In our short passage today, we have a snapshot of what real family worship looks like in the home. Our favored radio Bible teacher, J Vernon McGee points out the three people in the story are Lazarus, Martha, and Mary. He also points out the three kinds of service each of them brings to true heartfelt worship. Fellowship, service, and worship.
A contrast arises when marry washes Jesus’ feet in Both an extravagant and humble way. In washing his feet with her hair, she also uses a very expensive and large amount of perfume. This catches the eye of Judas who recognizes the value and the possible wastefulness of such an action. As his true nature of greed slips out, he catches himself and claims it could have better been used to help the poor.
Jesus however, recognizes the heartfelt worship of Mary and gladly excepts her expensive gift. Whether she has had a premonition of his coming death, he certainly had his I on that approaching date. He also let everyone know that Mary should be left alone, or forgiven for any perceived extravagance. Jesus recognized the important connection of anointing at his burial that was to come in a few days.
Besides, allowing Judas was concerned about the poor, Jesus advises him that there are always going to be opportunities to worship by serving the poor. He knew that his time on earth and his current mission were rapidly coming to an end.
Others were coming to worship in wrong motive. That would be crowds of people who learned Jesus was in town, and the added curiosity and wonder overseeing Lazarus who had been recently raised from the dead. Lazarus had become such a well-known and popular figure, that even the religious elite wanted to put him to death as well as Jesus.
To round out this snapshot of heartfelt worship, it is in contrast to hypocrites with the wrong motives, as well as those who hate.
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