Worship Jesus’ Way
Matt 26:1-14
- do we treat God as God in our life?
- God does not exist for our tastes and preferences (au contraire)
- verse 1 shows how Jesus forms discipleship
- Word, Supper & Prayer
- worship formalized leads to worship regularized, leading back to the cycle of worship formalized etc.
- Rom 12:1
- Heb 10:25
- Jn 4:23-24
- Jesus takes language of Isa 53
- Jesus handed over so our sins can be passed over
- Christ’s Call to Worship (Matt 26:6-13)
- modelled by gathering @ Simon the Leper’s house, and the woman
- “What shall I do with Jesus who is the Christ?”
- Q we must ask if seeking worship in our lives
- 4 responses:
- Jesus is a threat to your preferred position
- POV of high priest
- Matt 26:3-5
- Caiaphas has been high priest for 18 years; they have to change every year…
the worship of personal advance
- Jesus becomes perfect excuse for controversy and bickering over expectations and style
- POV of disciples
- Matt 26:8-9
- the worship of practicality and personal taste
- God is not looking for our material; seeking those who worships in spirit and truth
- Jesus is a huge disappointment – you try to cut your losses
- POV of Judas
- Matt 26:14-16
- worship of a man-made god
- worship critiques usually has let down “by God”
- responsibility and dedication are not indicators of a true heart of worship
- Jesus is priceless
- POV of Jesus
- Matt 26:6-7
- the worship of the Saviour
- What does your worship tell people about Jesus’ worth?
- worship is action taken from your heart that serves to describe how much God is worth to you
- Mk 14:8; “she did what she could”
- Are you doing what you can? If so, here’s what the Lord can do…
- The Lord protects that kind of worship
- Disciples saying “Why this waste?” vs Jesus saying “Why this hurt?”
- D: “Why irresponsible use of $?” vs J: “Why irresponsible use of person?” (Bruner)
- The Lord promotes that kind of worship
- “she has done a beautiful thing to me…” v10
- “…what she has done will also be told…” v13
- The Lord directs that kind of worship
- “she did it to prepare me for burial” v12; anointing of the body…
- overly “practical” utilitarians are always in danger of mistaking <SLIDE CHANGE> (their own desires with the Will of God?)
- God uses acts of worship… <SLIDE CHANGE>
- often we are so busy thinking of the feeling, hurts and needs of far-off/away we neglect to have a heart for the one right before us
- in the call to worship Christ’s death was the point!
- the biggest pay-off is worshipping from the heart
- call to worship is heart full of devotion to Jesus