ALABASTER BOX WOMAN STAND UP
INTRODUCTION
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.
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.
Spikenard Tree
The rose red fragrant ointment made from dried roots and wooly stems of the spikenard plant was favourite perfume of ancients.
A precious oil based ointment. It is transported in an alabaster box to preserve its fragrance. Because it had to be imported from Nepal, it was extremely yet understandably costly. Spikenard was very costly because it took 500,000 crushed nards,(roots) the spikes of a fragrant East Indian plant, to make just one pound.
Believe it or not it's sells today for 25 thousand dinar for an ordinary size bottle.If you add spikenard to any other perfume it enhances it,and gives it enduring power.Doesnt Christ do that for us,he gives us enduring power and enhances our gifts.
Today it is commonly known as “Arabian Oud” and it still the most expensive fragrance in the world, sold according to its levels of strength.The Hebrew root word for nard means light,and Jesus becomes the light of this world.
The Root(of spikenard)is now on the endangered species list, because of the over harvesting and the disappearing Himalayan mountains snow,due to global warming.
SPIKENARD
Mary's Alabaster Box "Mary’s fragrant offering" was and is the perfume of her worship and adoration poured out upon the Son of God. This expensive offering historically was also given to a daughter by her Jewish parents for her dowery. On her wedding night the perfume was to be poured out upon her husband's feet at the time of the marriage consummation. It was similar to the act of submission performed by Ruth at the instruction of Naomi to Boaz at the treshing floor.
ALABASTER BOX MARY giving her very own dowery was a statement of complete love, devotion and submission.
Mary took a chance by going into a house full of men but she obeyed the Holy Spirit when he directed her to anoint Jesus
by giving all she had. She was also criticised by the disciples for giving Jesus her best. Do not stop obeying the voice of the Holy Spirit even when others speak evil against you. Just remain humble. Offer forgiveness, love them and minister to God with your whole heart. Mary was loving Jesus in abandon worship. Spikenard is sometimes referred to as "Nard". This hardy herb, a member of the Valerian family, grows in the high altitudes of the Himalayas.Jesus is name is far above any other name amen. The part of the plant growing underground has the appearance of a red hairy fibrous spindle root, and is rich in oil. Isnt it ironic that Jesus is given the anointing oil without measure and is also from the root of David.Spikenard was found in the Himalayas which is now called India (Nepal ), spikenard traveled great distances in the ancient world.And Jesus name has been spoken about all over the world
ALABASTER BOX
There was a long tradition for carving vessels from radiant alabaster. Graceful cups, bowls and jars were made from this lovely stone, and its use has continued on until this present day. This exquisite jar was probably created to hold ointments or perfumes during the BIBILICAL Age. Even empty, it seems to glow with an inner light, the essence of something rare and wonderful. Christ was emptied out yet he became light of the world and he was not only rare and wonderful,
HE IS THEE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD.
The ancient alabastron, was the prelude and forerunner to our modern day perfume bottle. Beautifully carved by master craftsmen which originated mostly from Egyptian alabaster mines. There were other places that alabaster was found but the best alabaster came from Egypt. The egyptian alabaster was of a better grade and composed of calcite rather than gypsum.The baby Jesus was also in Egypt for a time.
Ancient alabastrons found today can actually be purchased through shops who deal in ancient treasures. Believe it or not some of boxes can sell for as much as $3000.But we were bought with a price not silver and gold but by the precious blood of Jesus.
Egyptian alabaster is a very fine grained variety of re-crystallized Eocene limestone. Whereas in modern usage alabaster is a fine-grained, massive variety of gypsum.
The alabastron therfore, in the Gospels serves as a metaphor for the offering of our finest efforts to Jesus Christ.
Chapter One
The Woman with Alabaster Box
This is a true story of spiritual prosperity. It is the highest form of prosperity.
Alabaster box ;
Is not today’s softer gypsum or sulphate often called alabaster, but the harder oriental alabaster, a carbonate of limestone . It’s stalagmitic formation often gave streaks or varying shades and colours, which led to it being called onyx or onyx marble. Alabaster was popular for making perfume vases and boxes for precious ointments. This usage is referred to three times in new Testament.
Spikenard:
The rose-red fragrant ointment made from dried roots, and wooly stems of the spikenard plant was a favorite perfume of the ancients. A precious ointment it was, and still is. It is transported in an alabaster box to preserve its fragrance. Because it had to be transported from Nepal, it was extremely yet understandably costly. Today it is commonly known as “Arabian Oud” and is still the most expensive fragrance in the world, sold according to its levels of strength. Believe it or not it's sells today for 25 thousand dinar for an ordinary size bottle. Notice fragrance was in the roots. The plant has to be grown to maturity And then killed and dug out to get to the roots, because the perfume was in the roots of the spikenard plant.The bible says as a tender plant he grew up to maturity,then at 33 years of age they crucified him.To get the fragrance out.Wow
The story of the woman with the alabaster box has inexhaustible truths. Jesus said this woman must be preached about as long as we preach the gospel for what she did is a memorial to her. Allow me to share some things that have been shown to me In this story.
Historians tell us that, that was her dowery; it was worth three hundred pence. That was a year’s salary!
The disciples Became familiar it was like a rash on them.
The disciples Became weary and tired.
The disciples had no idea that God was using this woman to anoint his son before the crucification of Jesus.
She broke culture, she went into a Pharisee’s house, Simon the leper’s house was full of men, and not only that, she was a sinner, a bad women.
That is why they said “Jesus should have known who was touching him if he was a prophet”. But Jesus knew their hearts.
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.
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.
THE FIRST THING: JUDAS MENTALITY:
Judas Iscariot said: “Why this waste?” This should have been sold to the rich and the money given to the poor. But Jesus defending her said:
“She hath wrought a good work on me.”
Why this waste?” is a Judas mentality.
There nothing done for the ministry or for Jesus,that is a waste. The Bible says “‘’in due season if we faint not we will reap.’
Did you know that the incident of The Alabaster Box was the crucial factor in Judas’ making a decision to betray Christ? He took offence at what this woman did and allowed the spirit of offence to take hold of him, and it destroyed him.
Matthew 26 v 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.
We as Christians must guard against the spirit of offence. It is a subtle spirit and very cunning and if you allow it to take root it will destroy you. (Refer to my book on the spirit of offence).
I remember a brother who backslide because a Pastor bought a Mercedes Benz. In the seventies no Pastor rode a Mercedes Benz in our area. You are not more spiritual, just because you cannot spend money; you need to break out of that poverty mentality.The bible says Judas said that because he had the money bag.He wanted more money in the bag.
In the beginning of the chapter I described what Spikenard and an alabaster box is. To get spikenard to Israel was a perilous journey from Nepal to Israel. Many lost their goods on the journey home to Israel. This ointment sold well. Notice, spikenard is made from the roots and stems of the spikenard plant. You have to grow the plant to maturity and then kill it to get the fragrance out because the fragrance was in the roots of the plant. JESUS WAS BORN TO REACH THE MATURE AGE OF 33 AND THEN CRUCIFIED TO GET HIS FRAGRANCE OUT WHICH WAS HIS BLOOD AND SPIKENARD IS A ROSE RED OINTMENT OIL,signifing the blood of Jesus.God had to grind me personally to powder to get the fragrance out of my life and He is still teaching me daily.
Matthew chapter 21v 44;
And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken:But on whosoever it shall fall,it will grind him to powder.
I'll tell you, it's common in church life to discover that those who are most apt to criticize are often those who are doing nothing themselves. Those who never go to church are the ones who criticize church. Those who never read the Bible are the ones who know all the answers. Those who never help are the ones who are the first to criticize when things don't work out. That is the way the non-involved act.
CHAPTER TWO
THE SECOND THING:
SHE BROKE THE SEAL OF THE BOX;
Mark 14:3-9
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. 4 And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? 5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her. 6 And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. 7 For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. 8 She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. 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.
It was contained in an alabaster flask (alabastron), Mark 14:3 and Matthew 26:7 further underlines the precious nature of the spikenard poured upon Christ
I believe it was the seal which was broken, so that the precious perfume oil could be poured out. The breaking of the seal was a traditional method of opening a vessel during ancient times.If you broke a box and attempted to anoint someone, its only logical that you would have fragments of the broken alabaster box in the oil and would most likely cut or scratched the person with the sharp edges of the broken pieces. Again, there is no historical evidence of any "box breaking". However, we have scriptural references of pouring oil on Aaron's' beard.
Once I broke my expensive perfume,I was so upset,because i had no control i wanted to save it but i couldnt.When i used to open my perfume,i had control,but when it slip out of my
Hand and broke i it i had no control over the perfume.Jesus said blessed are the broken and the contrite in heart they shall be comforted.Jesus was broken and crushed to get the fragrance out of his life.Gethsmane means(wine press)Jesus was pressed until he sweat became drops of blood,at gethsmane He started to be crushed to get the fragrance out,the anointing,remember it was Jesus who sent the comforter(the anointing).
The alabaster box woman, made sure Jesus had it all. She wanted nothing back. She broke the seal(never opened it, but broke it) and poured it on his head and wiped his feet with her hairs of her head. When we lose control in what we got,that’s when God loses what he has got.
And what God has got, is always better than what we have got.
THE THIRD THING:
THE TITHE WILL DO FINE;
BUT A YEAR’S SALARY!!
But this wasn't any ordinary perfume. We find in the text today that Judas says it was worth 300 denarii.A day's wage, in Jesus time was one denarii. Three hundred denarii is a year's wage.There were 300 working days in a Jewish year, and the common laborer's salary or pay for a day was one denarii. So three hundred was a year’s salary. Notice the bible say’s,she could of sold it for more then three hundred pence. She blew a year’s salary in a moment. That’s what prompted the question: “Why this waste?” David said: “Shall I sacrifice to God that which cost me nothing?” In our day we were taught as Christians not to take money from unbelievers, but I wonder where this woman got her money to buy a perfume that only the rich could afford? Jesus said her sins were many, the Pharisee that invited.
Jesus to dinner said, “if Jesus were a prophet, He would have known what type of woman was touching Him.”I leave you to figure that one out.
THE FOURTH THING:
YOU ONLY HAVE SOMETHING IF YOU CAN GIVE IT WAY
John 12:1-8
1 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. 2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. 3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment 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. 4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, 5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. 7 Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. 8 For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.
Historians tell us that in those days women could not get married without a dowery. This woman also had a bad reputation because the Bible says she was a sinner woman. But, she didn’t care; she broke the seal of the box (her dowery). You only have something if you can give it way.
I remember many years ago a job was advertise for a welder.Two welders showed up,but the boss wanted me.But before the boss came,me and this guy started chatting about how his married and he needed this job so badly,what he didn't know that I also needed this job badly,but I knew he was married,I wasn't,so I decided to give him the job,he needed it more than me. A week later I forgot what I had done but God never,a phone call came from out of the blue,offering me a better paid and longer job.
YOU ONLY HAVE SOMETHING IF YOU CAN GIVE IT AWAY.
The Fifth Thing:
A Memorial
Mark 14:9. “Verily I say unto you, wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this woman must be Preached.”
When we have done preaching on salvation, repentance, justification and grace,Jesus said,then this woman must be preached.
The word memorial is mentioned only twice in the new testament, for the alabaster box women and for Cornelius,a centurion of the band called the Italian band. Both were Gracious givers."this woman must be Preached.”
THE SIXTH THING:
ANOINTED BY SOMEONE WITHOUT APPOINTMENT;
A STRANGER
For fourteen years I ran a welding school,on one occasion we had Canadians recruiting in my office,we had welders from all over the country competing for these jobs so the smell in the welding school became unpleasant.I will never forget this one Canadian of Turkish descent said what's that smell,and in no time he pulled out a small bottle of perfume oil and wiped his hands,immediately the entire aroma in the place change instancely.
THATS WHAT HAPPENED AT SIMONS HOUSE.The alabaster box women changed the atmosphere,from the smell of familiarity,to the beautiful smell of worship in a instanced.You see the house was filled with man,but this women heart was for Jesus.There is a powerful saying that hearts are always more important than bodies.
God in his divine providence was getting JESUS ready to be anointed for his burial. The disciples had no idea what was going on. Then Jesus said, “ this woman is anointing my body for burial.
That is something they do with every dead body. One of the uses of nard was to anoint the bodies of dead people. Because it was so aromatic, it would help delay the onset of the smell of human decay. They would put the spices on them, and sometimes they would pour the perfumes on them as well. And nard was something that was used lavishly. Because it was so expensive to use it, it was a lavish thing to do at a funeral. Can you be at the culmination of a historic and a eternal event and don’t even have a glimpse of what is going on.
I believe with all my heart God chose a sinner woman to anoint his Son for burial because Jesus was going to die for a sinful world like you and me.amen
