Worship: Act Of Awe And Adoration

Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair.
John 12:3

Worship: The act of centering one’s attention on another worthy to receive it.

Mary, the sister of Lazarus, had good reason to adore Jesus. After all, he had raised her brother from the dead. But how could she turn her awe and adoration into action?

In his nineteenth-century masterpiece The Suffering Savior, German preacher F. W. Krummacher portrays Mary’s worship.

WALK WITH F. W. KRUMMACHER
“The Lord has just placed himself at the table when Mary approaches. She feels impelled to display to him her inmost soul and to manifest her devout attachment to him.

“But how is she to do this? Words seem too poor. She has precious little to give.

“But what she has is an alabaster vessel of pure oil of spikenard, much valued. She brings it with her.

“With the utmost reverence she approaches her divine friend, breaks the vessel, spreads the spikenard on his head and feet, then humbly bends down and wipes the latter with her loosened tresses.

“In this affectionate act, she demonstrates a rare degree of devotion. She desires to worship him. He is always in her thoughts as her sole delight and the supreme object of her affections—all of which she expresses in the act of anointing.”

WALK CLOSER TO GOD
Why would Mary willingly go to such lengths—in terms of cost and inconvenience—to magnify her Savior? And why would countless others like her do the same?

In short, why is Jesus worthy of your reverence and worship?

Go back to Calvary. Think of what was broken and poured out for you there.

Then come and pour out your richest offering of praise upon him. He is worthy!