2. Matthew 26:6-13 Mark 14:3-9 John 12:1-8  It is a container made from stone.  Like white marble  Used as a perfume vase.

3. “And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.” Mark 14:3 Alabaster flask = NKJV Alabaster cruse = ASV Alabaster jar = NRSV Alabaster vial = MKJV Wax seal

4. Time: Six days before Passover Few weeks after raising of Lazarus Place: Bethany House of Simon the Leper People: Simon, Mary, Martha, Lazarus – Jesus 12 apostles

5. Anointing At Bethany Mary poured this on head of Jesus Expensive perfume Value of 300 pence Jn. 12:3 “anointed the feet of Jesus” Jesus taught that he would die Matt. 16:21 “and be killed, and be raised” Mary believed this

6. Anointing At Bethany Did this for his burying Mk. 14:8 “She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial.” Will be remembered for this “Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.” Mark 14:9

7. Breaking the Alabaster Box Mary showed appreciation for Jesus while He Lived. Keep not the kisses for the dead cold brow Nor the touch of affection for the hands that are still, Hast thou an alabaster box? Break it now: Encourage someone, life's purpose to fill."

8. Breaking the Alabaster Box In Our Home: Children / Parents Husband / Wife In the Church: “And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.” 1 Thes.5:12-13

9. We Will Be Criticized “And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? 5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her” Mk. 14:4-5

10. We Will Be Criticized “And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? 5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her” Mk. 14:4-5 When we do what we can some will criticize ! Why?  Jealousy  Pride  Personal differences  Ignorance

11. We Will Be Commended “And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. 7. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. 8. She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying” Mk.14:6-8

12. We Will Be Commended “And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. 7. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. 8. She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying” Mk.14:6-8

13. We Will Be Commended “And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. 7. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. 8. She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying” Mk.14:6-8 Jesus commended and defended her !

14. Matt. 2:11 - wise men – Gold, Frankincense, Myrrh John 19:39 – Nicodemus - Myrrh and Aloe Mk. 14:3-9 – Mary – Alabaster Box Out of love A huge sacrifice

15. We Will Be Commended Romans 12:1 ASV “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service.” 2 Cor. 8:5 “And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.”

16. Break the alabaster box on behalf of Jesus Mary did it for his physical body We should do it for the spiritual body, the church.

17. Sermon by Arthur Pigman Evans Church of Christ 515 Gibbs Road Evans, Ga. 30809 706-855-1249evanscoc@bellsouth.netwww.evansgachurchofchrist.org Sunday Morning January 25, 2015