This is a question I have asked many times. If a lady visits our church and I can’t get to speak to her before she leaves, I will ask anyone sitting close to her, “Who was that woman?” I was in the mall one day with a friend, and a disturbance happened in the food court; immediately, I asked the security guard, “Who was that woman?” When there are extraordinary circumstances I want to know who was involved and the situation’s outcome. Today I asks “who was that woman” in reference to the woman with the alabaster box in Mark 14. Her circumstances were extraordinary.
In Mark 14:3, we find Jesus dining at the house of Simon the leper. While Jesus was reclining for the meal, a woman entered the picture. Some have tried to link her to Mary Magdalene, but that is only speculation. There is no evidence linking her to Mary Magdalene. What we do know is that she had heard about Jesus and was willing to bear the reproach of being where she was not invited.
She comes with an alabaster box. Alabaster is a rare, white, almost transparent stone, and hers contained a valuable, rare perfume oil. We know it was valuable because the disciples were indignant and deemed her sacrifice wasted. In verse 5, they were looking at the monetary benefit that could have been gained. They grumbled because they felt the money gained from selling the ointment, more than three hundred pence, could have been given to the poor.
What can we learn from this extravagant love?
First, she focused on getting to Jesus. This was her primary desire to show her love and worship to Him. She knew there would be reproach for what she was anticipating.
Second, she broke the box, which made it unusable for anything else. This showed her total commitment to sacrificing all of the precious ointment on Jesus. Once broken, there was no turning back. It was a complete sacrifice.
Third, she gave her best. Commentators say these 300 pence were the equivalent of $45.00 to $50.00 in her time period, which would have been around 300 days of labor for the average person. This was a lavish gift, but it was not too much for her Savior. She was surrendering all she had to Him.
Mark 14:3-5 “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.”
While onlookers complained about the waste of such an expensive ointment being poured out on the head of Jesus, He told them to let her alone. Jesus understood her heart and was touched that she loved Him so much. He remarks, “She has done what she could.” Jesus says she came to anoint Him for His burial. Could it be that she understood what He had been trying to tell them? Was her faith strong enough to enlighten her to the coming events of the death of Jesus?
In verse 9, Jesus memorializes her by proclaiming that her act will be spoken of as a memorial to her wherever the gospel is preached. This generous act of surrender and love will cross all barriers of culture, language, and status as it is proclaimed and preserved in the Word of God.
Mark 14:6-9 “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.”
In the text or parallel scriptures, we are not told who this woman was, but we know she loved Jesus extravagantly. What about you? What is your primary desire today? Is your focus on Christ to guide you and help you throughout your day? Are you surrendered to Christ? What have you subconsciously determined is off limits to His control? Is it your money, activities you like, your modesty, your time, or the people you feel you must impress? Is your commitment unwavering? What does it take to get you to miss church? Are you committed to all church services unless providentially hindered?
