A Fragrant Offering: The Alabaster Box of Love
"And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head. And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, why was this waste of the ointment made? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her. And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her." - Mark 14:3-9
In Mark 14:3-9, we encounter a profound moment in the life of Jesus—a moment that teaches us about devotion, sacrifice, and the value of worship. The scene unfolds in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, as Jesus reclines at the table. A woman, unnamed yet powerful in her actions, enters with an alabaster box filled with precious ointment of spikenard. This act of breaking the box and pouring it over Jesus’ head transcends mere physical anointing; it symbolizes her total devotion and love for the Savior.
And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head. (Mark 14:3, KJV)
This woman’s act was met with indignation. The apostles and guests questioned the wisdom of her act, citing the monetary value of the ointment. They labeled it wasteful, arguing that it could have been sold for more than three hundred pence and the proceeds given to the poor. In their eyes, they were being logical, but in doing so, they missed the deeper significance of her actions. How often do we find ourselves caught up in practicalities, missing the heart of true worship?
It is crucial to note that Jesus saw this differently. In response to the murmuring, He defends the woman by saying, "Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me." (Mark 14:6, KJV) Jesus acknowledges her act not as one of waste, but as a good work, an expression of love and devotion that pointed towards His imminent sacrifice. Her actions were anointing Him not just for a feast, but for His coming crucifixion. This underscores the truth that worship often requires a sacrifice—sometimes substantial, often unwelcome in the eyes of those who value material contributions over spiritual fervor.
Jesus continues by explaining the eternal nature of her act of love: "And whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always." (Mark 14:7, KJV) This verse carries a weighty lesson: there are moments of opportunity in our lives to honor God, which may not always be repeated. The time for extravagant love and worship is precious and should not be squandered on hesitance born from fear of judgment or societal norms. For this woman, the eternal significance of her act far outweighed the immediate practical benefits.
Jesus concludes with a promise about her actions: "Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her." (Mark 14:9, KJV) Here, the Lord elevates her act to a place of honor, ensuring that her loving, sacrificial moment would not only be remembered but preached alongside the gospel.
As we reflect upon this passage, we may ask ourselves: what alabaster boxes do we hold? What precious things are we withholding from God due to fear or the opinions of others? Are we willing to break our boxes to pour out sacrificial love before the Lord? In a culture that often emphasizes economic value, this story reminds us that love—especially love for Christ—cannot be measured in terms of its monetary worth. Rather, it is the purity of our intentions, the depth of our heart's offerings, that truly matters.
Let us break open our alabaster boxes, offering our lives, our time, our resources, and our devotion as fragrant offerings before the Lord. In doing so, may we find that our acts of love resonate through eternity, just as this woman’s beautiful gesture has profoundly impacted countless generations.
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Mark 14:3-9 Artwork
Mark 14:3-9 - "And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her."
"And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her." - Mark 14:3-9
Philippians 3:14 - "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
Mark 3:14 - "And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,"
Mark 9:14 - "¶ And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them."
"And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them." - Mark 9:3
Mark 9:3 - "And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them."
Mark 3:9 - "And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him."
Mark 14:9 - "Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her."
Revelation 14:9 - "And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,"
numbers 21:8-9 & John 3:14
"I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 3:14
Mark 14:3 - "¶ And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head."
"And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach," - Mark 3:14
Mark 14:51
Mark 9:2 Show only 4 people Show a mountain area According to Mark 9:2
Mark 2:9
"¶ And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them." - Mark 9:14
Mark 9:2 Show only 4 people and one of them is Jesus Show a mountain area According to Mark 9:2
Mark 9:38
Mark 2:9
Mark 4:14 - "¶ The sower soweth the word."
"And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them." - Mark 9:3
Mark 14:17 - "And in the evening he cometh with the twelve."
Mark 14:50 - "And they all forsook him, and fled."
Mark 9:36-37
Mark 14:46 - "¶ And they laid their hands on him, and took him."
Mark 9:48 - "Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched."
Mark 6:9 - "But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats."
Philippians 3:13-14 - "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."