5 Lessons from the Woman with the Alabaster Box

Sep 18

There are truly so many revelations we can gain from the story of the woman with the alabaster box in Mark 14:3-9.

Background

The Town of Bethany

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 Alabaster Box

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)

The Perfume

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.

1. Give It All

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.

2. Peace with God

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.

3. Healing

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.

4. Release His Fragrance

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.

5. Surrender Brings 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.