Worship that God Remembers

David W Palmer

God openly says that he seeks worshippers—true worshippers who will worship him in spirit and in truth (John 4:20–24). This is illustrated nowhere better than through the meeting of his closest followers in the house at Bethany. In this story, we see the worship leader—a woman willing to share her very costly anointing oil. We see Jesus receiving her worship, and then pledging to remember it eternally. We also see the “indignant” observers who “criticized her sharply”; but where were their hearts? Let’s read the story for the exact detail to see what we can learn about our worship today:

(Mark 14:3–9 NKJV) And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head. {4} But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? {5} For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply. {6} But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. {7} For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. {8} She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. {9} Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”

Again, we see Jesus in a meeting of believers. This represents church. And like all churches, it has a variety of responses to true worship.

Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for me.” He received the love lavished on him extravagantly through the woman’s worship. When we remember what our worship means to him, let’s never be stingy about worship budgets in church, nor about how much we invest into attending great worship events.

When we look at the woman’s worship, and when we remember that it is “the” true worship that God remembers, we see several things that will help us to worship God in a way he remembers too:

1. Worship that God remembers is costly

Financially, the alabaster flask of fragrant oil was very expensive—possibly representing her life savings. She poured it all out in worship to Jesus. Very challenging.

Emotionally. Not only did it cost her the emotional output of sacrifice and tears, she had to endure the sharp criticism of those who had no idea what was of value to God here.

2. Worship that God remembers is misunderstood by others

Even in meetings of believers today—despite having this very clear example of extravagant worship in God’s word—we still have very mixed responses to true worship. Some still sharply criticize others who are openly demonstrative in their expressions of worship: tears, falling at Jesus’s feet, uncool body language of love, breaking the control of peer pressures and social leaders, un-cultural behaviour, etc.

What’s more, people still critique those who want to invest financially into worship, worship experiences, and into setting up a place for worship—investing in auditoriums, music, and décor. They try to camouflage their own lack of passionate worship by giving bogus reasons for stopping others investing into worship—it could have been given to the poor, etc.

3. Worship that God remembers is appreciated by Jesus

We see that Jesus received the worship and pure love of his devoted follower, despite risking his own reputation. He values the person who is opening their heart to him so deeply that he would not do anything to reject them, or to crush their innocent expression of love.

4. Eternally remembered by God

God put this story in his book so that it can be in eternal memorial. It stands for all time as a worship moment that God remembers, and one that endures as the perfect illustration of the type of worship that God seeks.

Today, I encourage you: sow lavishly into worship—financially, emotionally, and socially. Take the risk of rejection by onlookers who don’t understand; worship extravagantly despite their sharp criticism; ignore them, and keep your focus completely on Jesus. Your love touches him deeply; he will remember your lavishly extravagant worship today.