The Alabaster Box by Tricia Cook
Matthew 26:6-13 “While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume,which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. When the disciples saw this they were indignant,”Why this waste?” they asked. This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.”
The Alabaster Box contained costly, fragrant oil that was used only at the very special occasions. This would probably have been Mary’s dowry therefore, it was not only a costly financial gift but it would have been the sacrifice of her chance to marry.
Jesus says Mary has done a good thing, a memorial of sorts. It was to be a preparation for something. His burial. She had unknowingly give the disciples picture of what was to come. But at the same moment, indignation rears it ugly head. Did you know that breaking of the alabaster box makes some indignant?
They say, “ What a waste something more worthwhile could be used for this expensive perfume.” What could be more worthy than for Jesus to be released out into your life through brokenness?
Without the breaking of the Alabaster box there could be no release of its fragrance into the room or its’ oil pouring out upon Jesus to give anointing to others. This anointing of oil could not be poured out into the lives of others until the breaking of the vessel holding it.
Psalm 23 tells us that God anoints our head with oil, immediately after he tells us he prepares a table in the presence of our enemies. There is a connection between being anointed with this costly oil and the cup of suffering. We learn humility from the things we suffer. When we submit to the brokenness, God receives the glory. We are given a place of honor with which we can be poured out into the lives of others Matthew 26:13.
Oh, how our Lord loves to comes along side of to comfort and encourages us. He understands and He will never leave us to bear aloneness–alone–. He always is there to help us, teach us, to grow us to a new level of brokenness where He is poured anew and afresh on us. We are his vessel, his alabaster box that contains the fragrance of the King.
2 Corinthians 2:15, “For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life.”
Be the fragrance in someone’s life today!
Steve Green Broken and Spilled Out
