Counting the Cost: Investments in Faith

On Resurrection Sunday 2020 I watched a sermon where the church played a rerun of their 2019 Easter Service and that entire service was a reenactment of everything Jesus had done the three years He was in ministry. A story of significance was the story of Mary Magdalene. If you don't really know who she is, she was one of the most devout members on Jesus' team, besides His mother. She may as well have been one of the 12 apostles.

Before Mary Magdalene knew Jesus, she heard of Him. All she knew was that she had to meet Him. She had to meet Him because she had heard about all of the signs, wonders and miracles he had performed. Here's the thing though, Mary Magdalene was a sinner. She was a sinner of many sins according to the bible. I am only assuming that included anything from adultery to fornication to theft. For such things she would be casted out, seen as a whore, and possibly even killed/stoned to death. So, how could Mary Magdalene have the audacity to want to be in the same room as Jesus, let alone even talk to Him? How could Jesus allow someone of her status to talk to Him at all?

Mark 14:1-9 (NLT) describes Jesus' time in Bethany. Judas Iscariot's father, Simon (also a wealthy Pharisee), lived in Bethany. The text reads,

"It was now two days before Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The leading priests and the teachers of religious law were still looking for an opportunity to capture Jesus secretly and kill him. 2 “But not during the Passover celebration,” they agreed, “or the people may riot.”

3 Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume made from the essence of nard. She broke open the jar and poured the perfume over his head.

4 Some of those at the table were indignant. “Why waste such expensive perfume?” they asked. 5 “It could have been sold for a year’s wages and the money given to the poor!” So they scolded her harshly.

6 But Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. Why criticize her for doing such a good thing to me? 7 You will always have the poor among you, and you can help them whenever you want to. But you will not always have me. 8 She has done what she could and has anointed my body for burial ahead of time. 9 I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.”

But why was this box and the ointment or oil inside of it so important? I had to do some digging.

I found that the connotation behind the Alabaster box, can probably be seen in many different lights. I also found that the box itself was actually made of a marble stone, that is in some way dangerous when you think about Mary Magdalene breaking the Alabaster box - how difficult it must have been to break marble. Further research revealed that the oil inside the box was sometimes used by those who knew that they would die by way of crucifixion. And, for an extra tip, the research mentioned that the liquid inside the box (which was either described as a perfume or ointment) was said to contain a particular element. “Myrrh is a white liquid that flows from a tree in Africa and Arabia and was the main ingredient in the oil”. We can remember that Jesus was gifted frankincense and myrrh at his birth.

Scripture tells us that Mary broke her Alabaster Box and poured the oil over Jesus' head. She was scolded harshly for it because the product inside was so valuable and should've never been wasted on the average man. 

During biblical times, when a young woman was old enough to marry her family would buy an Alabaster Box for her and fill it with ointment or oil. The size of the box and the value of the ointment displayed the amount of wealth her family acquired. When a man would ask for her to marry him, she would respond by breaking this precious box at his feet; moreover the expensive ointment on his feet was meant to show him honor. So, when Mary decided to break her Alabaster box for Jesus, it’s not that she was expected to marry him, but it was her way of showing him honor. 

The passage tells us she broke the box and poured the oil over his head and then anointed his feet with her tears and dried them with her hair.

Thinking about the context and the time period in history, Mary broke this expensive and influential box to honor Jesus and to show him that she was a true believer. She did this knowing that the Pharisees would scold her and belittle her. She did this knowing the judgement that she would receive from others. Mary knew exactly what she was doing because she wanted the Father to know that regardless of what the original intent for her Alabaster Box, she wanted to sacrifice it for Jesus. She did not care about the cost. She did not care about the consequences that the world would bestow on her. 

Her only care was pleasing Jesus.

In this moment of doing this research and coming to this revelation, God reminded me of what I had sacrificed to follow Him. In that rememberance, I realized that it had been worth it all along. I realized that doing business my way and for the sole purpose of making money didn't bring me the same success as doing business His way and allowing my work to be a direct reflection of my God-given purpose. I realized that the pressing of olives that it takes to make oil was a direct reflection of my pressing; my wilderness season. All of the pressing I went through in my life made an expensive oil to go into my own Alabaster Box.

This story touched me because not only did it show Mary's devotion but it also showed how she was willing to give up something so important to her personally and socially for Jesus.. I could go on and on about this topic. The Alabaster Box is something I recommend you do your research on as well and ask God for your own revelation. 

Reflection: What are you willing to do to show Jesus that you are a true believer? What are you willing to do for Jesus regardless of the judgement or ridicule that you may receive from other people?

Refer to this song by CeCe Winans - Alabaster Box

I hope you enjoyed this reading and it touched you in some way. If you want to connect with me more follow me on instagram and like us on facebook.

Be Blessed. Be Encouraged.

xoxo,

Victoria Grace, MS

Service-Based Business Coach & Strategist

Faith Mentor