Women Of The Bible (WOTB) - The Woman With The Alabaster Jar

[Diplomat]

She was someone whose story we sometimes pass over. We do not know her name, referring to her by the personal item she owned, and probably guarded with her life: the woman with the alabaster jar/box. Her story, as recorded in Matthew 26:6-13, The Message Translation:

6 When Jesus was at Bethany, a guest of Simon the Leper, 7 a woman came up to him as he was eating dinner and anointed him with a bottle of very expensive perfume. 8 When the disciples saw what was happening, they were furious. "That's criminal! 9 This could have been sold for a lot and the money handed out to the poor." 10 When Jesus realized what was going on, he intervened. "Why are you giving this woman a hard time? She has just done something wonderfully significant for me. 11 You will have the poor with you every day for the rest of your lives, but not me. 12 When she poured this perfume on my body, what she really did was anoint me for burial. 13 You can be sure that wherever in the whole world the Message is preached, what she has just done is going to be remembered and admired."

What are your thoughts on this woman and her actions? What may have been her motivation? Any ideas as to what was so "wonderfully significant" about what she did? Let's hear your thoughts...

[churchgirl]

Re: Women Of The Bible (WOTB) - The Woman With The Alabaster Jar

[qb]12 When she poured this perfume on my body, what she really did was anoint me for burial.[/qb]

This is what stood out for me. She seemed to have gotten the revelation of exactly who this man is and the significance/magnitude of what he will endure in a few days to come.

[Diplomat]

Re: Women Of The Bible (WOTB) - The Woman With The Alabaster Jar

churchgirl: There is one school of thought that suggests "the woman's anointment of Jesus honors, indulges and, perhaps, welcomes him to another realm." What intrigues me about this anointing is that it is not customary for a body to be anointed for burial prior to death. I have an interesting (hopefully) thought on this but will wait to see what others have to say.

[Dailybread]

Re: Women Of The Bible (WOTB) - The Woman With The Alabaster Jar

Originally posted by CEW:
When she poured this perfume on my body, what she really did was anoint me for burial. 13 You can be sure that wherever in the whole world the Message is preached, what she has just done is going to be remembered and admired."

I love the fact that she was working in God's divine plan, in that she was annointing Jesus for his burial. In doing things we only see the result at that moment but the end result is usually more than we can ever imagine.

What are your thoughts on this woman and her actions?

I would say this woman really knew who Jesus was far beyond any other. For a woman to go to a party univited, a party that was not being held at her house and perform

What may have been her motivation?

Her motivation came from the deliverance/forgiveness that was given to her by Jesus. It is unnatural not to show gratitude when someone has done something for you. However, in this case she knew that what Jesus had done was more than any could've done so she gave him her very best. Her motivation also came from God Himself, in that she was in his divine plan to prepare the body for the burial.

Any ideas as to what was so "wonderfully significant" about what she did?

What I think is "wonderfully significant" is the fact that although others looked down on her for what she had done, Jesus praised her and said that she would not be forgotten. A constant reminder that our relationship with Jesus is a relationshiop between us and Him and although others may criticize us for our actions God is taking note.

[Diplomat]

Re: Women Of The Bible (WOTB) - The Woman With The Alabaster Jar

Originally posted by Dailybread:

What may have been her motivation?

Her motivation came from the deliverance/forgiveness that was given to her by Jesus. It is unnatural not to show gratitude when someone has done something for you.

Please explain this portion for the benefit of others who may be wondering what she received deliverance/forgiveness for.

[Dailybread]

Re: Women Of The Bible (WOTB) - The Woman With The Alabaster Jar

Originally posted by CEW:
[qb]

Originally posted by Dailybread:

What may have been her motivation?

Her motivation came from the deliverance/forgiveness that was given to her by Jesus. It is unnatural not to show gratitude when someone has done something for you.

Please explain this portion for the benefit of others who may be wondering what she received deliverance/forgiveness for. [/qb]

The woman that is referenced is Mary that sat at Jesus feet and learned while her sister Martha was always busy doing housework. Mary was delievered from sin through the teaching of Jesus Christ. She sat and learned. I will go out on a limb to sa she understood who Jesus was and why he came. She had accepted Jesus as her lord and savior thus being she was forgiven for her sins and delivered from the law.

In addtion to this, Jesus raised her brother Lazarus from the dead! She was delievered from the grief. I cannot remember the scriptural reference but her belief was so strong that when Jesus came she said unto him. If you were here he would not have died. She knew the power that Jesus possess.

[Diplomat]

Re: Women Of The Bible (WOTB) - The Woman With The Alabaster Jar

DB: Luke records that her sins were forgiven her after she had anointed Jesus and washed His feet with her hair. (7:48)

[Dailybread]

Re: Women Of The Bible (WOTB) - The Woman With The Alabaster Jar

Originally posted by CEW:
[qb] DB: Luke records that her sins were forgiven her after she had anointed Jesus and washed His feet with her hair. (7:48) [/qb]

Hmmm, interesting point. So all that time that she was learning at Jesus's feet did she not accept him as her Lord and Savior? Does that mean we can go to Church and become intellectuals and still haven't accepted Jesus forgiveness for our sins?

[Diplomat]

Re: Women Of The Bible (WOTB) - The Woman With The Alabaster Jar

Originally posted by Dailybread:

Hmmm, interesting point. So all that time that she was learning at Jesus's feet did she not accept him as her Lord and Savior? Does that mean we can go to Church and become intellectuals and still haven't accepted Jesus forgiveness for our sins?

Of course we can. There is a huge difference between giving mental assent to the Word, and accepting it. So it is possible that she was awed at the teachings, and devoted to him, but for whatever reasons, Jesus used the opportunity two days before his arrest to antagonize the Pharisees by declaring her sins forgiven. I think he did it on purpose too seeing He would have known that the only reason He was invited to Simon's home was so they could find even more cause and the opportunity to arrest Him.

What do you make of Luke being the only one to record that this woman was a prostitute?

[Dailybread]

Re: Women Of The Bible (WOTB) - The Woman With The Alabaster Jar

Originally posted by CEW:
What do you make of Luke being the only one to record that this woman was a prostitute?

Well, I've heard it taught that the reason Luke was so detailed in his writings is due to him being a doctor and it came naturally. I really don't have any thoughts on why he would be the only one.

[Guest]

Re: Women Of The Bible (WOTB) - The Woman With The Alabaster Jar

This is not relevant to this discuss but I've noticed some similarities amongst the women that have been featured this week. The Widow of Zarephath and the Woman with the Alabaster Jar both had a sinful life yet they were both used by God. Remember the Widow of Zarepheth was a pagan and the Woman with the Alabaster Jar was referred to as being sinful/prostitute.

No matter what we've done, if we trust Him and ask for forgiveness He will do so. He's truly amazing.

Sorry....carry on.

[Queen]

Re: Women Of The Bible (WOTB) - The Woman With The Alabaster Jar

Much Love
Three very important points are made here in this passage of scripture. One is the account itself of this extravagant act of worship. By giving her most precious possession, this woman showed much love to the Lord Jesus. Some commentaries say that this vial of expensive perfume was equal in value to a whole life's savings. For us as New Testament believers, can we even begin to match this lady's act of giving her all? And then, will we learn to flow in extravagant worship on a daily basis?

Spectators
The second point is the attitude of the onlooking disciples. They were so "wise" in their own eyes that they almost missed one of the most significant events of personal ministry to Jesus during His lifetime on earth....Worship is a choice, not a feeling. Worship is a commitment of heart, not just an emotional outflow.
Even though the disciples got upset with her for her "wasteful act," the Lord Jesus was blessed and His heart was touched by her. Remember this: Non-worshipers (or spectators) will always be on a different wavelength. Unless or until they change their heart posture, extravagant worship seems to be, at least to them, an overstatement, even a gaudy display of affection or emotions.

[Queen]

Re: Women Of The Bible (WOTB) - The Woman With The Alabaster Jar

The Beauty of Worship
Finally, we look at the response and admonishment of Jesus to this woman and the disciples. Jesus said that "she has done a beautiful thing to me." This speaks of the beauty of worship in God's sight. In this case, it was the beauty of her act and the fragrance that was left over in the room after she anointed Jesus.
There is a fragrance to your worship, an aroma that comes from the overflow of heartfelt love toward God. Many people still stand on the sidelines, never fully breaking open their alabaster box in praise and worship. That sweet smelling savor is rarely let out of their box to be enjoyed by God and His people.

This area of aroma, sweet-smelling savor, and fragrance deserves the attention of our own personal Bible study. For within it are locked up some of the great truths about being worshipers in the fullest sense of the word.

Brokenness
There is an aspect of aroma to brokenness that has not yet been understood by this generation concerning whole-hearted worship. I don't feel that the Lord has withheld this revelation as much as we have not come into the place spiritually that we have asked for it from the Lord.
Brokenness is not a bad word, even though years ago the teaching about it was fairly inaccurate and may have left a very bad taste in our spiritual mouths. In this case, it should be apparent. Without the breaking open of the box, there is no anointing. Without the anointing, there is very little or no fragrance.

Break open your alabaster box, yield up to the Lord the most precious, costly things of your life. The sweet communion with God will be so rich, it will draw you back time and time again. As it always is with obedient servants, God will be sure to fill your alabaster box over and over again. Praise God!

http://www.angelfire.com/oh2/spiritsong/alabaster.html

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I found the above excerpts interesting because the story of the woman with the alabaster box was one of true worship. Nothing was too expensive or too precious for her to show adoration for her Lord...such as the washing of his feet with her tears and drying it with her hair. She became lowly in his presence in an effort to show her adoration, love and to exalt Him.

[Guest]

Re: Women Of The Bible (WOTB) - The Woman With The Alabaster Jar

Sorry

[Diplomat]

Re: Women Of The Bible (WOTB) - The Woman With The Alabaster Jar

Originally posted by Dailybread:

Originally posted by CEW:
What do you make of Luke being the only one to record that this woman was a prostitute?

Well, I've heard it taught that the reason Luke was so detailed in his writings is due to him being a doctor and it came naturally. I really don't have any thoughts on why he would be the only one.

One school of thought is that it was done to discredit her; that she really wasn't a prostitute at all.