This week we come to John 12. As the disciples gather with Jesus, Mary worships Jesus in such a lavish way that the disciples become shocked and even angry. We live in a culture of shock and outrage, so we may be numb to that reaction. But it is Jesus' counter-reaction that is so jarring. What they find shocking, he finds beautiful. What are these ardent followers of Jesus missing that is so important he comes to her defense? That's not just a matter of trying to 'be more like Mary.' What does she see so clearly about Jesus that they (and we) are so often missing? Why does she have joy where they have anger?
Discussion Questions:
Quickly share when you undervalued something, or when someone else undervalued a thing that obviously meant more to you than to them.
Talk about a season in your life when you undervalued Jesus. Share about a time in your life when Jesus was most valuable to you, and it changed the way you lived.
Mary was called out by Judas for taking her gratitude and worship too far, to the point of doing something wasteful and wrong. What does this look like today? Have you ever been Mary or Judas in this kind of scenario?
Mary's worship is not conditioned by cost, self-determination, or self-preservation. Why is that so offensive to other Christians? How is that threatening? How could we ever begin (even just to want) to worship like this?
Christ ardently defends the poor almost everywhere else. He knows the OT prioritizes care for the poor. If he's not being dismissive of poverty or callous about it, what are the boundaries he is drawing? How do we similarly prioritize him?
Why does Jesus connect this perfume to his burial? Read Psalm 22:14. What does it mean that he is being 'poured out'?
Zephaniah 3:17 says, “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” How does God fill us in order that we might be poured out?
Mary saw her brother raised from the dead, and it reminded her of God's provision for her. How do we remind ourselves of that daily? What has God done like that in your personal life?
What did you need to hear in the sermon or in this discussion?
