BREAKING THE ALABASTER FLASK Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:1-9; & John 12:1-8

“Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always” (John 12:1-8).

BREAKING THE ALABASTER FLASK The Occasion

The Occasion 1) It was in the town of Bethany, east of Jerusalem in the house of Simon the leper (Mark 14:3). 2) A meal had been prepared for the Lord and Martha was busy serving (John 12:2). 3) This occurred just a few days before the crucifixion of Christ, after He had stopped walking openly among the Jews (John 11:54). 4) Those present: Jesus, Simon (?), Martha, Mary, Lazarus, Judas Iscariot and others of His disciples (John 12:2-4; Matthew 26:8).

BREAKING THE ALABASTER FLASK The Occasion Flask & Spikenard

The Flask & Spikenard 1) Flask was made of alabaster. “The flask was of alabaster, a carbonate of lime or sulphate of lime, white or yellow stone, named alabaster from the town in Egypt where it was chiefly found. It was used for a phial employed for precious ointments in ancient writers, inscriptions and papyri just as we speak of a glass for the vessel made of glass. It had a cylindrical form at the top, as a rule, like a closed rosebud (Pliny, A.T Robertson, Word Pictures In The New Testament).

The Flask & Spikenard 2) The spikenard. “Spikenard was native to northern India and was a favorite perfume in antiquity. The prefix “spike-” refers to the shape of the plant from which the oily perfume was obtained. The best spikenard was imported from India in sealed alabaster boxes, which were opened only on very special occasions. Pliny commented on the expensive nature of the Indian nard” (ISBE, p. 491).

BREAKING THE ALABASTER FLASK The Occasion Flask & Spikenard Thoughts of the Gift

Some Thoughts About Her Gift & Lessons For Us 1) She did what she could. “She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial” (Mark 14:8). (a) Deed large or small the Lord sees and blesses. “And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward” (Matthew 10:42).

Some Thoughts About Her Gift & Lessons For Us 2) A personal sacrifice – very expensive. “Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil” (John 12:3). (a) Should be willing to personally sacrifice for the Lord. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1).

Some Thoughts About Her Gift & Lessons For Us 3) It was voluntary – Lord did not require it. “a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table” (Matthew 26:7). (a) Should be seeking to excel – not just minimal service. “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20). “And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two” (Matthew 5:41).

Some Thoughts About Her Gift & Lessons For Us 4) She gave her best. “For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii…” (Mark 14:5). (a) Some Jews failed in this. “And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, Is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, Is it not evil? Offer it then to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you favorably?” Says the Lord of hosts” (Malachi 1:8). How would your service be described – left-over time, money, talent, etc. or your best effort?

Some Thoughts About Her Gift & Lessons For Us 5) It was beautiful in motive. “But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me” (Mark 14:6). (a) Love should motivate us as well. “For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). Compel – “Figuratively, to constrain, compel, press on” (CWSD- NT). Thayer says “to urge, impel.”

Some Thoughts About Her Gift & Lessons For Us 6) She gave when she had time & opportunity. “For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always” (Matthew 26:11). (a) Must do good now. “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10). “whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:14).

Some Thoughts About Her Gift & Lessons For Us 7) Some were indignant toward her. “But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste?” (Matthew 26:8). (a) Will always have those who will feel this way toward us. “For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you”(1 Peter 4:3-4).

Some Thoughts About Her Gift & Lessons For Us 8) Her memorial. “Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her” (Mark 14:9). (a) Important thing to us – names written in heaven. “And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life” (Philippians 4:3).

BREAKING THE ALABASTER FLASK The Occasion Flask & Spikenard Thoughts of the Gift (a) She did what she could (b) A personal sacrifice (c) She gave her best (d) Beautiful in motive (e) As she had time & opportunity (f) Some indignant toward her (g) Her memorial