5 Lessons from the Woman with the Alabaster Box
There are truly so many revelations we can gain from the story of the woman with the alabaster box in Mark 14:3-9.
Understanding the Significance of Bethany: The Town of the Alabaster Box Story
These events took place in a town called Bethany, in the home of Simon the leper. Bethany was the home of Jesus’ friends Mary and Martha, as well as Lazarus, who He raised from the dead. Jesus also ascended into heaven in the vicinity of Bethany.
Many scholars agree that the meaning of Bethany is “house of affliction” or “poor-house”. (1) Bethany as a place for the care of the sick and the poor is also supported in the biblical text by the mention of Simon the Leper, Lazarus falling ill and dying as well as Jesus’ and His disciples’ acknowledgement of the poor.
The Symbolism of the Alabaster Box: A Sacred Offering to Jesus
An alabaster box was a marble-like stone container which was used to preserve oils and perfumes. (2) The woman had to break the narrow neck of the box and remove its wax seal in order to get the perfume out. (2, 3)
Spikenard Perfume in the Bible
The alabaster box in this passage contained pure nard, also called “spikenard”. Spikenard is a honeysuckle plant found at high altitudes in the Himalayas which has small, pink flowers while in bloom. (4) Its underground stem can be crushed and made into an amber-colored, aromatic essential oil. (4) Nard oil is also used as a perfume and is thought to have medicinal properties. (4)
Lessons
Here are five lessons that we can apply to our everyday lives.
Lesson 1: The Woman with the Alabaster Box Shows Us How to Give It All for Jesus
Once the woman removed the seal of the alabaster box, all of the perfume poured out. None was spared. She held nothing back from Jesus. Nothing. This act of such love and devotion was done to prepare Jesus for His burial.
The disciples and those around her mocked her for her extravagant love for Jesus. They saw her sacrifice as foolish, a total waste. But Jesus honored her for her great love for Him. He even explained that this story would be told wherever the gospel is preached in memory of her.
God will sometimes ask us to sacrifice in order to obey Him. It is not always easy, but it is worth it. The risk is nothing in comparison to the reward.
Lesson 2: The Alabaster Box Teaches Us the Importance of Finding Peace Through Surrender
We know that the Lord is into the details, so the type of perfume used is no accident.
Spikenard is mentioned in Song of Solomon 4:12-14 where Jesus describes the heart of His Bride as a garden with nine choice fruits and spices. These nine spices correspond to the nine fruits of the Spirit Paul mentions in Galatians 5:22-23. Nard is mentioned third in the list and is also repeated twice for added emphasis. If we match these spices with the fruits of the Spirit, spikenard would represent peace.
The woman anointed Jesus just before His crucifixion with a very expensive perfume which represents peace. Jesus was about to pay a great price to reconcile us to the Father, so we could have peace with Him (Rom. 5:1, Isaiah 53:5). His body would be broken, just like the alabaster box, and the result would be an acceptable, fragrant offering to God (Eph. 5:2). Our peace with God was expensive, just like the great worth of spikenard.
Lesson 3: The Woman’s Sacrifice Demonstrates the Healing Power of Faith
As mentioned previously, these events took place in Bethany, a town where there were many lepers and sick people. When the alabaster box was broken, the perfume filled the house of the poor and afflicted with peace, which brings healing.
The Hebrew word for peace, shalom, is synonymous with health, wholeness and welfare. (5) This peace is an internal rest, but also extends to prosperity in our bodies and physical health.
Jesus body was broken and crushed for our peace, as well as our healing (Isaiah 53:5, Psalm 103:2-3). He paid the price for our physical, mental and emotional healing. He still heals bodies and mends broken hearts to this day.
Lesson 4: The Alabaster Box Reveals How Obedience Releases God’s Fragrance to the World
Alabaster stone was one of the materials used in constructing the temple that Solomon built for the Lord (1 Chron. 29:2). We are now the temple of God and we have the kingdom of God within us (1 Cor. 6:19, Luke 17:21). The kingdom of God is “righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17).
When we posture ourselves in obedience to the Lord, His kingdom can flow out of us into our surroundings and we can fill the world around us with His peace which brings healing and restoration to what is broken. We can spread the fragrance of Christ to a world in need (2 Cor. 2:15-17).
All we have to do is be an available vessel for God to work through. In doing this, His fragrance will not just stay within us, but it will be released from our lives and impact those around us. I encourage you to be bold and break the seal. Let His love pour out of you. Do not keep it inside.
Lesson 5: The Story of the Alabaster Box Teaches Us That Surrender Brings Lasting Peace
Notice that once the woman chose to surrender, the spikenard which represents peace poured out. As she surrendered her wealth, her reputation, her pride, the perfume of peace began to fill the air.
Philippians 4:6-7 says, Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Here we have a chance to exchange. To exchange our cares for His peace. As we surrender our worries and anxieties to God in prayer, He will give us His peace that surpasses understanding. This requires humility, a willingness to admit that we need God. We must surrender our pride and remain in dependence upon Him in order to experience His peace.
Practical Ways to Fully Surrender to Jesus in Our Everyday Life
In the story of the woman with the alabaster box, we see a beautiful example of extravagant devotion to Christ. She held nothing back, pouring out her costly perfume as an offering. But what does it look like for us to "give it all" to Jesus in our daily lives?
Surrendering Our Time And Priorities
First, it requires surrendering our time and priorities. Just as the woman sacrificed something of great value, we must be willing to offer our schedules, plans and aspirations to the Lord. This may mean carving out intentional time for prayer and worship, even when it feels inconvenient. It could involve saying no to activities or opportunities that distract us from putting God first.
Offering Our Resources And Finances
Secondly, giving our all includes offering our resources and finances. The woman's perfume was worth a year's wages, no small investment into God’s Kingdom. God calls us to generosity and faithful stewardship, regardless of how much or little we have. This could mean regularly giving to our local church and ministries, even when finances feel tight. It may involve sponsoring a child in need or supporting missionaries. The key is holding our possessions loosely and allowing God to direct how we use them for His purposes.
Offering Our Lives
Additionally, truly giving it all necessitates offering up our very selves - our talents, desires, relationships and futures. The woman's act was one of complete submission, a surrender of her dignity and pride. Similarly, we must continually lay down our own agendas and yield to God's plans. This requires humility to follow His direction even when it's countercultural or difficult to understand. It means dedicating our skills and passions to building His Kingdom rather than our own platforms.
How to Put Jesus at the Center of Your Life: Lessons from the Alabaster Box
Ultimately, giving our all is a daily choice to put Jesus at the center and align our lives around Him. Like the woman, it requires sacrifice and may appear foolish to onlookers. But as we pour ourselves out, we experience the joy and peace of deeper intimacy with Christ. Our offerings, whether large or small, become a pleasing aroma to Him.
What is one area of your life (time, finances, talents, relationships, etc.) where God is asking you to "give it all" to Him? What is holding you back from fully surrendering this to Him?
The woman's extravagant gift was criticized by onlookers. When have you felt judged or misunderstood for your wholehearted devotion to Jesus? How does His approval and delight enable you to remain obedient?
Think of one practical way you can offer yourself to God this week, even if it requires sacrifice. Ask Him for the grace and courage to follow through.
As we meditate on the woman's remarkable act of worship, may we be inspired to lay down our lives as a fragrant offering to the Lord. Let's fix our eyes on Jesus, the One who gave His very self on the cross to make a way for us. No sacrifice we make could ever compare to His ultimate gift. But as we pour out what we have, may we find the unspeakable joy of intimacy with Christ. For in the end, He alone is worthy of our all.
Mark 14:3-9 (NKJV)
The Anointing at Bethany
And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head. But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply.
But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”
References
1. Capper, in Charlesworth, 2006, pp. 497–98.
2. Easton, Matthew George. “Entry for Alabaster”. Easton’s Bible Dictionary.
3. Barnes, Albert. "Commentary on Mark 14". "Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible". 1870.
5. Blue Letter Bible. Strong’s definitions. H7965 Salom Strong’s Hebrew Lexicon (KJV).