John 12: Priceless Worship

In John 12, we witness one of the greatest acts of adoration in the Bible. 

 

While among his companions after the resurrection of Lazarus, Jesus sits on the receiving end of a simple yet captivating act of worship. Mary of Bethany, using a pound of expensive ointment anoints the feet of Jesus with her hair. One of the disciples, Judas Iscariot, sits in objection to her actions, claiming that the ointment should have been sold instead and that the money should be given to the poor. But Jesus interjects, saying “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.” 

 

When I first encountered this passage, I remember thinking this to be an unorthodox form of worship. Doesn’t this seem like a bit much? After all, Judas claims that the perfume could be sold for three hundred denarii. How could an object like this be used so carelessly? This question is where the faith of Mary shines through and selfish Judas is put to shame. 

 

Mary knew something that few others did. She saw what Jesus had done, raising her beloved brother from the dead. She knew that Jesus was indeed who he claimed to be! She must have been overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude for Jesus. She wanted to show him how worthy he was of her praise. By using such an expensive ointment she shows us how much she treasures Jesus in her heart. To her, Jesus is worthy of the highest worship she can afford. It didn’t matter how much the ointment was worth, Jesus was worth more. What a wonderful act of love and adoration we get to witness. All Mary can see, and all she cares to see is the glory of Jesus right in front of her. 

 

What a shame it would be for an act of such pure worship to be challenged. Unfortunately, this is exactly what Judas opts for. Judas seems to be missing this love that Mary has for Jesus, he instead seeks personal gain over Jesus. John makes this evident, “He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.” It’s no wonder the act of Mary couldn’t reach the heart of Judas, he was too busy looking out for himself. 

 

After reading this, turning the spotlight on my own life was difficult. Likely because I have known myself sometimes as Judas is in this passage. I have been selfish, ignorant, and unwilling to see the wonderful Jesus sitting right in front of me, all because I have been too busy worrying about myself. But how freeing is it to instead be like Mary, to fall at Jesus’ feet, and to worship him with all of our heart! To value him higher than everything that we have to offer, to know that we could stack the whole world together and it still wouldn’t be worthy compared to him. He is truly priceless!

 

Jesus is worthy of all the love and praise that we can muster up (and more). Mary encourages us to practice the wreckless love that she embodies, and also to give Jesus our all. May the Lord give us the strength to love and worship as Mary did!