Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Matthew 26:10-13 Jesus said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."
MEMENTOS OF HIS PASSION: AN ALABASTER FLASK
About a week before His crucifixion, Jesus sat at a dinner prepared in His honor. Mary (Lazarus and Martha's sister) approached Jesus with a container of perfume. The perfume would come out much too slowly if she used the little dispensing hole at the top, so she broke the neck of the flask. Her plan was to use it all. It was worth a whole year's wages, but nothing was too great for her Master. She started at the Master's head, and since there was enough, she anointed His feet as well.
Jesus called her action a beautiful thing and indeed it was. She humbly honored her Savior. She willing gave of what she had been given. She poured out her thank offering to God, on God's own Son.
We do well to take this container away in our minds and hold onto it as a precious reminder of our Savior's suffering. It was broken. It was poured out. Its aroma filled the house. The alabaster flask reminds us of what was to come for Jesus.
In a week His body would be broken. In a week His blood would be poured out. And the aroma of His sinless and perfect sacrifice would rise up to the Father and fill His House. And the payment for all sin would be made in full.
A beautiful thing Jesus has done, for you and for me. A humble and loving act. Through His suffering, we have been set free from sin, death, and Satan. Free to live for Him. All thanks and glory be to Jesus.
