ALABASTER BOX OF OINTMENT

Jesus told his disciples that in two days was the feast of the Passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified. Meanwhile, the chief priests, scribes and elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest named Caiaphas. They conspired that they would take Jesus by trickery and kill Him. But they said, Not on the feast day, or else there will be an uproar among the people.

There was a Pharisee named Simon who was a leper, and He invited Jesus to come to his house and eat with him. Jesus went to Simon’s home and sat down to eat, when a woman in the city, who was a sinner, brought an alabaster box of ointment (perfume) to Simon’s house when she heard that Jesus was eating there. She stood at His feet behind Him weeping, and started to wash His feet with tears, then she wiped them with her hair, kissed His feet, then anointed them with the ointment and the house was filled with the scent of the ointment.

Judas Iscariot, who would betray him said, Why wasn’t this ointment sold for three hundred pence and given to the poor? He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but he was a thief, and he took care of the money matters among the Apostles. Others also murmured about what a waste it was.

When Simon saw this, he thought to himself, This man, if He were a prophet, would have known that this woman touching Him is a sinner. Jesus said, Simon, I have something to say to you. Simon said, Master, say it.

Jesus then told this parable: There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred pence and the other owed fifty. When they had nothing to pay, he forgave them both. Tell me then, which of them will love him most?

Simon answered, I suppose the one that he forgave the most. Jesus said, You’ve judged right. Then Jesus turned to the woman and said to Simon, Do you see this woman? I entered into your house and you gave me no water for my feet, but she’s washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but since the time I came in, this woman hasn’t stopped kissing my feet. You didn’t anoint my head with oil, but this woman has anointed my feet with ointment. So, I say to you, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; because she showed much love, but to whom little is forgiven, they show little love.

Jesus said to the woman, Your sins are forgiven. The people who ate with Him wondered to themselves, Who does He think He is, forgiving sins also? Jesus said to the woman, Your faith has saved you, go in peace. Jesus also said to have this story told every time the Gospel was shared as to honor this woman for what she had done.

So, who is this woman? It is certain that her name was Mary. Many believe that it was Mary Magdalene and even some Christian Movies such as "Jesus Of Nazareth" portray Mary Magdalene as being the one who did this. At any rate, Jesus found it to be so special of a deed, that it was to be shared EVERY time the Gospel was shared ... In John 11:1-2 it is noted that Mary, the sister of Martha anointed Jesus' feet with ointment and wiped His feet with her hair, however there may have been more than one instance where a woman named Mary washed Jesus' feet with her tears and dried them with her hair, as there were many women named Mary at that time and many women followed Jesus and attended Him.

If you ever find yourself judging what a person deserves because of their sinfulness, this is the parable to remember. Always put yourself in someone else’s shoes before you’re quick to decide who’s worthy of the Lord’s forgiveness. It’s not our place to judge. If you look into your own life and your own sins, you’ll find it true, that when you did something worse, you were more thankful for the Lord’s grace than when you did something minor. In any case, praise the Lord for His mercy, no matter who He bestows it upon.

Make sure you share the alabaster box of ointment of spikenard story every time you share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The precious ointment is now Jesus being poured into your life.

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