Opening illustration: A young girl of about 5-6 years old taught me how to worship God. The down side of her was that she had ‘downs syndrome’ which eventually became her strength. Who could ever think that she would become a model who would even teach the mature in Christ to worship Him in Spirit and in truth. In the eyes of the world, what she had could easily be taken negatively but this did not stop her nor discourage her. She did not ponder what others would think or comment about her. She used what was in her hand powerfully.
Introduction: Have you ever had a moment when your breath was taken away? I’m not talking about getting sucker punched in the stomach and having the wind knocked out of you. I’m talking about experiencing something so wonderful that it leaves you speechless, breathless and in awe.
It was is something which we can say is ‘A beautiful thing.’ An unknown woman brings a jar of very expensive perfume and breaks it over Jesus’ head. Without any inhibitions or qualms, she worships Him in public. The Lord of the Universe, now dripping with perfume commends her, and the woman is praised in the presence of Jesus and his disciples.
Though the matter simply could have ended there, Jesus went on. He wanted to teach us something about the deeper beauties of what this woman did. She had prepared Jesus for his baptism. She had anointed him for the death-shattering task he would face in just three days. In her gift of love, this woman prepared the God man, the Son of the Living God, for the tomb. A tomb that would try to hold him, but wouldn’t. A tomb that would try to claim him, but couldn’t. She used what was in her hand for worship, praise, honor and exaltation of her King.
What to do with what is in your hand?
1. Use it as a symbol of worship to God (vs. 6-7)
Picture the scene with me. It’s the Saturday night before Palm Sunday. Jesus is with His close friends, Lazarus, Martha and Mary. It was only days prior to this that Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. And here they were sharing a meal together in the house of another friend, Simon the Leper who obviously had been healed by Jesus at some point, or else others wouldn’t have been in his house. So Jesus was sharing a meal with two men he had helped in miraculous ways. Can you imagine the joy and fellowship in that house that evening?
Then, Mary comes out. She’s not so much concerned with the food and the fellowship as she is focused on one thing – the Lord. In her hand, she held an Alabaster bottle. Alabaster is a beautiful semi-transparent gemstone. It was used to make containers which would hold only the most expensive and precious contents. When the contents were extremely precious, the makers would work the stone in such a way that the only way to empty it would be to break the container. It was the ultimate example of extravagance. This particular bottle contained some of the most exclusive and expensive perfume of the day. vs. 7 says it was “very precious” It cost over a year’s wages. Can you imagine someone today buying a vial of perfume that costs $35,000? That’s what Mary had. But it was precious also because it had sentimental value. This bottle of perfume had probably been passed down to her from someone in her family. It was a family heirloom. It was valuable in more ways than one, and Mary understood that. But by her action that day, she also understood the eternal value of the Savior. So she broke the bottle and poured the perfume over Jesus’ head, and it ran all the way down His divine body. John tells us that Mary then knelt down and wiped Jesus’ feet with her hair. Mary’s act of worship that night was unrestrained. She didn’t stop and worry about what others would think. She didn’t put it off for a more convenient time. She would not be restrained by financial or emotional costs. She just wanted to worship Jesus. Nothing would restrain her from offering Him her best.
Mary turned all attention upon the Lord and His person. She gave witness to truth about the person and work Jesus Christ. You might have the most important thing on earth. It might have great earthly value but just like Mary if you bring it to the Lord as a sacrifice of worship, God can use it for His glory.
2. Godly worth supersedes earthly value (vs. 8-10)
All of the money in Judas’ moneybag had a certain value. Later on, the 30 silver coins that he earned for betraying Jesus had a certain value. The coins that Jesus had Peter pull out of the fish’s mouth to pay their taxes had a certain value. Mary’s alabaster bottle had a certain value. And the perfume inside had a certain value. But where is that money now? Where are the 30 pieces of silver now? Where is Peter’s tax money now? If Mary had chosen to keep that bottle of perfume to herself. If she had chosen to keep the bottle intact. If she had chosen to keep the perfume inside. If she had kept it on a shelf in the best display case in the house. Where would it be now? It would be turned to dust – evaporated into the air - It would all be gone.
This lowly woman was a second-class citizen in a forgotten Roman occupied territory. There was no earthly reason for anyone to commend her, let alone listen to her. And yet this woman stood in the gap for the prophets of old. It wasn’t Samuel who came with his oil to anoint this King of Kings. It wasn’t the chief priests or the wisest of the Pharisees who came to anoint the Messiah. Instead, a humble woman came in her love for Jesus and broke over his head what was probably her most precious earthly possession.
The woman did what couldn’t have been done later. After his death, Jesus’ body would be spirited from the cross and prepared for a hasty burial. There was no time for the purchase and preparation of the spices that were customary before burial – that would have to wait for another two days on account of Jesus dying on the verge of the Sabbath. But there was time now to prepare him now, and whether or not she fully realized what she was doing for him, the generous woman drenched Jesus in perfume out of the joy of her heart and the gratefulness of her soul. Mary was quietly pointing people to the Savior. She was occupied with Him. Though the text does not say so, we can be sure she was not filled with evil thoughts of jealousy, resentment, or bitterness. There was surely sadness, but also spiritual joy.
The disciples became angry. Surprised by the selfless act, their first concern was over the purchase price of what was sacrificed, rather than the act itself. This woman had freely poured out her treasure on Jesus. From a heart of faith she anointed his head with oil. Yet the disciples judged her with a critical eye. Using the poor as cover, they hid what really offended them. What they were really angry about was the excess of her sacrifice and that she had emptied all of it on Jesus. Was it really necessary to break the whole flask over him? Wouldn’t a few drops have filled the room with the fragrance just as well? Wouldn’t it have been better to sell the perfume and wouldn’t they have done a better job in distributing all the money this woman’s gift could have brought them?
When Mary wiped Jesus’ feet with her hair, she walked away smelling like Jesus did. When we use what we have for Jesus, others can sense that we have been with Him. If your gift is mercy, you display the mercy that Jesus showed to us when He died in our place. If your gift is evangelism, then you display the love that Jesus has for sinners. The use of our spiritual gifts causes others to sense Jesus’ presence in our lives.
3. Lose it for Christ (vs. 11-13)
Mary broke the alabaster box and chose to use it in a way that is unsurpassed by any other way. She chose to use it to anoint the body of Jesus. She gave it up in worship of Him. And by doing so, she did something with eternal significance. Even if the fragrance dissipated after a few days, the fact is, Mary’s loving, unrestrained, impractical, and irreproachable act of worship has never worn off. We’re still inspired by it today. The fragrance of worship is unsurpassed and eternal because the Christ to whom it is offered is eternal.
It is true that a few drops could have accomplished the same goal. But how often was it that Christ’s disciples were accused of such excesses? And how often are Christians scoffed at for doing too much rather than too little? What was done to Jesus by this woman will stand as an eternal example for us. We too should pour out everything we own over Jesus. We too should be inspired to exercise our faith generously, even embarrassingly so. And all because what of Jesus has done for us on the cross – and the salvation it brings that is worth far more than any bottle of perfume. After pouring out everything she had as an act of worship, she gets criticized and ridiculed by the disciples of Jesus.
Mary’s act of losing everything for Jesus did something else. It revealed the carnality and true motive of Judas. Take note of this. Immediately, the disciples begin to criticize her. One gospel records that Judas is the most vocal. They claim that Mary has wasted this precious perfume and that she should have sold it and given the money to the poor instead. Could you imagine how Mary must have felt? After pouring out everything she had as an act of worship, she gets criticized and ridiculed by the disciples of Jesus. I am sure that her heart must have been broken just like the alabaster box that had contained her perfume.
Mary had anointed her Savior's body for burial before his death. What a wonderful privilege! Then too, Jesus was able to enjoy the fragrance of her perfume while he was still alive. This was worship in its most practical expression. To convey his approval and appreciation, Jesus promised Mary that her act of worship would never be forgotten. It would serve as an object lesson for the disciples and for us. He told her that her worship would be remembered wherever His Gospel is shared around the world.
When you lose it all for Christ, just shows your unprecedented devotion to your Lord. Devotion to a hobby or a sport is seen as merely enthusiasm, but devotion to the Savior is viewed as fanaticism. Why? Because that kind of devotion manifests the lack of devotion of others toward God and spiritual priorities. The plain truth is that such devotion is terribly convicting. True devotion and proper evaluation of the Lord, who is Himself the manifestation of light, often brings out the hatred and true condition of the heart such as a heart of unbelief, or hardness, or one lacking in commitment.
In Romans 12:1, Paul says, “I beseech you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service.” Paul’s admonition to the believers in Rome was to sacrifice themselves to God, not as a sacrifice on the altar, as the Mosaic Law required the sacrifice of animals, but as a living sacrifice.
“Dying to self” expresses the true essence of the Christian life, in which we take up our cross and follow Christ. Dying to self is part of being born again; the old self dies and the new self comes to life (John 3:3–7). Not only are Christians born again when we come to salvation, but we also continue dying to self as part of the process of sanctification. As such, dying to self is both a one-time event and a lifelong process. By doing this we rightfully express and proclaim our salvation through Christ in a profound way. We don’t do this out of compulsion but for our love for our Savior.
So, how is your worship? It is just a restrained act of singing a few songs and listing to a sermon on Sundays? Or is it flippantly laid aside every time there’s something else more practical to do? Breathtaking worship will leave you speechless. It will inspire you to greater love and service. It will motivate you to spiritual growth. It will change your outlook. If your worship of Christ is less than breathtaking, it’s time to empty yourself of you and start pouring yourself out in worship of Christ. It is a time to lose what you have in your hands for Christ. The time for real worship is now.
Whatever precious God has given in our hands, are we ready to break from it and be spent on our Savior to be used for His glory. Even when others may discourage us and call it wasteful, we will still continue to use it for our Lord. Above all are we willing to give of our self to our creator completely? When God gave us His best, what is withholding us to give what is in our hands for His glory?
Application: This woman used what was in her hand for worship, praise, honor and exaltation of her King. Do we let earthly value supersede godly worth? Are we willing to lose all that God has placed in our lives for His glory? What do we do with what has been placed in our hands?
