Jesus, throughout His earthly ministry, often used simple and ordinary things to bring out a spiritual truth. He spoke of seed & soil, bread & water, light & darkness, and so on. I want to take an episode from just before his incarceration by the mob, subsequent trial and crucifixion when he was at the house of Simon the leper in Bethany to mine out some sparkling gems for spiritual leaders! We find this record in Mark 14:3-9(Mark 14:3-9) “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. And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her. And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. Verily I say unto you, 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.” (KJV)
The Box Itself
The box, of which we are referring, is said to be an “alabaster” box. Alabaster was a sub-variety of lime. It is often found in large deposits around limestone caverns. It is usually white in color and was sometimes used to make containers. Thus, boxes made from alabaster were usually referred to as such because they were made from that material.
The Apostle Paul, when speaking of the gospel in 2 Corinthians 4:7, states, “we have this treasure in earthen vessels”. The costly contents of Mary’s box were encased by an earthen vessel. It behooves us, who shepherd God’s children, to remember that we are but earthen vessels; nothing more! We cannot add one inch to our height, and we cannot make the sun to stand still.
Though only an earthen vessel, we can still be a vessel for God to use. We should carry the gospel to folks all around us. We should not hide the gospel as Paul warned the Corinthian believers in 2 Corinthians 4:3. Pastor, with all your might, strive to be a vessel God CAN use! (2 Timothy 2:21)
The Contents Of The Box
The alabaster box which Mary had was carrying a perfume made of spikenard. The spikenard plant is from the East Indies and its root is used to produce an aromatic liquid. Though the plant has a long, slender stem, it has little ears that are prickly and thus is often referred to as “spikenard”.
Mary sought to anoint Jesus with this costly perfume. When complaints were made according to Mark 14:5, we see that what Mary gave was sacrificial. It was a gift equal to about a year’s worth of wages. Nothing was too much for Mary as she anointed her King of kings and Lord of lords. When was the last time you saw someone or heard of an individual giving a one time gift which altered their standard of living?
We, who are saved by God’s grace, are carrying a treasure (gospel of Jesus Christ/indwelling Holy Spirit) in earthen vessels. May we endeavor to remember this great truth! Anyone who knew of Mary’s box understood that it contained something valuable. May we bear a testimony of the saving grace of Almighty God each and every day!
The Purpose Of Such A Box
The purpose of the box was to contain the perfume in an environment where it would keep until needed. More than likely, it was sealed with wax so the spikenard liquid could not escape or leak out. As Mary had a purpose for her box, so God has a divine purpose for our lives.
Pastor, have you gotten over the fact that God has called you into the ministry. Assuming, of course, He has called you, have you grown stale in your mission of life? Have the souls of those whom you are entrusted become an irritation to you? You must revive yourself upon the truth that you are a divinely filled vessel to carry the precious treasure of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world!
The Fate Of The Box
This box had one purpose and one purpose only. It was to hold the perfume until it was to be used. The box is stated to have been broken. Whether some sort of wax seal was broken, the box was physically broken into pieces, or a combination of both, I am not sure. I do know that nobody present in the room enjoyed the sweet smell of the perfume until the box was broken.
God’s men are no different in this regard. We are to carry forth the message from God. That is our sole purpose in ministry. When God brakes us through our personal worship, trials, sickness, or through some other instrument of His omniscient choosing, He does so that folks might see what we are carrying on the inside! Better yet, they are able to enjoy the sweetness of God’s Holy Ghost as He works in our lives.
Conclusion
There are many ways to apply this great event in our lives as believers. As Jesus so often used simple things to illustrate a great truth, so we have tried to do in highlighting Mary’s alabaster box.
Let us recap… Pastor, you are a vessel, you carry a valuable message, you have one main purpose, and you WILLbe broken! May God bless you as you strive to do His will for your life!
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