An alabaster jar (or box / flask) was a vessel made from alabaster stone (Blue Letter Bible, 2025). It was used to store expensive ointments and perfumes, and it held great value. For the contents to be poured out, the neck of the alabaster jar had to be broken (Blue Letter Bible, 2025).

There were three instances in the bible where Jesus was anointed by women with an alabaster box (or jar, flask). Mary of Bethany (John 12:1-6); the sinful woman (Luke 7:37-50) and a woman with no name (Matthew 26: 6-13; Mark 14: 3-9). All three of them were welcomed by Jesus but they also were scrutinized by his disciples and Pharisees.  

Mary of Bethany anointed her Saviour openly, at a dinner. Without meaning to, she caused a scene. While others criticized her actions, Jesus accepted her gift. What can we learn from her public display of affection?

1. Service

Jesus was often invited into people’s home; it was their way to honour him. He visited the village of Bethany, but it wasn’t his first time either. This was the place where he visited two sisters, Martha and Mary. While Martha served, her sister sat at his feet listening to his teaching (Luke 10:38-42).

The second time, he received a message that their brother Lazarus was sick (John 11:1-3) but did not arrive until four days later. By that time, he was pronounced dead. Jesus raised their brother Lazarus back to life (John 11:38-44); thus, he demonstrated God’s power over death. It was also a foreshadowing of what he was going to do.

John 12:1
Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 

It was after this major miracle, that he came to feast and celebrate with them. While Lazarus and Jesus sat at the table, Martha served (John 12:2). Afterwards, Mary comes and does the unexpected. She does what some would describe as unusual.

John 12:3
Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 

This would seem odd in our culture today, and it would have been more awkward for the men in the room who witnessed this firsthand. The washing of one’s feet was a common household gesture. In some cases, it was a task performed by slaves. However, Mary did not mind.

For her to take such a lowly position and lie at his feet showed that she had a humble heart. We too must also have the same posture in His presence. Nothing should be “beneath” us when it comes to the King of Kings. Regardless of what position we may have, may we always find ourselves at His feet.

Mary ministered to the Lord from a place of love and reverence. This was her act of service, even though it looked different. She wiped his feet with her hair, which would have been frowned upon. And yet, the only person that mattered was Jesus himself. He alone was worthy of her adoration.

This isn’t to say that we should go to extreme lengths to prove that we love the Lord, otherwise that would be a performance. Mary was authentic in her serving, she gave Him what she had. What would our serving or worship look like, if we were less concerned about who was in the room (watching) and more concerned about Him?

2. Sacrifice

The breaking of the alabaster box was symbolic of sacrificial love. It’s human nature to think of ourselves first. We wouldn’t willingly give up something or someone that we treasure unless it benefits us in the long run. Sometimes we can have the same mindset in our relationship with Jesus Christ. We count our losses, or wonder what it would “cost us”, forgetting what we already have is because of Him. When this happens, we withhold rather than surrender.

For Mary, nothing could be more precious than her Savior. There is no one who is more worthy of her worship.  She didn’t offer up her alabaster box out of compulsion; it was from her own volition. She also didn’t do it to earn his love; she was already loved. Neither was it done for her own personal gain. If anything, Jesus had already done so much for her.

Sacrifices will cost us something, and we feel it most when the object of our affection isn’t Christ. This isn’t to say that sacrifices won’t be painful, otherwise that wouldn’t be the truth. But when we genuinely love someone, the sacrifices that we make become insignificant. For example, Jesus endured the cross because of the joy that was set before him (Hebrews 12:2).

John 12:4-5
But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, ⁵ “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”

There was a general understanding that alabaster boxes carried weight and weren’t to be offered casually. It was for this reason that one of the disciples was outraged when she broke her alabaster box and anointed Jesus. He [Judas] was outraged because it was worth more and it had appeared as if she had wasted her oil.

The truth is, there will be moments in our Christian walk, where the people around us will not understand some of the sacrifices we’ve made for Jesus. In their eyes, it would appear as if we have wasted our time, the years of our youth, money, energy, labour etc., because there is no physical profit or reward. They may not use the exact same words as Judas, but they might offer suggestions of where it could have been invested.

Some may mock, criticize or discourage, but please don’t let that be a deterrent. We may question whether it was worthwhile or if we made the right decision. It is in these moments that we must remember our ‘why’. There is no moment that is wasted, if it’s given to Jesus. Our sacrifice for the Lord is not in vain.

John 12:6
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.

Anyone who heard Judas’ statement, would think he was a great philanthropist. He sounded logical and sincere, but Jesus knew what his true intentions was. This highlights to us that we really can’t discern the hearts of people except for God. Mary and Judas both had motives, only one of them had a pure heart.

3. Spiritual significance

Judas’ words already revealed what was in his heart – greed. The same way he wanted to use the money for his own personal advantage was also what he was going to do when he betrayed Jesus later on. He was going to ‘sell’ Jesus for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-16) and betray the Messiah with a kiss (Matthew 26:47-50).

Mary could have defended her actions or explained why she had chosen to anoint Jesus, but she didn’t. The disciples may have forgotten but Mary hadn’t. She knew what the Lord was about to do. Jesus defended her publicly and corrected Judas for being judgemental.

Luke 7:7-8
But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. ⁸ For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.”

What looked foolish in Judas’ eyes, was wisdom in the sight of the Lord. People were anointed with oil in the bible for different reasons. It was used to mark a person for a particular assignment, especially for kings (1 Samuel 16:13; 2 Kings 9:1-3); to honour guests (Luke 7:46), and it was sometimes used for burials (Mark 16:1).

Mary poured her costly oils on Jesus’ feet, to honour him and express her gratitude. Love is more than words or vows. It must also be reflected in our actions. Mary gave the Lord her best, something that cost her financially. But all of that paled in comparison to what he would later do. Jesus was going to pay the debt that men owed. He was sent to save people from their sins. An action that would cost him his own life.

The anointing of Jesus took place six days before Passover, which was prophetic. This was in the lead up to the main event. In almost a week, Jesus would bear our guilt, shame and punishment. He would also be inflicted because of our iniquities and bruised for our transgressions (Isaiah 53:4-5). His body would be broken for us, and blood would be shed so that we can be forgiven of our sins (Hebrews 9:22).

What could we possibly offer to the One who offered himself willingly for our redemption? We might not have alabaster jars lying around, but we can give Him something that is just as precious. In the same way, an alabaster box needs to be broken, to be poured out. What if we made the conscious decision to pour out our lives for Him?

God bless,
Susan.