The Object of Your Worship: Are You Serving Jesus or Serving Yourself? Lessons from Mary and Judas in John 12
The modern world rarely sees the construction of literal golden calves, yet the human heart remains a place of constant idolatry. The renowned theologian Tim Keller shared a quote, originating from a reformer nearly 500 years ago, that defines the central struggle of humanity: "Our heart is an idol factory". Man's nature, in this sense, is a "perpetual factory of idols," constantly producing objects of worship.
Think of this factory as an assembly line within the heart, manufacturing idols that constantly roll off the line. These idols often take good things and abuse them, transforming them into objects of worship. For example, work is inherently good, but we can begin to idolize or worship our work, allowing it to take an unhealthy turn in our lives. Likewise, idols of relationships, success, reputation, and comfort can become central to our existence.
Though these idols of approval, control, and comfort promise to give us worth, they invariably require a heavy price: a sacrifice. We often find ourselves sacrificing peace for success, integrity for acceptance, and time, rest, and relationships just to satisfy these demands.
The critical truth is that every person worships something. Worship is not limited to Christians; it is inevitable in every human life because we are all created to worship.
In John chapter 12, Jesus’s ministry is reaching a peak, and the unavoidable question of "What is the object of your worship?" is placed squarely before us. Through the actions of Mary and Judas Iscariot, the Apostle John provides a clear glimpse into what constitutes genuine worship versus what is revealed as destructive worship.
The main lesson we draw from this passage is that Mary provides an example of genuine worship, while Judas is revealed as the ultimate hypocrite and betrayer of Jesus.
Setting the Scene: The Passover Lamb and the Raising of Lazarus
The scene is set six days before the Passover, providing crucial context. Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom Jesus had recently raised from the dead. The location was likely the house of Simon the leper. Gathered around the low tables were Jesus, his 12 disciples (or most of them), Lazarus, Martha, and Mary. Martha served the dinner, while Lazarus reclined at the table with Jesus.
John deliberately mentions the Passover because he is making a striking comparison. Lazarus was raised to life, but within a week, Jesus would be put to death, becoming the ultimate sacrifice—the ultimate Passover lamb—that would fulfill all previous Passovers. This public dinner occurred at a time when Jesus’s reputation was growing exponentially due to the miracle of Lazarus’s resurrection, which had compelled the Sanhedrin (the ruling council) to decide that the death penalty was the only way to stop Jesus's influence.
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Part I: Mary – The Heart of Genuine Worship is on Jesus
Mary’s response to Jesus, demonstrated at this dinner, illustrates the heart of genuine worship. Her action was a natural, wholehearted response to who Jesus was and what he had done (namely, raising her brother from the dead).
A Costly and Countercultural Act
While they were talking and eating, Mary approached Jesus from behind, where his feet would have been stretching away from the table as he reclined.
Mary took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard. The cost was staggering: Judas later estimated its value at 300 denarii. Since a denarius represented a day’s wage, 300 denarii amounted to approximately a year's salary for a laborer (given that they did not work on 52 Sabbaths and other religious holidays). This was an extraordinary amount of ointment and cost her dearly.
Mary proceeded to anoint Jesus’s feet and wiped his feet with her hair. This act had deep significance:
1. Humble Service: In that culture, washing or anointing feet was typically reserved for a slave or servant. Mary performed this task with an expensive oil, demonstrating profound humility.
2. Countercultural Surrender: For a woman to take her hair down in a public setting would have been very taboo in Jewish culture. Mary's act was countercultural.
Selfless Devotion and Jesus's Defense
Mary’s actions reveal two key aspects of genuine worship:
1. Selflessness: She was not concerned with what other people thought. She was not worried about being criticized or what others might perceive of her actions. She was worshiping freely.
2. Cost: Her worship was something that cost her something. She gave her best, demonstrating that true worship requires giving something of value.
Jesus defended her action, telling Judas, "Leave her alone so that she may keep it for the day of my burial". Mary did not precisely know the significance, but Jesus confirmed that she was unknowingly preparing his body for burial. Jesus highlighted that while serving the poor is important ("The poor you always have with you"), worshiping Him is always primary ("but you do not always have me").
The Nature of Genuine Worship
Worship is the very purpose of human existence. According to the reformers, the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever—that is worship.
As defined by Tim Keller, worship is "obedient action that is motivated by the beauty of who God is in himself". It must be governed by the authoritative word of God.
We are encouraged to:
• Worship Daily and Freely: Mary didn’t wait for a designated service; her worship was an immediate, natural response to Jesus being there. Since Jesus is omnipresent, we can worship Him anytime and anywhere.
• Worship with Surrender: Worship requires a heart that is completely surrendered to Jesus. While exterior postures (like raising hands) can indicate surrender, the internal heart posture is what is crucial.
• Worship Selflessly: If you struggle with self-consciousness during public worship, remember that no one is looking at you; they are looking at Jesus and singing out to God. We are here to worship freely in a heart of surrender that is selfless.
• Worship as Primary Purpose: Worship is the most important thing the church can do. Missions exists because worship doesn't—we evangelize those who are not worshiping Jesus so that they too can worship.
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Part II: Judas – The Heart of Destructive Worship is on Self
Immediately following the description of Mary’s selfless act, John introduces a stark contrast using the word "but". Judas Iscariot, identified by John as one of his disciples who was about to betray him, speaks up.
The Thief and the Hypocrite
Judas criticized Mary’s costly offering: "Why was this ointment not sold for 300 denarii and given to the poor?".
John immediately reveals Judas’s destructive motivation, cluing the reader in that he is "not a good guy". Judas said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. John explains that Judas had charge of the money bag and "used to help himself to what was put into it".
Judas was a classic example of selfish hypocrisy. He had witnessed Jesus perform immense miracles, like raising Lazarus and healing the blind man, yet he struggled with the same self-centered focus as the Pharisees. He likely managed the money because he saw Jesus’s growing following as an opportunity to gain access to funds for himself.
Self-Focus and Criticism
Judas’s focus was entirely inward. While Mary was selfless, Judas was selfish. He publicly chastised Mary not to encourage charity, but to "look spiritual". His true desire was for her to sell the ointment and give the money to him so that he could access it. He focused on what he could get, while Mary focused on what she could give.
Jesus, knowing Judas's heart, rebuked him gently but firmly: "Leave her alone". Jesus was not criticizing serving the poor, but stating that the act of worship Mary was performing was primary.
The Warning of Performance-Based Religion
It is highly probable, based on Mark 14, that this rebuke from Jesus sent Judas away to the chief priests, where he eventually sold Jesus out for 30 shekels of silver. Judas's worship was destructive because he worshipped himself. He used religious language and acts (like suggesting care for the poor) for power or self-gain.
This kind of self-serving act is a serious warning against those who worship God with their lips but whose hearts are far from Him (Isaiah 29:13).
• Worship is Not Performance: Destructive worship focuses on performance and external acts rather than an engaged heart. While emotion is a natural byproduct of a heart on fire for God, worship should never be driven by emotionalism or manipulation; it must be governed by the authoritative word of God.
• A Dead End: The worship of self is a dead end. Jesus offered a clear warning in Matthew 7:21-23: simply saying "Lord, Lord" or performing mighty works in His name does not secure the kingdom of heaven. The ultimate warning is for those who rely on external works, but to whom Jesus will declare, "I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness".
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A Call to Selfless Surrender
We must reject the path of Judas and embrace the selfless devotion of Mary. We are called to surrender fully to Jesus, who lived a perfect, sinless life and died on the cross so our sins could be forgiven, fulfilling the role of the ultimate Passover lamb.
Worship should be the foundation of our lives because we, like Lazarus, were once dead in our sin, and God called us to life and resurrected us into a new creation.
We are called to three acts of selfless worship:
1. Fully Surrender to Jesus: Give Him all of yourself.
2. Worship God for Who He Is and What He Has Done: Recognize that He is inherently worthy of worship, and His act of raising us to walk with Him connects us closely to Him.
3. Worship Selflessly by Giving of Ourselves: While we have no expensive ointment that can impress Jesus, all He desires is for us to give of ourselves to Him in worship, even when we feel stressed or have almost nothing left to give.
Worship is the flame of our life and the glory of our soul. Let us worship daily, in spirit and in truth.
Analogy for Selfless Worship: Genuine worship is like placing your most valuable, cherished possession—even if it represents a year’s worth of sacrifice—at the feet of Jesus, knowing that the cost is nothing compared to who He is. Destructive worship, however, is merely grabbing that same valuable possession, holding it in front of others to look devout, while simultaneously picking the coins out of the offering plate.