Mark 14:3-9
Jesus is invited for a dinner, a woman comes, and anoints His feet with a very expensive perfume by pouring it on His head. She then and wipes His feet with her hair, this is a wild act for a Hebrew woman according to the Culture of that day.
Why did this woman do this? Jesus said “she did it for my burial” and He continued to say “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 of her”. Jesus reveals the motive behind her act.
The alabaster was filled with pure nard which has fragrant oil prepared from the roots and stems of an aromatic herb from North India (according to the Bible commentators). It was an expensive perfume used only for special occasions, and the Scripture clearly says it was expensive, and worth a year’s wages.
I thought to myself why did this lady break this very expensive alabaster jar at her Master’s feet? Couldn’t she have taken just a drop and anointed Him and kept the rest for her use?
She wanted to give her very best for her Master, because she knew He was more valuable to her than her expensive perfume. When she met her Saviour nothing in this world was more valuable to her, she broke it and anointed her Master’s head in pure love and devotion. His love had melted her heart, because of this, what she possessed through years of earnings didn’t mean anything to her any more.
She was ready to sacrifice her best for the one she loved. The one opportunity she got she did not let go she took every moment of it to make the Lord cherish her act. She never cared for who was around, not of what people would say. Even in the midst of criticism and been misjudged she boldly showed Him her heartfelt devotion. She personally ministered to Him. Her heartfelt attachment to love the Master is the greatest lesson we learn from this woman. Her deep devotion to Him touched Jesus’ heart more than any other act at that dinner party.
What can we learn from this woman’s act of selflessness?
Unlike most of us she gave everything she had and never expected anything in return. She never counted the cost. Most of the time we give a bit of what we have and we expect great things from the Lord. It can be talents, time, service or whatever, we must give all of it to the Lord?
What are the valuable things we treasure more than God? Are we ready to break it and release it to the Lord, at any cost even if our own lives depended on it?
Last Wednesday at our usual prayer time Apostle Rhuani said that we have moved far from our first love. She said we must break ourselves before Him so we could come back to that first love. Breaking hurts but it releases a fragrance to others from our lives.
Are we ready to be undignified before people for our Master and Lord? Nothing or no one could stop her anointing His head and wiping His feet. What are the things and who are the people that block us from being at the feet of the Master? Are we frightened of the systematic beliefs, pillars and structures around us or are we ready to take the challenge like this woman and move forward.
It states clearly in the Scriptures that when she broke the Alabaster Jar the house was filled with the fragrance. When the oil was in the jar it did not release any fragrance, good or bad, it had to be broken. Just like the life of this woman when she broke her heart before Him my emptying her jar she changed and she became a true follower of the Lord. What is the fragrance that is released from your life?
The most important point is this even after two thousand years we are still reading about this woman and listening to sermons about this generous act. This story will go on until eternity.
Likewise my dear friends your one act that touches the Heart of the Lord will write volumes of books in Heaven and earth and release a fragrance for eternity. So break your alabaster flask for the Master it is worthy.
