Wedgwood China or/ Paper Plates

       “...The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."  1 Samuel 16:7b  NIV

       In Jesus’ final week on earth, the Jewish leadership feared their own people would revolt. (John 11:47-57)  Jesus once again illustrated the value in having a Spiritual relationship.  His value of compassion and mercy were evidenced by Mary and Lazarus, but despised by the religious Chief Priests and Pharisees.

Read:  John 12:1-11   bg  Matthew 20:17-19

I. v.1-3  A Sacrificial Act Of Worship

*  Mary used a pound of very expensive perfume, anointing Jesus

            Mark 14:3  actually broke the cruet- emptied completely

*  Mary does not hold back anything in her worship of Jesus

*  How often do we limit our giving and worship?

*  there was no reluctance to give her all to her Master

            Psalms 51:17  we are to give the best of our best

*  too often we become self centered in our worship

*  too often we consider what we will “get out of it”/  if it’s worth it

            Revelation 4:10,11  worthy is the Lord of our worship!

II.  v.4-6  It Was A Selfless Act Of Worship

*  love and devotion to Christ are more than mere words

*  our relationship with Him is demonstrated by our actions

*  what Mary did as selfless, others saw as wasteful

            Mark 14:4,5  some were indignant- including the thief himself

            Matthew 7:3,4  beware of selfish worship

*  Mary didn’t care what others thought of her devotion of Christ

            James 1:26  there is no place for criticism of other’s worship

III. v.7-9  It Was A Significant Act Of Worship

*  the significance of this act of worship was Jesus’ assessment of it

            Mark 14:6-9  this act of worship will always be a memorial to her

*  the world values criticism, envy, covetousness, and ill will to others

*  what Mary did, she did simply out of a loving relationship to Jesus

*  remember, it is not in the world’s values we are counting on

            Matthew 25:23  “well done, thou good and faithful servant”

*  notice v 3b  the Whole  house was filled with the fragrance