Alabaster Box Story

After thoughts of Wednesday nights Bible Study.

 This was May 2002 cover of Pentecostal Herald I still have this edition.
 

I absolutely love the story of the Alabaster Box so here are my thoughts on the subject.

How much does Jesus mean to you? Is there things in your life that are causing you to disconnect from Him that would cause you to sell out cheap? It is my prayers to be more like the woman who gave not just an alabaster box of perfume, but she gave him her all that day and not like Judas who in a few verses down sold out so cheaply costing him more than he bargained for. 


Matthew 26:6- Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,
 7- There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat. 
8- But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?
9- For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. 
10- When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. 
11- For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. 
12- For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. 
13- Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.


There came to him a woman - This woman was Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha, John 12:3. 
Having an alabaster box - The "alabaster" is a species of marble, distinguished for being light, and of a beautiful white color, almost transparent.
It was much used by the ancients for the purpose of preserving various kinds of ointment in.
Of very precious ointment - That is, of ointment of "great value;" that was rare and difficult to be obtained


That there was a large quantity is further evident from the fact that Judas says it might have been sold for 300 pence (about 9 British pounds), and that the "house" was filled with the odor of the ointment (John). 
And poured it on his head - They were accustomed chiefly to anoint the head or hair. John says John 12:3 that she poured it on the "feet" of Jesus, and wiped them with her hair. There is, however, no contradiction. She probably poured it "both" on his head and his feet. Matthew and Mark having recorded the former, John, who wrote his gospel in part to record events omitted by them, completes the account by saying that the ointment was also poured on the feet of the Saviour. To pour ointment on the "head" was common. To pour it on the "feet" was an act of distinguished "humility" and of attachment to the Saviour, and therefore deserved to be particularly recorded.


The mind-set of Judas one of the 12 whom Jesus had chosen in his inner-circle. just the very next verse after this wonderful story. 
Matthew 6:14-Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, 
15-And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. 
16-And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him


Note in verse 14 Judas asked this question to the chief priests (What will you give ME?) 
Matt 17:3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
4-Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
5-And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.


If Judas would have just realized like Peter that Jesus would have forgiven him his story would definitely have a totally different ending like Peters.  The difference Peter had a relationship with Jesus and not like Judas who disconnected with Jesus and the other 11. Everyone has this same opportunity to have an everlasting relationship no matter what the sin. There is no great or small sin. Sin is sin. Choose you this day whom you will serve and don't sell out for anything. Matthew 16:26
For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?


One more thought on this subject this morning. Note that by the woman actions of pouring ointment on the feet of Jesus representing being attached to the Savior while Judas became disattached by his actions of going to the chief priest and putting a price on the Priceless Savior for What he could get at that moment. WOW! I want so much to stay attached to the one true thing I found in this life that has been sooo good to me ALWAYS. JESUS.

 

 



 

 

 



Ancient Alabasteron Jar might have looked like this. 
 

The art of carving vessels from radiant alabaster began in the ancient near East during the biblical Hellenistic Period.  Things made from this lovely stone were cups, bowls, and jars, and this use has continued on even until the present time.  During the Classical Age this jar was probably created to hold precious ointments or perfumes made from oils found only in the east.  Even when empty these wonderfully made jars has an essence that something rare and wonderful belongs inside. 

 

 

The alabastron's  jars were a the beginning models to our modern day perfume bottles.  Although these were carved so beautifully by master craftsmen that mostly originated from Egyptian alabaster mines.  Although alabaster could be found in other places the best alabaster came from Egypt as their alabaster was composed of calcite instead of gypsum.