Devotion
•
The Promises of God: Part CXXXIX
Author
Timothy Laughlin
Published
Jan 07, 2025
Tags
And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table. Matthew 26:6,7
And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table. Matthew 26:6,7
Mary at Bethany did not just decide to randomly go anoint Jesus and give Him her everything. We see a clear relationship between Mary and Jesus. She sat at His feet many times regularly as she listened and learned from Him as her teacher and her friend (Luke 10). She experienced great loss and Jesus came to comfort during the death of her brother Lazarus, whom Jesus eventuallyraised from the dead (John 11). The deeper her relationship, the more this moment meant. It was not impulsive; it was from a rooted trust and an action of surrender to Jesus as the Savior.
The Spiritual meaning of an alabaster box can be applied in different ways. In one view, the box can represent our own lives. We ourselves can come broken like the box before a holy God and surrender to His sacrifice over our sins.We can have true freedom in that unhindered release of control.
The alabaster box can also symbolize giving God our best and our all. This was Mary’s “first fruits” in a way. She did not bring the least, she brought her absolute best and most expensive item to pour over a more than worthy Savior. She believed Jesus, she anointed Him even before His death and burial. Mary teaches us to give the Lord our whole hearts and our whole lives. We are called to pick up our crosses and to follow Jesus.
“Then Jesus told his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Mary denied herself of her most valuable possession and gave Jesus her everything. All that this world has to offer us is nothing compared to Christ. Matthew 16:24
Your servant in Christ, Timothy Laughlin
Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
Related Writings
Contact us
If you have any questions about our writings or the ministry, please let us know below.
We will not share or sell your information.
P.O. Box 162932
Fort Worth, TX 76161