And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, 38 and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. Luke 7:37-38
There are no unimportant details in Scripture, out of the three women mentioned who anointed Jesus, only account mentions an alabaster flask of fragrant oil. The relevance of describing this kind of alabaster container is because in Bible times wealthy parents would buy the expensive flask filled with fragrant oil for a daughters dowry as a symbol of purity, love and loyalty. When she would become engaged she would take the flask to her husband to be, break it open and anoint his feet to show her purity, love and loyalty to him.
Now for a sinful woman to have an alabaster flask was one thing, but the fact that she came in and anointed Jesus feet was on an entirely different level. But if you read the entire passage (verses 36-50) you will see a beautiful story of forgiveness, love and grace. Her alabaster box was purchased with money she earned selling herself and giving her very soul away. When you read it in the Greek we find out that she had a prior encounter with Jesus and He forgave her sins. And in today’s language that encounter “wrecked” her. Now, she wants to honor and love the One who set her free, restored her dignity, brought clarity to her confused mind and healed her heart to show her gratitude for making her whole again.
When we think about it, we should all have the grateful heart of this woman. Because we all sin and are in need of the Savior to reconcile us back to our Abba Father. When was the last time you worshiped at Jesus feet with such a grateful heart for all He has done for you? What forgiveness and love He has lavished on us, should we not be like this woman and pour out our thanksgiving, praise, worship and honor Him?
Leave a Reply