Holy Wednesday Devotion

Comfort Jesus or Comfort the World
(Matt 26:6-13; Luke 7:36-50)

Mark 14:3-9 NRSV

3 While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head. 4 But some were there who said to one another in anger, “Why was the ointment wasted in this way? 5 For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.” And they scolded her. 6 But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has performed a good service for me. 7 For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish; but you will not always have me. 8 She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial. 9 Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.”

There is plenty to Google on this topic. The alabaster box can symbolize giving God our best and our all. This was the women’s “first fruits” in a way. She did not bring the least; she brought her absolute best and most expensive item to pour over a more than worthy Savior. She believed Jesus, she anointed Him even before His death and burial.

The symbolism and significance of an alabaster jar is beautiful. Luke 7 tells the story of a woman who learns that Jesus is eating at the home of a Pharisee. Specifically called out as a “sinner,” the woman displays a beautiful act of reverence and repentance when she enters the house:

“And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.” (Luke 7:37-38, ESV)

A gospel of great sacrifice. A gospel of great love. Forgetting herself, Mary broke her alabaster jar, symbolically showing that very soon the Master would do likewise. Because of His great love, Jesus’ death was the breaking of an alabaster box for us.

The disciples did not appreciate that Jesus would leave them soon and it should be important for them to spend quality time with Him rather than fuss about the selling of the oil/perfume for money for the poor.

Let us pray: Dear Lord Jesus, we pray that we will comfort and adore you and not the world around us.  Let us appreciate the sacrifice you made, as an innocent being, for the sake of all our sins.  This “holy” week provides an opportunity to thank you for the “great sacrifice” and for your words which will lead us to join you at the Second Coming.  We pray that we will not waste the “things” of this world and bring to you our “first fruits” in prayer and in our actions. Thank you for this undeserved opportunity. Amen.

Contributed by Elder George Yanisko