Worship

Luke 7: 36-50
Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman
Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner."
Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you."
"Tell me, teacher," he said.
"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"
Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled."
"You have judged correctly," Jesus said.
Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."
Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."


Now, this is a picture of true, extravagant worship. We have to be like this woman and love Jesus extravagantly because He forgave us.

There are two kinds of people in this world. The first being hard-hearted, proud, arrogant and judgmental like the Pharisees, indifferent to the presence of the Son of God. The second being grateful people who lavish their worship on God.

We can be either of the two at any time. We have opportunities to choose between judging and worshiping God with the whole of our hearts, every single day. Which choice do you want to make? Who do you want to be?

We have to keep in mind that we do not deserve to be in the presence of God. We are not doing God a favour by going to church, or attending cell-group. God doesn't need anyone of us; He is God! But God chose to give us the privilege of going into His presence. It is, in fact, God who is doing us a great, great favour by listening and responding to us.

Therefore, we cannot be arrogant, because a heart of arrogance is the opposite of a heart of worship.

Let us again look at the story of the sinner who anointed Jesus. This sinful woman had nothing to offer, nor any barter to pay for her sins, but she offered to wash his feet, which is sign of ultimate respect and adoration. But Simon showed no such appreciation and he was able to do all those things that the sinful woman did, He was arrogant. We have to be completely humble in worship to God.

But there are also people who are filled not with arrogance, but instead are filled with guilt, like the sinful woman we have read about. But we have to know that guilt can be turned into the greatest instigator of worship. Because the sinner woman was so faithful to Jesus, he had forgiven her sins and allowed her to go in peace knowing that she no longer has to carry that burden.


But all this would not have happened if she were not bold enough to come to Jesus. Therefore, it is important for us to know that true worship is activated by a bold initiative. In those days, women were not supposed to speak with Rabbis. They would only be allowed to do so if they were beggars. This woman probably acted like a beggar to be able to go to the feet of Jesus. But instead of asking for scraps, she lavished her perfume on Jesus.

That is bold. We have to be like her in expressing worship for God boldly, both inside and outside of church. We're not talking about going around telling people that they'll burn in hell, or wearing a sign that says "Jesus freak". We're talking standing for what we believe in even if it's contrary to the world's beliefs, even when we face persecution.

Also, true worship is demonstrated by a costly sacrifice.
Alabaster, the perfume poured upon the feet of Jesus, was worth a year's wages. It could have provided her a chance for her to get married, a way out of poverty into a better future. Yet she poured it all out on the feet of Jesus, she was literally pouring her life away. But this was how much the sinner loved God.

What have we to offer God? All of us know what God has done on the cross for us, and what then, will be our response to Him?

Well, worship is not just a song, or the lifting up of hands. No, that's not all there is to it. The only response to such mercy, such grace, is to offer up everything. Undoubtedly, worship involves sacrifice, costly sacrifice.

Let us look at the following definition of worship.
"It is our response, both personal and corporate, to God for who He is and what He has done, expressed in and by the things we say and the way we live."
What we say most certainly has to be backed up by the way we live.

"When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them."

This sinner chose to use her tears, and expensive perfume to wash the feet of Jesus. She chose to give Jesus everything that she could offer.

"But King David replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on paying the full price. I will not take for the Lord what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing."
1 Chronicles 21:24
An offering to God will cost you.

Lastly, true worship flows from a grateful heart.
"Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."
It is only those who are fully aware of the scope and the depth of His forgiveness that can love much. If we can just comprehend a little bit of His forgiveness, there would be no initiative too bold, no sacrifice too costly. The sinner woman experienced great mercy from God and is therefore able to present the most heartfelt worship to him.

We have all experienced this great mercy, and thus we also ought to present our worship to God in humility and awe and thankfulness.