The Alabaster Box Scenario
3 Scenes from Matthew 26
1: Man’s Will vs. God’s Will
Matthew tells us that this Alabaster box scene takes place while Jesus is in Bethany at the house of Simon the Leper. This is right during the same time when the chief priests, scribes, and elders of the Jews have a master plan to kill Jesus. Notice how they do NOT want to do that until AFTER the Passover Feast:
Matthew 26:4-5 And plotted to take Jesus by trickery and kill Him. But they said, “NOT during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.”
In contrast, Jesus told His disciples that in two days He would be crucified on Passover (Mat 26:1-2). It was God’s predetermined will from before the foundation of the world for Jesus to be the Lamb of God for all mankind (1 Peter 1:19-20). Even despite all these religious leaders’ evil planning, the will of God still prevailed and triumphed! Jesus, the True Passover Lamb (1 Cor 5:7), was sacrificed for us at the perfect time – right on Passover day! How awesomely perfect!
2: Jesus Meets a Leper at Both the Start and the Finish of His Ministry
Touching and healing a leper is the first miracle of Jesus that Matthew tells us about in his Gospel. It is quite interesting that Matthew 26 explains that the last person Jesus visited before His crucifixion was Simon the Leper (who most likely had been healed by Jesus).
Consider also that all the religious leaders and devout Jews in the land were very busy cleansing their bodies to celebrate the Passover. In contrast, Jesus, the True Passover Lamb, takes His body into the most impure setting imaginable—a leper’s house! Furthermore, Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice of His body on the Cross provided the most important cleansing of all: “…the Blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). How amazing!
3: Gifts at Both the Start and Finish of Jesus’ Life on Earth
Matthew tells us about how the Maji came to worship and offer the young child Jesus three very costly gifts. In Matthew 26, we see another very costly gift given to Jesus just before His earthly life ends on the Cross. It is an alabaster box which Mary broke in order to pour out all of its contents, a very expensive and fragrant oil, upon Jesus’ head and body:
Matthew 26:12-13
For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial.
Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.
Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Jesus, the True Passover Lamb to be sacrificed for us (1 Cor 5:7)! When I discover in Your Word just how perfectly You arranged all these amazing details to provide such a rich and full salvation, I find great assurance knowing that You will have no problem perfectly arranging the details of my life, as I surrender my will to You.
Dear Jesus, I break the alabaster box of my life before You in an act of love, worship, and full surrender. Thank You for being my Savior, Redeemer, and Lord!
Holy Spirit, as I pour out the alabaster box of my life at the Cross, thank You for transforming and empowering me and my witness (Acts 1:8). Cause the fragrance of Christ to flow in and through me so that others can be drawn to Jesus just as God’s Word promises:
2 Corinthians 2:14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
