Mary’s Alabaster Box « No Other Rock

Mary’s Alabaster Box

March 19, 2007 at 8:00 am | In Awake My Heart, Christ, faith | Leave a Comment

Then took Mary a pound of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. ~ John 12:3

Whether for sentimental or monetary reasons, Mary’s alabaster box was precious. Baxter does a wonderful job of describing to us the significance of this oft-told event.

He suggests that Mary had four options for using the item:

1.) Use it entirely on herself
2.) Use it on others – excluding Jesus
3.) Use some herself and distribute the rest to others
4.) Use it entirely on Jesus

Having chosen the fourth option, Mary used the fragrance completely on Jesus. Here, we study her motive for doing as such:

1.) Reverence – Recognizing Jesus as the Godhead versus a sentimental idol
2.) Gratitude – She saws that the way to the throne was via the cross
3.) Faith – In Jesus
4.) Love – Of the four, this was the strongest of all.

How do we compare when we consider this event? This completely selfless act began with the same four choices that we make on a daily basis with the alabaster boxes of our own. This is what it means to truly be consecreted in Christ.

Today, my prayer for you and I is that ours will be the highest of choices . . . of pouring our best at HIS feet!