The Alabaster Jar

I know most of us have Biblical characters that we aspire to be like.  Many of us want the boldness and committment of Paul, or the servant heart of Stephen.  Lately, I have been praying to be like a certain woman in the Bible.  I don’t even know her name, but her story is found in Luke chapter 7.

I have read and heard this story many times before, but God really challenged me to take a deeper look the other day.  Basically, what happens is Jesus is invited to have dinner at one of the Pharisees’ houses. A woman who was known for her sin finds out that Jesus will be at this house, and decides to visit him.  She brings an alabaster jar full of perfume, and proceeds to anoint his feet with this perfume while weeping and wiping his feet with her tears.  Jesus then tells the Pharisee that this woman, even though she was sinful, did what the Pharisee failed to do-wash his feet, anoint his head, and greet him with a kiss (all of the things that were customary for a guest).  Jesus then tells the woman that her sins are forgiven, and that she can go in peace.

So why would I want to be like this woman? I see so many characteristics in her that I want in my own life.  Here are a few:

She was desperate for the touch of Christ. This woman wasn’t invited to the dinner.  She wasn’t supposed to be there, but she came anyway.  Maybe that morning she woke up and decided that today was the last day that she wanted to carry her guilt and shame.  She knew that the only person who could help her was Jesus, and so she came to him, and he accepted her just as she was.  Christ accepts us just as we are.  I want this in my own life daily-a desperation for the touch of God.

She brought him everything she had to offer. Even though this woman was sinful, she brought her most precious possession-her alabaster jar.  This demonstrates that she knew who Jesus was, and nothing was too big to offer him.  What is my alabaster jar? What is your alabaster jar?  What am I willing to sacrifice to Christ?  When we finally understand the depth of his love for us, the price he paid, nothing becomes too big to offer to him.  He is so worthy of everything we have-our life, time, and talents.  I want to offer myself, like this woman, as a living sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1-2).

She was broken. I love that the Bible says she wept at Christ’s feet.  I want to have a brokenness about what Christ has done in my life.  I want to weep with repentence and weep with joy and thankfulness.  God promises us that he will not reject a broken and contrite heart, and that he is close to those who are brokenhearted.  I also love that she wept at his feet.  She humbled herself before him. God promises that when we are humble before him, he will lift us up.

She received mercy and grace in her time of need.  Jesus tells the woman that her sins were forgiven! What a relief. This woman is now free from everything that she had done in the past.  The Bible says that this woman was a prostitute.  We are like this woman.  We are all sinners-we have prostituted our own hearts and given them to things other than God.  Fortunately, God, in his infinite mercy and grace sent Christ so that we could be free.  When we believe in Christ, we, too, are forgiven and able to have peace.  In light of this truth, how can I not have overflowing love and thankfulness for God’s mercy?

And finally…I love that this woman doesn’t have a name. Her name is not important in this story, but her actions were.  I don’t care if people know my name, but I do want them to know how I live.  I want my life to be a testimony of the goodness of God.