Introduction
Thank you for your prayers during the past couple of days. Ceci and her family are doing well, and her precious mother was honored well in her Memorial and Celebration Service.
Passion Week: The Alabaster Box
During the week of Christ’s Passion, we are told the story of a woman anointing Christ’s head and feet with very expensive ointment. (Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 12:1-8)
“Now Jesus was in Bethany, in the home of Simon, a man Jesus had healed of leprosy. And as He was reclining at the table, a woman came into the house, with an alabaster flask filled with the highest quality of fragrant and expensive oil. She came to Jesus, and with a gesture of extreme devotion, she broke the flask and poured out the precious oil over His head. But some were highly indignant when they saw this, and they complained to one another, saying, ‘What a total waste! It could have been sold for a great sum, and the money could have benefited the poor.’ So they scolded her harshly. Jesus said to them, ‘Leave her alone! Why are you so critical of this woman? She has honored me with this beautiful act of kindness. You will always have the poor, whom you can help whenever you want, but you will not always have Me. When she poured the fragrant oil over Me, she was preparing My body in advance of My burial. She has done all that she could to honor Me. I promise you that as this wonderful gospel spreads all over the world, the story of her lavish devotion to Me will be mentioned in memory of her.’” (Mark 14:3-9 TPT)
This oil was very expensive, worth a year’s wages based on the average income of the day. We know from John’s account (John 12:1-8) that this was done by the same Mary who sat at Christ’s feet, mesmerized by His words, in Luke 10:38-42. She was the sister of Martha and Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead.
The timing of Mary’s offering was just days before His death, and Jesus said she was anointing Him for His burial. Whether Mary had grasped the reality of His words about His imminent death and resurrection, or whether Jesus was simply applying the offering in that light, is unclear. Two things we do know: It was a very costly offering from Mary, and it was precious to the Lord. “Wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done shall be spoken of in memory of her,” He stated (Matthew 26:13).
Some speculate that the scent of this powerful perfume would have lingered in Christ’s hair for several days. Did the fragrance help sustain Him as He agonized in Gethsemane? Perhaps the sweet aroma comforted Him even through the torturous six hours on the Cross.
Never underestimate the fragrance of your worship.
Others in the room thought Mary’s offering to be a waste. Some actually scolded her (Mark 14:5). I know the feeling. When I canceled all other activities for three months in the church I pastored in Colorado Springs, lavishing ninety days of 24/7 worship on the Lord, I, too, was criticized. One influential Christian leader in our city rebuked me, calling the ninety days of worship “a complete waste of time.”
It’s interesting just how much perspectives can differ. For me, those three months remain among the most meaningful days of my life. They were my alabaster box of costly perfume, the most lavish offering I’ve had the honor of giving Christ. For the person who rebuked me, they were a complete waste of time. Never allow others’ lack of revelation to cheapen your offering. Like Mary, give Christ your best.
Others may mock your sacrifice of time, money, or possessions, but go ahead and “waste” it on Him. Some will rebuke/scold you, as they did Mary, calling your passionate praise too radical, but pour out your offering in spite of their ridicule. Still others will label your extravagant worship as excessive religious zeal. Don’t let their misguided criticism deter you - pour out your costly perfume!
The list of Christ’s followers in the room as Mary anointed Jesus was quite the “who’s who.” The twelve disciples were present. You’d think they would have understood that Jesus was more than worth this offering, but they were too practical: “It should have been given to the poor,” was their protest. Christ’s thoughts? “Go ahead and anoint Me; there will be ample time to care for the poor after I’m gone.”
Simon, the former leper whom Christ had healed, was present. This was actually his home. One might think his new skin, replaced appendages, and restored life would, in his mind, merit the “wasting” of some costly perfume on Jesus. Evidently not - he didn’t come to Mary’s defense. And then there was Lazarus, Mary’s brother, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. He had been dead so long that he stank. Surely he would see the validity of his sister’s costly perfume sacrifice. But no, Lazarus didn’t come to her defense, either.
Could it be that the others’ familiarity with Christ had lessened their wonder of Him, their awe? We don’t know. They certainly didn’t come to Mary’s defense. We do know that only one worshiper that day had the love and revelation necessary to anoint the Savior. How sadly typical. So many miss opportunities to lavish affection on Him. It is not uncommon for me to see church attendees waste opportunities to break their alabaster box of love and pour it on the Master. They’ve been in His presence so often, sang so many songs, and prayed so many prayers that the experience just isn’t quite worth what it used to be. So, they give Him token praise and watered-down worship. Cheap perfume. I doubt if the fragrance of their praise makes it past Sunday lunch.
But while the others that day wasted an opportunity to comfort God–what an amazing thought–Mary poured out her costly perfume. And its fragrance sustained Him through Gethsemane, the beatings, mocking, lashing, spittle, spikes, dislocations, and thorns.
Don’t allow another day to go by without becoming one of the “fragrance creators.” Let nothing deter you. Your alabaster box is your heart; your love and worship are the perfume. Break it open and pour it out. At the scent of your offering, He’ll meet with you. And He’ll cherish your worship, just as He did Mary’s.
Pray with me:
Father, thank You for including Mary’s story in Your Holy Book. We are impressed and motivated by her example, yes. But just as importantly, we are awed by Christ’s moving acceptance and appreciation of it. May we always give Him our best today. May the fragrance of worship ascend to Him daily from our hearts and lives. And may You, Abba, always find the sweet fragrance of worship ascending to Your throne. We love You very much.
Jesus, thank You for Your amazing, unfathomable humility. We will never know just how much You humbled Yourself to serve us as You did. You became human, touchable, breakable. Your love is unmatched. We worship You today with our hearts, hands, offerings, and words. We are so grateful to be partakers of Your life, righteousness, strength, healing, and wholeness.
We continue to pray for the turning of our nation and for our government to be transformed. Change those who can be changed; replace the others. You are the God of salvation; bring it to this land. And we wholeheartedly include other nations in this prayer - send revival throughout the earth. Work Your divine purposes in the Middle East. End the efforts of terrorists and bring a great harvest in the region.
We pray all of this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Our decree:
We are passionate worshipers of our great God, and we will break our alabaster box, giving Him all our love and honor.
Click here to watch/hear Cece Winans perform the song, The Alabaster Box. This is one of our favorites.
Click on the link below to watch the full video.