done for the Lord. Where is God already giving each person opportunities to serve—in the home, workplace, church, or community—and how might that service become more clearly an offering to Him? [47:36]
4. Real worship may cost time, talents, agenda, status, or financial resources. Which of those areas feels most costly right now, and what is one faithful, practical step of generosity or obedience that could be taken? [01:04:17]
5. Judas’s words sounded concerned for others, but his heart was ruled by financial gain. When giving, serving, or declining an opportunity to help, what questions can help expose whether the deeper motive is love for Christ or protection of self? [01:00:48]
6. Lazarus’s very life pointed people to Jesus, even though it also brought opposition. In what ordinary ways does a changed life testify to Jesus, and where might someone need courage to be identified with Him? [01:09:06]