Friday 5 June 2009

THE WOMAN WITH THE ALABASTER JAR

THE WOMAN WITH THE ALABASTER JAR


When I started researching this bible account, I asked the Lord what he wanted to teach me, I read the accounts from Mathew 26:7-13, Mark14:3-9, Luke 7: 36-50 John 12-1 -7. The Matthew account is different to the other 3 accounts and maybe people get confused with them and believe it is the same woman.

The woman in Matthews account came into the house of Simon the leper, where Jesus was found to be reclining at the table, as were many other men.

The unthinkable happened when this woman entered the room; this was considered unconventional in the Middle East and was totally against local custom, as a woman’s place was in the kitchen. However this woman had such a desire to see her dear Lord…. such a longing to be with him…. she just needed to show how much she loved and cherished him.

She longed for him to notice her, so she went up to him without saying a word, and broke open the alabaster jar that was full of very expensive perfumed oil, most likely worth a years wages, and lavished on Jesus.

For her nothing was too extravagant, as she wanted to give her Lord every thing she had, so she held nothing back. Maybe we can ask our selves, would we have done the same? Or would we have just poured a little on his head? She was willing to be ridiculed by all the men in the room, as she was not only a woman but a woman of many sins.

It is highly possible that the money she paid for the oil was obtained by her sinful life style, but we never hear the Lord say to her go away, woman you are not fit to anoint my head with oil.

Would we as humans judge her? Maybe ask how could the Lord accept this gift from a woman who had led a sinful life style? When we read the account in Matthew 26, Jesus was aware that the disciples were thinking that what she did was a waste of expensive oil, but his reply to them was, she has done a beautiful thing to me.

He then turned to Simon the leper and said, you did not give me water for my feet, but this woman wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair, and that was something a woman was not permitted to do, as her hair could only be taken down and uncovered for her husband; but this wonderful woman was willing to risk everything for her Lord.
This woman knew that in her small way, she had given her all to him by pouring this very expensive oil over his head and anointing his body, also we need to remember she never kept anything back for herself.

She must have known that in just 2 days he was going to pour out his life for her and the rest of the world so because of her great faith and much love, Jesus told her that her sins were forgiven. After that he then told her that because of her great faith and love for him her story would be told in all the earth in memory of her.

I learnt from this that no matter how broken or worthless we may feel, we can be assured our loving LORD JESUS CHRIST will always be there for us, he can totally change our lives around. Just one touch from the king changes every thing. When some people come to the LORD they are so poor they think they have nothing to give to him but he wants nothing from them except for their love.

I believe this account of the woman with the Alabaster Jar is saying; Stop looking back at the past and look forward to the future, live every day with the LORD, HOLDING NOTHING BACK, but give all we can to our dear faithful lord, who when he was dying on the cross knew very well he was dying for sinners like us.

He was well aware of who he was dying for as he knew us all before creation Ephesians 1; he choose to die for us, so what right do we have to tell him we are not worth anything, especially as he looks at us with the eyes of love.

That is why he gave everything up, so that we could come to know him and have life in abundance, he chose to come to the earth as a servant king, so is he asking too much of us when all he wants is our love and obedience?

I love the way the Lord always lifts up the broken hearted and the needy. He loves the poor just as he truly loves us all. I am so pleased I HAVE COME TO REALLY KNOW HIM. I spent 52 years as a JW but I never really knew Jesus as I DO NOW.

I JUST want to let every body know how wonderful he is. Some people ask me how they can GET TO know him. The way I have got to know him is to PRAY AND READ HIS WORD and talk to him like he is right by my side. I thank him for dying on the cross so that we can live and have eternal life; I thank him for listening to us when no one else can help, I thank him for all he has given us.

Jesus said himself that the sheep would hear his voice, so to be one of his sheep we must hear his voice, take time to listen to him and speak to you, train your ears to hear his still small voice.
Never think he is too far away for you for him to hear you, you just need to ask him into your life, and you will never be lonely again. Remember Jesus said ask and it will be given to you, so nothing you ask is impossible for him, but remember if what you are asking him for is not in accord with his will, he will direct you in another way.

So loved ones of the Lord wait and see your life change, ask him what he thinks will be best for you. Learn to trust him; it’s only when we think we can trust our selves or others, that life takes a wrong turn.

Please pray and ask the LORD to direct your steps tell him you want to get to know him, like the woman with the Alabaster Jar…tell him how you want to get to know him and love him.

I DEARLY HOPE BLESSED ONES THAT THESE few words will bring you closer to our LORD.

Let me know how the LORD has changed your life and what you heard him say to you.

Love and blessings in Yeshua’s dear name


Christine Hall

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