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John: Words of Life - This Is Your Life
August 8, 2021

There was a show on television for many years - it only ran into the mid 80’s, but I had heard of it my whole life. Until this past week, I had never actually seen an episode, but it was very much exactly what I expected. This show was meant to honor celebrities, but not in a self-promoting or sycophantic way - to really celebrate what they had brought to the world of entertainment or sport - it was called “This Is Your Life.”

When you watch award shows and other types of shows nowadays, celebrities use their influence to soap box about political and other agendas. A huge percentage of “famous people” in the world today have not actually contributed anything to earn the celebrity - it is because of who they know or where they were at any given time. Celebrity today brings with it a new kind of arrogance - an entitlement that says “you should be impressed by me regardless of what I do - or don’t do.”

But on “This is your life” - Things were different. The host takes them through each of the milestones of their career, each step, and they bring back the people that were there for each step, effectively reminding the celebrity from where they came and who helped them rise above. You see a genuine relational joy as people are reunited, remembering some of the wacky things they did just to keep working in the industry. You see a mutual respect - when you see someone’s life, you end up seeing a life that touched people - that made a mark. You see a life that set a standard - an example for others to follow. 

What is interesting about “This Is Your Life” is this - it would take the person back through the wonderful things that they did, so that they might feel the reward of reliving what they gave to the world. They don’t hand out an award for an achievement. They don’t give you a big pile of money or dedicate a statue or anything like that. The work stands for itself, and the people who had the opportunity to work with this person come out to celebrate with them, often reuniting after long periods of time in tears and joy.

I watched 3 episodes of this show - but the one that impacted me most was for Dick Van Dyke. This man is an absolute legend, and believe it or not I grew up watching Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore and all of those shows from the 60’s and 70’s. You probably don’t know this, but my name - Robert from both grandfathers and James from my father - was chosen for family reasons, but also because my parents so loved the character of Rob Petrie and wanted a son who would be called Rob. What struck me about this man was his genuine and real humility - he was just so happy to be with his friends on this show that was dedicated to him. He seemed legitimately surprised that people would take the time to come to LA to celebrate him.

I don’t know how I would feel to be a part of “This Is Your Life” about me. There are some scenes I don’t think I would want to live again - even some of the ones that may be considered good. How would that show play out if it was your life? And how would that show look today? I feel like it would be more about ratings and facebook likes and retweets than a measure of entertainment value, or of contribution to society. I feel like the show would try to highlight scandal instead of achievement - after all, that’s what people want to watch, right?

Please open your Bibles to John chapter 12. Jesus has had an incredible career - he has had fame, influence, and has done some incredible things. Yet we know that it was never about any of that - it was about uniting people in community with the Father. Along the way Jesus has performed many miracles and taught untold thousands. Now the time has come - “Jesus, This is your life!” Read passage John 12:1-11.

One has to assume that the family in Bethany knew that Jesus would be heading to Jerusalem for the Passover and extended an invitation to Him. Consider the danger here - Lazarus and his sisters were well-known even before the resurrection, and since then, they are likely being watched closely for a chance to apprehend Jesus. Here they are, inviting Him into their home town as an honored guest - and there is no mention of trying to meet in secret or anything like that.

On the show, the person who was the subject supposedly had no idea that they were going to be honored in this way. They would be out to dinner with a friend or something when the host would show up and whisk them away to a nearby theater packed full of people who had come to see an entertainer honored. Here now we see an invitation from the family Jesus had just restored - they were prepared to receive Him and His entourage - as if they had been planning it all along. Jesus is there as a guest, and we see much the same posture from the sisters that we have seen in other times, as Martha acts with her servant’s heart, Mary out of sheer worship.

It is worth noting the setting here. Remember the point at which Jesus’ ministry began - the wedding in Cana. Here, too, was a festive celebration where there was an air of anticipation among Jesus’ followers about what was to become of them by following so extraordinary a man. Here, in another celebration, though muted in comparison, Jesus’ public ministry comes to a close and His followers wonder what is to become of them following so hunted a man as Jesus.

If you’re Jesus, I imagine that encouragement is what you need. Jesus has faced a lot of rejection, and has basically just come out of hiding so that he can march toward the worst part of His life. He is fully man - there has to be fear, or at least anxiety born out of a human need for self-preservation. He is likely somewhat dejected by how things have gone, and it will likely do Him some good to see the good His life has brought about.

It is appropriate that they begin where they are - near the crowning achievement - the thing that won so many because God’s power could not be denied. Lazarus is there, in attendance, speaking and laughing and visiting with Him - likely the very encouragement He needed. 

This scene is actually described in all four Gospels, but there are some differences in each that have raised many questions - eventually leading to the belief from many scholars that Jesus was actually anointed 2 times - once in Bethany and once in Galilee. Both Matthew and Mark indicate that this scene happens at the home of Simon the leper, Luke of a man who was a Pharisee. This brings the question of the relationship of Mary Martha and Lazarus to this man, or what his official stance was with regard to Jesus. Here in the Book of John, we are not told to whom the house belongs, only who is present there. The anointing is reported differently as well, with Matthew and Mark indicating that Jesus’ head is anointed, while Luke speaks of the woman (Mary) being of immoral character is broken in Jesus’ presence, weeps tears on Jesus’ feet which she then wipes with her hair, only then anointing Him with perfume.

While John’s account is closer to Matthew and Mark (which makes sense, as they were traveling with Him), there is again a question of chronology. In Matthew and Mark, this scene occurs after Jesus has His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, while in John it occurs before. This again, as we have determined before, comes from the writing style of the author - John has been building a case for Jesus’ divinity, so he links this event with the raising of Lazarus as a way of strengthening the account - after all - what better place to celebrate the culmination of Jesus’ ministry but in the company of the person with whom this ministry reached its climax.

It may be impossible to know the exact circumstances around this action - some questions are simply not answered for us. Was Mary a woman of immoral character? Was it actually Mary Magdalene, from whom Jesus cast out 7 spirits? Was it before or after he returned to Jerusalem? Was a Pharisee or Simon the leper involved? We don’t know these details, but there is a very clear message we do get by the actions that take place that are accounted the same in all 4 gospels.

Martha serves using her calling and her love language of hospitality - we already understand this relationship with Martha. Mary responds in a very different fashion. Martha and the others present are likely reminiscing with Jesus, reminding Him of the good He has done throughout Israel, pledging their support to Him, and encouraging Him. When Mary enters the scene, something unique and profound happens that can be easy to gloss over.

The more I studied this passage, the more I see in Mary’s response to Jesus. I believe that, perhaps for the first time, someone finally sees Jesus for who and what He is. Sure Mary is grateful to Him for the raising of her brother and for His love and faithfulness, but I believe as the others at the party are presenting Jesus with “This Is Your Life” she is seeing that life for what it really is - more so than even the disciples can see. Mary’s response to what she sees is full abandonment in worship.

The Gospel says that she brought a perfume called nard from an alabaster jar. Let’s explore that for a moment. Nard is an oil-like perfume that is made from the root and spike of the nard plant, which grew only in India, and even there scarcely. This was approximately ½ liter of pure nard - costing approximately 300 denarii - which was in fact a full year wage for a laborer during the time who would earn 1 denarius per day, not working on Sabbath or feast days. There is no mention of how the family came to be in possession of such a thing, nor what purpose it may have been intended to serve, especially since it had not been used with Lazarus.

Mary does two things in this account that draw attention in a way that make interpretation of the situation a little more difficult. First, she anoints Jesus - head or feet - as he lounges at the table, pouring the entire contents of such a valuable commodity. That is the action which is commented upon. She then unbinds her hair and wipes His feet with it. The unbinding of hair in public was something that no Jewish woman would ever do, as that was a thing of the prostitutes. Whether Mary was a woman of immoral character or not, her behavior in this could have very easily been construed as immoral.

The cost of the nard is certainly not lost on those in attendance. While the other Gospels say that the complaining was “among the disciples” John makes it clear that Judas Iscariot is the one who objects to this display. Now again, we know something that the people on the scene do not when it comes to Judas, yes? Judas is steeped in his own sin, blind to what is actually taking place. And honestly, his concern, were it genuine and not self-serving, had some merit. This was a use of resources that could have helped many. Yet what we know of Judas’ future makes us look at this situation and say “of course it was Judas who would complain.”

I put myself in Mary’s shoes. Her brother is alive. She knows that she is saved, redeemed, and loved. She sees in this man the merest hint of who He is, and she responds with pure praise - offering everything she had - everything. The one thing of value - the greatest value for miles around where they are. She had access to this rare and valuable perfume - she doesn’t give a little, she gives all of it. When she does not have a cloth at hand to wipe his feet with, she uses what she does have - her hair. She has made it abundantly clear that there is no person or thing of more value than Jesus Christ.

I’ll say that again - her actions show that there is no person or thing of more value than Jesus Christ. She has given everything - her most valued of all possessions, and has humiliated herself by unbinding her hair in public and wiping the man’s feet. This is the picture of worship. Do you worship in this fashion? Total abandonment? Can you approach God and even focus solely on Him? Or do you find yourself thinking more about what the people around you are doing - or whether or not you prefer the song or the music, or whether something is too loud or not loud enough, or whether the right people are here or not…

When COVID had us in nationwide shutdown, churches everywhere saw a major decline in tithing and giving as people were not meeting together. We discussed that issue back then - the fact that the church had expenses whether we were meeting or not. As we opened up again, people began returning, and giving began to increase again as folks came back into community. Yet, now, as our numbers have peaked at least for a while, there is another significant dip in giving, and it causes me to wonder about why that would be.

We all know that tithes and offerings are a part of worship. Giving sacrificially to the kingdom of God is something we do out of obedience and out of surrender to God’s will, trusting that He will sustain us. I don’t believe there is any lack of understanding about that - most people in this body have been giving faithfully for years and years. So I guess I have to assume that there is another reason that has caused some to slow down in their giving, and I feel saddened for them, because there is likely some very real hardship attached to decline.

To that end, perhaps rather than praying that giving will increase churchwide, I would like to ask all of us, in our personal devotion times, to pray for those who are for one reason or another unable to give right now. I would ask that we pray that God would provide for them the means to express worship in this way - that they would be able to enjoy the abundance that comes from obedient worship with our resources. I choose to believe that it would take genuine hardship and financial struggle to cause such a decline - that worship in any form is in no way political or situational, so it becomes the responsibility of all of us to lift each other up, and to lend a hand where we can.

Mary’s example shows that she recognized that there was nothing more valuable than her savior - not materially or with how she was viewed by others. Mary’s actions said “This Is Your Life” - I give everything I have in response. What is amazing about this sacrifice is the effect - even as it is described in John. While the perfume was used to anoint Jesus, it says that the entire house was filled with the fragrances of the perfume. This act of sacrifice changed the atmosphere around them to something sweet - something beautiful. Mary’s act of generosity touched all who were there to witness it - all benefited from this gift, and there would be lingering after-effect as well.

The indignant response to this action is not unexpected, as I have felt this way in my own life. Our lives of faith tend to go through hills and valleys - some days we are close to God - we feel like we are living more of the life to which we have been called. We are disciplined, loving, and walking the walk. Some days, not so much. That may be due to hardship, or illness, or pain, or in my case honestly it may be due to laziness or stubbornness. Yet generally, when I feel far from God, I respond differently to those who are behaving in the way I should. Whether it is out of my own guilt or even my own jealousy for their walk, I will look for places to poke holes in what they do in order to make myself feel better. We all do it - it is almost a matter of self-preservation.

So here is Judas, one of the disciples. And even if we didn’t know what his most famous act would prove to be, John lets us know that this is not an honest man, as he has been helping himself to the group’s resources. This is a man who despite his actual proximity to Jesus is actually far from Him spiritually. When he sees Mary behaving in such a way, he immediately accuses her of impropriety and wrongdoing - casting his own guilt upon her. 

It is interesting when you consider the value of the Nard - 300 denarii. Judas himself would betray Jesus for less than half of that amount - a sum of 120 denarii. Considering the lengths he would go for a less significant sum, this helps to further demonstrate the value of this sacrifice.

Jesus sees this action for what it is - sees it in a way that Judas cannot, though He likely already knows all about who Judas is and will be. He responds about his own burial, and a loose paraphrase capturing Jesus’ intended meaning might go like this: “Leave her alone. In God’s great plan, suffering and death for sin has already begun and this woman shows her love for me at a time when I am already headed for the tomb. As for the poor, taking care of them is a good and biblical act of righteousness and you should do it. However, you’ll have ample opportunity to demonstrate that concern as they are everywhere and will continue to be; yet I’ll be gone within a week.”

As people hear the truth of His words, we see theology and politics begin to merge almost immediately. Rather than being a medical marvel, suddenly now Lazarus is as much of a target as Jesus. Lazarus is inescapable and indestructible proof of Jesus’ truth and power, and people were coming to believe in Jesus because of Lazarus’ testimony. For the Jewish leaders, the story is still about preservation of power, even if it meant trying to undo what even they themselves recognize as a miracle.

I love this story of Mary and the anointing. I love it because I can see nowhere in the Word where we have a more powerful and relatable picture of real worship. To worship is to place value - and Mary gives everything she has to Jesus - and she is not asking Him for anything at all. She is content to sit at His feet because of who He is. This is a picture that should be both convicting and humbling for all of us.

I am going to ask each of us to take stock of our own worship. If we are more focused on the songs or the atmosphere around us than we are on Christ, there is likely a heart change that needs to take place. That is not to say that we cannot have our preferred methods of worship - it is to say that if method is all that you are concerned about, then it is time to re-examine why you worship to begin with. Are you here to sing your favorite songs in your favorite way, or are you here to worship the Savior with your voice that He gave you?

With respect to our giving, this is an act of worship between you and God. We are expected by God to give 10% of all we have, and also to give sacrificially to the Lord. If you are not doing that, it is time to look at why. I am not here to guilt anyone into giving more or to beg for money on behalf of the church, but I will say that if you are withholding your giving because you don’t like something or someone at the church, or because of influence it may or may not give, or because you are struggling with trusting God to provide, you are missing out on the blessing of obedience. You are missing out on fully abandoned worship. You are likely feeling guilty or some other emotion because of this choice, and it is impacting your relationship with God.

I am sorry if I sound accusatory. I am not sorry if you are feeling convicted, because when it comes to our finances and our preferences, all of us have acted selfishly in one way or another, and many of us struggle with it daily. I am not worried about the church’s finances - I know that God will provide over and above what we need provided we continue to obey and serve. I am grieved that there are people who are not living their best life with Christ. We have been given a beautiful example of what it means to worship with full abandon - and I would ask that each of us strive to be like Mary in our worship. Let’s pray.