She hath done what she could

"After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death.But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people.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." Mark 14:1-9

The alabaster box

Perhaps this box was a family heirloom, something to us females which might have had as much significant sentimental value as actual earthly value. Perhaps it was being saved for "hard times". Perhaps she had saved for it for years and had looked forward to the day of using it for herself. While we do not know those answers for certain, we do know that this alabaster box would not have been easily broken, and once broken had to be used. This was for a one time occasion, such as this. The contents inside were very costly, somewhere around a years salary! Can you imagine breaking your years salary at the feet of Jesus, giving it all to him? Back in John chapter 12 we also see that Mary anoints the feet of Jesus and wipes his feet with her hair. 1 Corinthians says that a woman's glory is her hair, she laid her glory at his feet. He does indeed receive the glory.

No price was too great for her to hold back, not past, nor present, nor future, nor sentimental. She gave it all, she held nothing back for herself. And to think of her attitude in giving this costly ointment. I can imagine, as it seems it was one of eagerly and joyfully giving. We know the Lord loves a cheerful giver and that indeed she was. It was something in her heart to do and was not a sacrifice but rather a honor and delight. The Lord was worth more than all she had and she delighted in this opportunity. While others thought of it as a waste, she did it unto the Lord. We see this passage in each of the Gospels and in Mark 14:9 we see that what Mary did unto the Lord meant so much to him as he says "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.It was an act of love and devotion that brought fragrance throughout the whole house.

Our lives can be compared to the alabaster box. Will we hold back or will we pour our lives out at His feet, no matter the cost. Remember my favorite poem, only one life twill soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last.

I do remember the first time I had ever heard this passage. I thought it to be a wonderful passage but it seems this story of the alabaster box has become one of my favorites. I write not only to you, but to me also. You see much of what I write are things the Lord is working out in my own life as well. I am a work in progress and so are you, but we are longing for that day of perfection. That being said, I should have lots to write about as the Lord does His refining work in my life.

Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.

Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise.

Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.

Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice and let me sing,
Always, only for my King.

Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee.

Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.

Take my intellect and use
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.

Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine.

Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne.

Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store.

Take myself and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee.

"We must not think to keep back any part of the price. Do we give him the precious ointment of our best affections? Let him have them all, love him with all our heart. Where there is true love in the heart to Jesus Christ, nothing will be thought too good, no, nor good enough to bestow upon him. " Matthew Henry