Mood:
amorousNow Playing: Umma23
Topic: Mark 14:3
S. Mark 14:3 3And while He was in Bethany, [a guest] in the house of Simon the leper, as He was reclining [at table], a woman came with an alabaster jar of ointment (perfume) of pure nard, very costly and precious; and she broke the jar and poured [the perfume] over His head.
O. "In the days Jesus was on earth, when a young woman reached the age of availability for marriage, her family would purchase an alabaster box for her and fill it with precious ointment. The size of the box and the value of the ointment would parallel her family's wealth.
This alabaster box would be part of her dowry. When a young man came to ask for her in marriage, she would respond by taking the alabaster box and breaking it at his feet. This gesture of anointing his feet showed him honor."
This story is moving towards the idea of illustrating Jesus as our
Bridegroom. Will we take the most precious dowry and place it at His
feet, follow Him with reckless abandon? I think you probably get the
idea.
She broke the SEAL and anointed him with oil, and that along with the cup of wine, was an agreement to enter under his authority as his wife. The box was a very integral part of their married life, and could not be broken.
The alabaster box had a very sexual connotation in that culture. I have read that women anointed their husbands before or after intimate relations, and that prostitutes would anoint men at banquet gatherings to confirm their availability.
Whatever the meaning, this gift was extremely valuable, not only in monetary terms, but in social and marital terms. It ties very closely with the Song of Songs, and I think the lesson is for me to ask myself if I have given all I have to give to Christ, and if not, am I willing to."
(quoted from: heb_roots_chr@hebroots.org)
A. I have promised myself to Jesus. As the question above says, "have I given all to Him, and if not, am I willing to"? Intimacy with Jesus is the key to a full spiritual life; a parallel to a blissful bride and groom in their intimacy. United as one, I am to be His 'bride', loving, honoring and obeying.
P. Jesus, thank You for choosing ME as Your intimate partner, Your bride. Draw closer to me, my Lord, in intimacy and unity. The closer I am to You, the more alive I feel...both in body and spirit!
