alabaster jar

She Did What She Could

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“She has done what she could, she has anointed by body beforehand for burial.” Mark 14:8 ESV

I am always amazed at how this woman, who never spoke a word, is still speaking to us today. If we were to read the story from the Gospel of John, we would learn that she was Mary, the sister of Martha, and her “beautiful act.” Was a demonstration of gratitude and worship after Jesus had raised her brother Lazarus from the dead. Her older sister Martha, had started things off by inviting all their friends, cooking up a big meal and seating Jesus at the head of the table with Lazarus. The disciples of Jesus were seated around Him, and the room was filled to capacity with friends, family and curious onlookers. Then, right at the height of the festivities, when the plates were clanking, the conversation was getting loud and the scents of delicious foods wafted through the room, Mary appeared in the doorway. Of course, Martha was busy serving and was probably being warmly greeted and thanked for such a party. Few would have noticed Mary, as she quietly walked through the room towards Jesus. But when Mary arrived next to Jesus, they heard the sound of the alabaster jar she was carrying being broken open, and immediately the aroma of the spikenard perfume inside began turning heads. Next Mary pours the perfumed oil over the head of Jesus, and according to John, also over his feet. Last, and most shocking of all, Mary knelt down and began to wipe the excess perfume from the feet of Jesus with her hair. The crowd was stunned, and the disciples were scandalized, “Why was this waste made?” they demanded to know. “This could have been sold and the money given to the poor.” Interestingly, we learn in other gospel accounts that Judas was the instigator of the criticism and not because he gave a fig about the poor, but because he helped himself to the offerings whenever he could. Through all the commotion and protests, Mary remained silent. Then Jesus spoke, “Leave her alone! She has done what she could! She has prepared my body beforehand for the burial.” Also, notice, that the disciples who had seen Jesus transfigured on the mountain, watched Him walk on water and turn water into wine, were not doing anything to honor Him. And even though Jesus had often told them that He was going to be arrested and put to death, none of them believed it. But Mary, believed and chose to do what she could with the time that she had. Her story is still being told wherever the Gospel is proclaimed and causes me to ask. “What can I do for Jesus today?”

Holy Wednesday – There’s Still More

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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   
Mark 14:3 ESV
Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. John 12:3 NKJV

I have long been puzzled by the small but significant differences in the stories of the anointing of Jesus at Bethany. Then I began to re-imagine the scene at the banquet. I started by looking at Lazarus, seated quietly next to Jesus, and of course Martha bringing food to the tables as the room slowly filled with people. Suddenly, Mary appeared in the doorway, holding her alabaster jar of perfumed oil. While people munched on their meals, loudly visiting with their neighbors, she silently slipped through the crowd to where Jesus reclined, and then she broke the seal on her jar pouring some on the head of Jesus. The power of the fragrance immediately filled the room. A momentary silence ensued as the guests stopped and turned to see what had happened. But then, just as quickly as the beautiful perfume wafted through the room, the air began to be filled with complaints about the waste of precious resources that she had made. But Mary knelt unashamedly, looking up to Jesus’s face and saw His acceptance of her gift. Then, with a smile, she poured the remainder of her perfumed oil on His feet and wiped them dry with her hair. No matter how others thought of her, Mary was focused on only one thing. She still had more for Jesus! As we are traveling together towards the Cross this week, we should also ask; “Am I worried about what everyone else thinks today, or can I say with Mary, “Master there’s still more!”

Are You Having a 5-String Day?

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While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. 
Mark 14:3 NIV

Every Thursday I have great fun visiting the memory-care wing of a local nursing home and singing for my friends. But last week, as I slid my guitar out of its case, I was dismayed to see that one string had come completely off its tuning peg. Being presented with the options of, putting my guitar back in the case and singing acapella, spending several minutes trying to replace the string, or playing with just five strings, I chose the latter. Sheepishly I explained to everyone that things were going to sound funny and then set off plunking away the best I could. Yet, in spite of my embarrassment, we actually had a great time praising God together. We sounded far from professional, but I felt sure that Jesus didn’t mind my out-of-tune instrument any more than our off-key voices.

Now playing with a guitar string missing was challenging, but God reminded me that for some of those folks, even their best days were five-string days, at best. I remembered that the songs we sing are a treasure, not because of a nicely tuned instrument, but because of the joy they bring to the heart of God. We are all like the alabaster jar in today’s verse. We have a precious treasure inside. Even though our jar may begin as outwardly beautiful, it is also fragile and aging. What matters is not how impressive our outside looks, but the value of the treasure on the inside. And it is only when our jars begin to crack, that the fragrant treasure hidden on the inside can pour out and its sweet fragrance fill the room!