When we break our alabaster jar
(Matthew 26:6-13)


What makes our life beautiful and abundant is love. However, humanly love has limit. Only God's love is perfect. When we dwell in the love of God, we can enjoy real happiness. Today's scripture reading tells us a woman who poured her precious perfume on Jesus, who loved Jesus.

1. A woman who broke the alabaster jar to pour her perfumed oil on Jesus

While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head.(verse 7) At that moment, traditionally women preparing a wedding had to collect expensive perfume into the alabaster jar as wedding dowry. However, this woman gave what she had to Jesus because she was so moved by the love of Jesus, which saved her dead brother, Nazarus. Likewise, Jesus loved us so much that he sacrificed himself on the cross. We, who experience the greatest love of Jesus, should live a devotional life, offering the most precious things for Jesus

2. Criticism of Jesus' disciples

When the fragrance was spreading, one of disciples criticized her, saying "Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages." The annual salary of the common people at that time was 300 denary and it was equals to the amount of one-year salary. So she gave Jesus all the things that she had. However, she was rebuked by other disciples. However, she did pour the perfume. When we serve Jesus, we can be criticized by other Christians but we should keep our best efforts to serve Jesus. We should bring our best perfume for Jesus by looking at the cross of Jesus.

3. Jesus’ compliment

Aware of this, Jesus said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. (Verse10) Also Jesus said, " I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."(Verse 13) Likewise, we should live a life being lifted and blessed by Jesus so that we can give glory to the Lord during rest of our life.

4. When we break our alabaster jar
When she broke her alabaster jar, the fragrance of the perfume was spreading to the house. Likewise, when our old person is broken, the scent of Jesus will spread to the world. Therefore, we should break our material-centered ego as well as world-oriented life so that Jesus can be shown through us and be glorified. When our stubborn inner person is dead, Jesus will be glorified.