Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is Mark 14:1-11. With an open mind and a humble heart, read this passage and see what sticks out to you in this passage. Is there a verse, a phrase, or a lesson you think the Holy Spirit may be highlighting for you in this passage? After you’ve thought about the passage yourself a bit, read the GAME sharing below. Let’s go!
Mark 14:1-9 (NIV)
1 Now the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some sly way to arrest Jesus and kill him.
2 “But not during the Feast,” they said, “or the people may riot.”
3 While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.
4 Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume?
5 It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.
6 “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.
7 The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me.
8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial.
9 I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
On verses 1-9: In Matthew 14:1-11 we see three groups of people: (1) those who have never been with Jesus, don’t understand Jesus and are looking to eliminate him (e.g. the chief priests and teachers of the law – v1-2); (2) those who are closer to Jesus and committed to honouring Him (v3-8); and (3) those who have committed their lives to Jesus before but end up leaving him (v10-11). It’s from this second group, in particular the woman with the alabaster jar, that we learn seven important truths about what worship is.
Worship is costly. Worship is costly in two ways. First, like an alabaster jar of perfume that would be broken, Jesus sacrificed his body, allowing his body to be broken and his blood poured out, like a perfume, for our benefit. He did this so that we could have access to God and worship Him. Before you ever paid any price to worship God, Jesus paid the highest price. Second, worship is costly in that when you worship you’re giving something from you that is precious. As David would say, “I will not sacrifice to my God that which costs me nothing.” That’s the worship exchange: Jesus gave His life for us, and we in turn give our lives to Him in worship.
Worship is personal. The offering this woman gave was highly personal. If it doesn’t come from a personal place in you, from your heart, it’s not worship (see Mark 7:6).
Worship is intimate. Just as this woman had to draw near to Jesus to give her sacrifice, so it’s tough to worship God from afar. You need to come close to God to worship Him. God loves our worship not just because He wants to be praised, but because He wants to be close to us. Worship is how we get intimate with Jesus.
Worship is courageous. It took courage for this woman to do what she did. She risked being misunderstood or laughed at, and she was. But this woman cared more about giving Jesus honour than how she looked in front of people.
Worship is honouring Jesus. “She has done a beautiful thing to me” Jesus says in verse 6. Worship is all about giving Jesus the honour, the glory, the praise and the adoration He deserves. It might not always make sense to others (v4-5), but it’s not about them. It’s about Jesus.
Worship is time sensitive. “The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could.” (v7-8) Worship is seizing the moment to give God honour even when you could be doing other things. It’s you saying, “This moment with You now is more important than anything else I could be doing.”
Worship is witness. “I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” (v9) Jesus was right. This woman’s act of worship is now a part of the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke which have been read all over the world for thousands of years. When you worship Jesus well, God sees it and God will use your worship to lead others to Him.
Mark 14:10-11 (NIV)
10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them.
11 They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
On verses 10-11: Whereas the woman with the alabaster jar sacrificed what she had financially for a closer relationship with Jesus, Judas sacrifices his close relationship with Jesus so that he could gain financially. Guess who made the right choice. What are you doing to Jesus today?
Thank You Holy Spirit for teaching us what worship is through the example of this woman. Jesus You are worthy of worship that is costly, personal, intimate, courageous and honouring. May I please You with the worship I give. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
copyright © 2022 Justin Lim. All rights reserved.
