I Am She...the Woman with the Alabaster Box pt. 1

“The room grew still as she made her way to Jesus…”

This line is from the song Alabaster Box by CeCe Winans. I’ve always liked the song as it was something that was relatable and directly from scripture. I never thought that it would be the focus on a lesson that I would teach. Walk with me through this lesson if you will.

Let’s get started with Luke 7:36-50. Here we see this very familiar bible story where the woman essentially interrupts a dinner where Jesus was invited.  She anoints Jesus’ feet, cries on them, and wipes them with her hair. It is interesting that Jesus’ encounters with women are often where forgiveness is extended to them. Jesus tends to deal with nameless women as a means to let us know that at any point we insert our names in the situation. In doing that, we are extended that same forgiveness that Jesus gave. He, in every encounter, can truly become Emmanuel ‘God with us’. 

In most accounts of this particular story, this is the first encounter that Jesus has after the Triumphal entry. He enters into Jerusalem for the Passover feast and is greeted with shouts of adoration. He gets a red carpet styled reception. He is invited to have dinner with a Pharisee. In the other accounts, it is Simon the leper who he is having dinner with. 

I’d like to break down a few details of this story. 

Perfume (spikenard, nard)

Promotes emotional balance

Has a calming relaxing effect on the mind 

The perfume that was in the container

Found in the Himalayas 

Alabaster

This was found in Egypt

When created by hand the box was translucent where you could see through it in the light

Alabaster was harvested in the Valley of The Kings (where most Egyptian royalty was laid to rest)

Contained 

The box of alabaster was something that cost the woman something. ($54,509 in today’s monetary value) Although scripture does not tell us what sins this woman has committed it is reasonable to assume that the sins she committed were sex-related. Whether that means she was a prostitute or committed adultery it doesn’t really matter. She was a woman who was shunned by society. Her story is very similar to the story of the woman at the well. In both cases, no names are mentioned because again one could insert their name into the situation. 

She was a woman who may not have wanted to hear the ugly remarks made about her. She wanted to do what she came to do. What she felt led to do. I feel that she knew what other people said about her. She knew the rumors and the made up stories about her and her lifestyle. The voices of ridicule and condemnation followed her as she tried to live her life in a normal fashion. 

How often is it necessary to remove yourself from the voices of condemnation from others? The voices telling you that you aren’t worthy to enter into His presence…?

Nard or spikenard perfume or oil was something that was costly. The box was a physical representation of her family’s wealth or most likely, in this case, her own wealth. She was a woman that had value. She had materialistic value. Something that was hidden under the sins that she committed.Although she wasn’t the only person to ever commit a sin hers were judged more harshly. Just because a sin is committed under the cover of darkness doesn’t make it less of a sin. 

 The people around her could not see her true value because of the things that were in the way.  Whether it was their own biases and judgements we don’t know. 

But we have to remember…

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have [a]refused him. For[b] the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”  ~ 1 Samuel 16:7

And also...

I, the Lord, search the heart,

I test the [a]mind,

Even to give every man according to his ways according to the fruit of his doings. ~ Jeremiah 17:10

Jesus accepts’ the gifts of our hearts because that’s what he examines. He isn’t looking for perfection but a heart that is pure. A heart that is postured toward him. Jesus dealt with her with graciousness, love and compassion. He saw her inner being and was moved by its pureness. 

Could Jesus’ acceptance of this woman and her gift be because He took a hard look at his lineage and remembered? Did He remember the women that along the way help create him?

Join me in part 2 for a deeper look into this.

I look up, He looks down.

Evelyn Denise