“So What Is It All Really Worth?”

Scripture: John 12:1-8

One of the issues that was constantly arising in the disciples’ confusion over Jesus’ teaching, was the difference between the world’s standards that they had always lived under, and the new focus that the Lord was calling them to claim. As an example, his conversation with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well, as far as the disciples were concerned, was a social and religious no-no, and yet, Jesus saw it as an opportunity to show love to an ostracized woman. When he forgave the crippled man’s sin, releasing him from his debilitating life, the Jews were appalled at his arrogant words of forgiveness, and yet, this is what God is all about – restoration and healing for our soul.

What would the value of Jesus’ ministry have been, if he had worked solely within the concepts and ideals of earth? The truth is that they would have been meaningless! The worthiness of Jesus’ time among us has little to do with the worldly things that we are used to – it is truly about the gifts of heaven that will not only nourish us spiritually in this life, but more importantly, they will sustain us in the life that is yet to come.

Read John 12:1-3

Each of the gospel writers relate an event that is similar to this one – in each, Jesus is anointed by some unknown woman. In Matthew 26:6-13 and Mark 14:3-9, a woman pours the fragrant oil on the Lord’s head, and Jesus states that it is an anointing for his death. In Luke 7:36-50, the woman pours the oil on his feet and dries them with her hair, much like Mary does in John’s gospel. In this instance, though, it seems to be more of an act of repentance for her sins than a preparation for death, and Jesus pronounces that she is forgiven.
But the interesting point of all 4 accounts is that someone always complains that such an expensive and valuable commodity has been wasted. And additionally in the account found in Luke, a Pharisee proclaims that Jesus can’t be such a great prophet, otherwise he would have known that the woman was a sinner and would never have allowed her to touch him.

Each and every account is about a person who reaches out to Jesus to anoint him because of some amount of understanding as to who he is and what he does for us. This act of anointing is found throughout scripture as an act of preparation for some holy endeavor. The priests would be washed and anointed before assuming their duties in the temple. The dead and dying would be anointed as a sign of surrender of this life and preparation for the next. Even today, we anoint people in our healing services as a sign of seeking God’s intervention in their situation. And those who are venturing out in mission or ministry are anointed as a sign of seeking God’s blessing and guidance in their efforts.

So why did so many people miss the significance of Jesus’ anointing by the hand of these women? First, they were only seeing the monetary value of the oil, and completely missed the worthiness of the act. Second, I suspect that there was also that societal prohibition against women touching men in public that was in play. They just weren’t worthy to do this.

In every case, Value and worth become totally subjective determinations, if we leave Jesus out of the mix.

Read John 12:4-8

Regardless of all that may have been going on in the minds of the opposition, they were placing the earthly value of the product above the divine value of the loving act that was being offered.
So how much are our gifts to God worth? Do we consider the “worth” of our offering and all that our resources can do for us, as more important and vital, than providing them as sacrificial gifts to the Lord? If we have such great expectations for all that we keep, shouldn’t we have even greater hope for all that we give to God?

I know that I’ve told this story before, but here it is again – John D. Rockefeller was once asked in a press conference “How much is enough?” Without even hesitating, he replied “Just a little more.” Even the excessively wealthy never have enough, if they don’t place a Godly perspective on their riches.

Our attitude shouldn’t be “how much can we get and hang onto”, but rather “how much good can come from the amount that I give?” The women in these stories gave all that they could, because they could see the value of the blessing that was being offered, and not just the monetary value of the blessing.

In the instance of our text for today, both of these attitudes are being displayed for us. Mary models the attitude of a faithful disciple who is giving lavishly to the Lord, while Judas models that of a self-centered and self-serving one, who is only concerned for himself.
We are also told that Judas was a thief. In John 10:7-20, Jesus teaches about his being the gate for the sheep of his fold, and addresses the issue of both thieves who try to break in, as well as that of unfaithful and uncaring hired hands. He says that the thief only wants to destroy, while he comes to save. And hired hands receive little better in Jesus’ assessment of their attitudes. At the first sign of difficulty and danger, they turn and run, because they have no stake in caring for the flock.
Judas is being described as a combination of these two “less-than-stellar” individuals. His only desire is to tear down and destroy, because he has never taken up the mission of Jesus in his own life. Judas is only about Judas – Mary is all about Jesus.

Do you think that Mary had “Jesus’ Eyes”? We all would probably say she did, but what does that phrase actually mean? All too many folks think that it means that we should see others in a good light – that no matter who they are or what they have done, that we are to accept them just as they are. And while that is partially true, and does reflect at least part of Jesus’ vision of us, there is one vital part that is missing.
While we are to love others just as they are, we are never to be content in leaving them in that place. Jesus put great value on the woman who was caught in adultery, but it was never his desire to leave her there. (John 8:2-11) The man who was filled with a legion of demons was loved, but the demons who were controlling him were detested. (Luke 8:26-39) This is what it means to “see others through the eyes of Jesus” – that we are to love all people, even while we hate the things that seem to control their lives.

The world would have us believe that we are defined by what we do and think. But the Lord would have us “see” otherwise. We need to separate the “earthly” side of people from the “Image of God” side (Genesis 1:26-27), and to strive to lead them into the Light of Christ – that new life and way and purpose that is founded in the Ways of the Lord God Almighty.

But we all have a difficult time in making that distinction – the determination of what is of value to the Kingdom of God, and what is only a shadow of worth that falls on the things of earth.

Daniel Webster – the great American orator – once loudly proclaimed from the floor of the U.S. Senate– “I have never heard of anything more ridiculous, more absurd than the claim that the nation will profit by the acquisition of California. I contend it is not worth one dollar.”

--Daniel Webster, in an 1848 speech before the United States Senate.

Webster might have erred just a bit in his analysis!

But what is it all really worth? This life? A life in Christ? The honor we show to our Almighty and Redeeming God? Our gifts of praise? The love that we show to our “neighbors”? The actual worthiness of this life is based on the Lord’s determination, not in ours, and whether it makes a lot of sense to us or not, we need to trust in Godly Wisdom, and not that of earth.
Verse 3 tells us that the fragrance of the perfume filled the house. That’s the worthiness of grace – that’s the worthiness of service and love and truth that is offered in the name of Jesus. It fills our life and the lives of all who we come in contact with!

So what is our worth? Our worth comes from our love of Christ, from those things we are doing in his name and way, and from the love of God that we are able to show to the people of earth, regardless of who they are and what they do.

“Love the Lord your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And a second is like it: you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (>Matthew 22:34-40)

Do this, and we all will be blessed by the fragrance of glory for the rest of our lives!