The Worship of a King

2. The Worship of a King John 12:3 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. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

3. Palm Sunday was a day of Worship … Powerful adoration that if participated in sets the stage in individual hearts for God’s greatest activity in human history…

4. The primary question for us today: Do we understand that we have been invited to be Parade Participants joining with that 1st Century crowd?

5. New series: Lifted to Worship! Matthew 22:37-40 • Love … your neighbor as yourself • Now … Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

6. Worship defined: Our English word … Worship really means Worth-ship! It denotes the worthiness and value of an individual or God to receive special honor in accordance with that worth. The church is to be a Worshipping Community… For His people, His church to worship Christ means that we ascribe worth to God by our living, our speech, our actions and our loving Christ and each other.

7. Text: John 12:1-19 Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 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. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

8. Text: John 12:4-6 4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages. ” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

9. John 12:7-11 7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” 9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.

10. John 12:12-15 12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the King of Israel!” 14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written, 15  “Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.”

11. John 12:16-19 16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him. 17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”

12. How does One Worship a King? What is to be at the heart of our worship?

13. Our Worship should be Extravagant … Understanding the Value of the King John 12:3 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. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

14. Things to think about: • What’s your worship like these days??? • Is there an all out commitment to adoring Him, living in and for Him? 3. In the Jesus Parade where would you have been participating?

15. II. True worship is filled with personal love responses John 12:3b …she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. True Worship is filled with Whole-hearted love for the King! What stands in the way of full-hearted love responses before the God of the Universe

16. III. True Worship unleashes the Activity of God in our midst John 12:4-7 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages. ” … 7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.

17. True Worship unleashes the activity of God in our midst Luke 19:39-40 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” 40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” • Mary’s worship was a prophetic sign of Christ’s death and burial … • True worship unleashes the Presence of God in the house ,a battle cry in the believer’s heart. 3. The Glory of God unleashed in a city stirring the question; “Who is this man?” Matthew 21:10

18. True worship keeps Faith John 12:16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him. Mary’s worship carried His fragrance all the way to resurrection The disciples worship though dimmed at times held strong so that on the Day of Pentecost as they worshipped the Spirit fell.

19. So What? Worship is giving Honor and Worth to the One being worshipped… Our worship gets spoiled because we misplace our worship by giving allegiance to less worthy things. Our Worship is spoiled when it’s about us Our worship loses it’s power when it becomes a ritual that we simply walk through or without sincerity of heart

20. Conclusion: Today we stand on the edge of another season of Life in Christ: • Where are you in the crowd… today! • What is the condition of your Song today…??? • Become a Parade participant!