Story of the Alabaster Jar

Imagine yourself holding the most important thing for you. Picture yourself holding it close to your heart. But what if Jesus comes, will you give it to Him as an offering? Will you give Him the offering of best quality and quantity? How much are you really willing to give to your Master?

Today, let us study the story of a woman, who met Jesus and gave all that she have.

Luke 7:36-50

A Pharisee invited Jesus to have dinner with him. So Jesus went to the Pharisee’s home and got ready to eat.

When a sinful woman in that town found out that Jesus was there, she bought an expensive bottle of perfume. Then she came and stood behind Jesus. She cried and started washing his feet with her tears and drying them with her hair. The woman kissed his feet and poured the perfume on them.

The Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this and said to himself, “If this man really were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him! He would know that she is a sinner.”

Jesus said to the Pharisee, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”

“Teacher, what is it?” Simon replied.

Jesus told him, “Two people were in debt to a moneylender. One of them owed him five hundred silver coins, and the other owed him fifty. Since neither of them could pay him back, the moneylender said that they didn’t have to pay him anything. Which one of them will like him more?”

Simon answered, “I suppose it would be the one who had owed more and didn’t have to pay it back.”

“You are right,” Jesus said.

He turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Have you noticed this woman? When I came into your home, you didn’t give me any water so I could wash my feet. But she has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. You didn’t even pour olive oil on my head, but she has poured expensive perfume on my feet. So I tell you that all her sins are forgiven, and that is why she has shown great love. But anyone who has been forgiven for only a little will show only a little love.”

Let us study the character of the woman in the story..

Point 1:

The bible labeled her as a "Sinful Woman". Didn't mention what she did, but probably her deeds were not pleasing to the Lord. However in the story, when she found out that Jesus was in the town, she went to where Jesus was and approached Him.

I could imagine her seeing Jesus. In all His majesty, and might. If it were me, I'd probably hide in shame. I'd feel the guilt and unworthiness of being close to the King of Kings. I mean, who am I but a sinful woman?

But this woman did, otherwise. Instead, she approached the throne of grace.

She understood that God is a loving and merciful God. Because God's word says.."Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." - Hebrews 4:16

I admired her, upon seeing Jesus she did not react in shame, guilt, and unworthiness, her response is to go to His feet and find mercy.

Point 2:

Going further in the story, it was mentioned that she carried with her an Alabaster Jar of perfume and poured it in Jesus' head. To fully understand the weight of this story, let us examine how much an Alabaster Jar costs.

Cost of Alabaster Jar

In the days of Jesus, when a young woman reached the age of availability for marriage, her family would purchase an alabaster box for her & fill it with precious ointment. The size of the box and value of the ointment would parallel her family's wealth. This alabaster jar would be part of her dowry. When a young man came to ask her hand in marriage, she would break it at His feet to show him honor.

Going back to history, guests in a home were usually offered water so they could wash their feet, because most people either went barefoot or wore sandals and would come in the house with very dusty feet. Guests were also greeted with a kiss on the cheek, and special ones often had sweet-smelling olive oil poured on their head.

Learning this story amazed me, I pondered on how important this perfume was to her. It wasn't only expensive but also saved for a special occassion. Imagine a perfume that parallel's your family's wealth... and yet she willingly poured it onto Jesus. I admired her heart. That Alabaster Jar doesn't only parallel to her family's wealth but it also symbolizes the totality of who she is. In my mind, I could picture her saying..

"Lord, this jar is everything I am and all I have. But I am willing to pour it to your head for it is nothing compared to having you in my life, this is my wholehearted devotion to you."

She could have given the Lord a sweet- smelling perfume, not the one that she saved for a long time, not the one that she saved for a special occasion. He still would forgive her, He still would love her. But she chose to give the best offering. I believe seeing Him, her heart was captivated by the beauty of the savior, that the wholeness of her heart, she surrendered it to Jesus.

What's most impressive about this woman is that she did not come with a list of miracles that she wants Jesus to accomplish. She simply came with a heart to love and worship, she gave her best offering. He accepted it,and her devotion was enough for Him.

Point 3:

V. 38 "Then she came and stood behind Jesus. She cried and started washing his feet with her tears and drying them with her hair."

What does this story tell us?

It tells us, that she came to Jesus with a broken spirit. The word of God says..

"God is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit"- Psalm 34:18

Can you remember the very first time you encountered Jesus, aren't this woman's story similar to yours? weren't you as broken too when God picked you up? Yet in our lowest point in life, with the willingness of our surrendered heart, God saved us.

Point 4:

Jesus' Response

V. 47 ".. So I tell you that all her sins are forgiven, and that is why she has shown great love. But anyone who has been forgiven for only a little will show only a little love.”

"For I will be merciful to their iniquities, And their sins will I remember no more. " - Hebrews 8:12You see, Jesus didn't remember her sins, when everyone in the village condemned her, labeled her as a "SINFUL WOMAN", Jesus did other wise. Didn't take out the list of sins she committed, but In His great compassion and mercy, He forgave her.

Sometimes its easy for us to dwell on past sins, past failures, past mistakes. It's easier to rehearse them in our minds, rather than run towards Jesus. But as we do this, we forget that He is a God of great love and mercy. Remember His word?

"The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." - Lamentations 3:22-23

Our story is no different from hers. Her story is a story of love, devotion and surrender. When we come to God, so broken that we are willing to surrender and kiss His feet in humility, giving the fullness of our hearts to Him, with arms wide open, He forgives and accepts us. He does this, so that whenwe receive His forgiveness we will not keep it but instead, extend the same measure of love and forgiveness to others too. "For He has been forgiven little.. loves little"

What about you, What are you willing to give up for Jesus? What is your best offering? I tell you today, that will be the fullness of your heart. For God is not concerned with the 99% that you give away, but He is concerned with the 1% that you are holding back.

Prayer:

Father in Heaven,

Thank you for your great mercy. I am a sinner, but your love covers my multitude of sins. Today I receive your promise, that you remember my sins no more.. help me not to hide in shame and guilt, or to keep on remembering my mistakes but allow me to approach your throne of grace. I know I can always start anew with you. Your mercies are always new every morning God..

Father, today I pray for a surrendered spirit. Search my heart Lord and make it pure, whatever's left in me, I surrender it to Your hands. May I give you the fullness of my heart, that it may be my best offering. I pray that I will hold nothing back, and like the woman in the story may I give my wholehearted devotion to you.

And when its hard to forgive God, remind me of how much you have forgiven me. Help me to remember that you will not ask me to forgive more than the forgiveness that you already gave me. Allow me to always operate on a heart full of hope and love.

In Jesus, name.

Amen.

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