“The disciples were indignant when they saw this. ‘What a waste of money,’ they said, ‘It could have been sold for a high price’…But Jesus, aware of this, replied, ‘Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me?...She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial.’”
Matthew 26:8, 10, 12
When one woman poured an alabaster jar of expensive perfume over Jesus’ head, the disciples thought her act was a waste. Their focus was on what money could buy for this life, while Jesus’ focus was on what that gift helped buy for the life to come.
Jesus came to give His life so we could have relationship with God, and this woman’s expensive perfume prepared His body to fulfill that mission. In fact, Jesus said THAT deed would forever be tied to the Good News wherever it was preached around the world! (v 13)
However, the unnamed woman poured more than expensive perfume over Jesus’ head—she poured worship from her heart to His! It seems ironic that one of those for whom Jesus was about to die, not only prepared His body for the tomb, but encouraged His heart for the cross.
As another one for whom Jesus died, what will I do with the alabaster jar of my life? Will I sell it for what I want in this life, or will I pour it out for the sake of others? If I pour the love I’ve received onto those around me, perhaps it will encourage their hearts toward the cross too—not to die like Jesus, but to find the life He bought for them there!
May my alabaster jar help spread that Good News!
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