Mary's Alabaster Box

Jeannie Mclemore

commented on Jan 1, 2014

I enjoyed reading this today and it will go along with the song I will be singing "Mary's Alabaster Box". Thank you, and God Bless you! JM

William Garrett

commented on Mar 5, 2014

superb illustration. I will use the idea in one of our Lent reflections. Thank you.

William Garrett

commented on Mar 5, 2014

superb illustration. I will use the idea in one of our Lent reflections. Thank you. Bill

Humphrey Ukeomah

commented on Mar 17, 2018

Your preaching is a food of my soul

Fran Lowe

commented on Sep 8, 2018

Awesome and relevant word for such a time as this! Amen and God bless you.

Saini Leana

commented on Apr 15, 2020

Powerful word , I read through and it really blessed me, and also i am challenged.

Jim Tah

commented on Mar 29, 2021

The fragrance of Jesus AUD $82,436. That is roughly the average annual full-time salary in Australia bit.ly/1X1KK3C That is equivalent to what it cost Mary for expensive, sweet smelling perfume to pour on Jesus on the Monday before He died. Jesus recently raised her beloved brother, Lazarus from the dead. The crowds told Him not to open the gravestone, because Lazarus would smell after having been dead for many days. It was not because Lazarus would be decomposed, or unrecognizable, or look horrible or scary, but because they were afraid of the smell. However, they obeyed Jesus’ command despite the crowd and opened the tomb anyway. And Lazarus did not smell. Mary remembered that and was eternally grateful. So grateful, that she used the equivalent of AUD $82,436 on the best smelling perfume. She poured it on Jesus’ hair and feet and wiped His feet with her hair. For she remembered how she wept at those same feet earlier when Lazarus was dead and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” And her brother was now alive and that alone was worth far more than the perfume. Just as her brother did not smell, she did not want Jesus to smell or even die in a few days’ time. The perfume smelt very good as it was very expensive. It was made of nard oil, so it would persist and not wash out easily with water. Comparatively small amounts of this same perfume were offered as a precious incense offering at the Tabernacle. However, the beautiful fragrance of Mary’s oily sacrifice would stick to clothes, rub onto others and linger for many weeks and months afterwards. As Jesus and Mary walked through Jerusalem during that final Passover week, everyone could smell them. Everyone asked what was that smell. Everyone heard that same story about Jesus raising Lazarus and then Mary’s cherished and treasured perfume of gratefulness to her Lord. As the disciples gathered in the upper room a few days later, the pleasing scent of that perfume permeated the atmosphere. The beautiful aroma of that event and His words of love that night, giving His body and blood for the world, would linger for thousands of years afterwards and be remembered and celebrated for countless generations to come. When the guards spat on Him, the whips tore into His back and as Jesus carried the cross through that ancient city, the magnificent fragrance of His suffering, despite His innocence and purity, rose up above the crowds to heaven. And all Heaven paid attention and noticed that beautiful aroma. When Jesus hung on the cross, Mary cried. She remembered her tears of despair at her brother’s funeral. But this time, her tears were for her Lord. She wiped her tears with her hair, that she used to wipe Jesus’ feet a few days earlier. She smelt the perfume in her hair that she poured at His feet. It reminded her of His promise, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”( John 11:40). For many centuries, the Israelite's Passover burnt offerings pleased God. It was not because it was tasty, or delicious, or flavorsome, or was beautifully presented. The scriptures record that God was pleased because of the beautiful aroma and smell of the sacrifice (Num. 28:24). Yes, God sniffs and checks our sacrifices to see if they are acceptable. But the Passover this year was different. God was truly pleased once and for all, with the fragrance of the perfume of His one and only Son’s perfect and untainted sacrifice. For it paid for the lives of many, bringing redemption for countless to come. As Mary heard about the empty tomb on Sunday morning, she could still smell her perfume and she remembered the fragrance of His presence, the sweet aroma of His sacrifice, the beautiful bouquet of his love. When the angel said, “He is not here. He is risen”, she remembered how her brother Lazarus also rose from the grave. She remembered Jesus’ words that she would also see Him again, the glory of God. She remembered Jesus’ same offer to all mankind, His promise to all who believe. When Jesus rose up to Heaven not too long after, the fragrance of Mary’s perfume would have wafted through the breeze among the crowds, as a reminder of His promise and His return. The scriptures do not record what Mary did with the perfume in her hair. Perhaps it was so expensive and as it reminded her of the One she loved, she did not wash it out. Maybe she cut her hair and kept that as a reminder of our Beloved. Jesus predicted, “I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her." Matt. 26:13. I do not have any plans to die soon. However, if I were to pass away one day in the distant future, I would like this story read out at the funeral and for those who attend to wear their best perfume or cologne. For it will be a reaffirmation of this story from old, a reminder of our Beloved’s fragrant sacrifice and offering, of how much He paid, of how valuable and precious we are, of how much we are worth, about His promise of hope for the future and His soon return. And I pray that those present will be like Mary, and carry the fragrance of His presence through the rest of their journey on earth, touching others, spreading the beautiful aroma of His love and reminding others of His promise, until we all meet again at the precious feet of the One we love.