REVIVAL ON

GOSPEL AND
STEWARDSHIP

 Today, we are seeing one

prophecy of Scriptures being
fulfilled in our generation!
It is Jesus own prophecy
that wherever the gospel is
preached also tell what that
woman with an alabaster jar
had done will also be told
here in memory of her.

SOME DETAILS IN THE STORY OF THE

ALABASTER JAR IN THE FOUR
GOSPELS
GOSPEL

Important
Character

MATTHEW

A woman

MARK

A woman

LUKE

Sinful
woman

JOHN

Mary
Magdalene

Luke adds a
description of the
woman, sinful.
And notice that of all
the 4 gospel writers,
only John gave the
name of the woman.

Woman With an Alabaster Jar:

Mary Magdalene
One of the several Marys in the NT

Marys in the Bible

1. Mary, the mother of Jesus (Matt.

2:11
2. Mary, the mother of James and
John (Matt. 27:56)
3. Mary, the sister of Martha (John
11:1,2) or Mary Magdalene (Matt.
27:56)
4. Mary, the wife of Cleophas (John
11:1,2)
5. Mary, who was greeted by Paul
(Rom. 16:6)

Woman With an Alabaster Jar:

Mary Magdalene
One of the several Marys in the NT
2nd most honored woman with that name
Magdalene, not a surname, implied she
was from Magdala, a town on the shore of
Galilee about 100 miles north of Jerusalem
She was mentioned as one of Jesus
followers (Luke 8:13)
Her name was truly Miriam, the Hebrew
equivalent of Mary
She had seven demons cast from her by
Jesus

Mary Magdalene Myths

(Extra-Biblical Data)

A prostitute, who became repentant.

Secret sensual lover of Jesus.
Wrote Gospel of Mary, a gnostic
literature.
After Jesus' death, Mary was put in a boat
by the Jews without sails or oars, along with
Lazarus and Martha, among others, and
sent to drift out to sea, landing on the
shores of Southern France where Mary
spent the rest of her life as a contemplative
nun.

The Mary Magdalene of the Bible

After the seven demons were sent out from her,
she became Jesus devout follower.
All four Gospels tell she was present at Jesus' two
most important moments: Crucifixion and
Resurrection.
When Jesus was abandoned at the hour of mortal
danger, she was one of the women who stayed
with Him, even to the Crucifixion.
She was the first person whom Jesus appeared to
after His Resurrection.
Days before Jesus death, she anointed Him for His
burial with an expensive perfume in an alabaster
jar.

The

A
L
A
B
A
S
T
E
R
Jar

Alabaster is a
comparatively soft rock
that artisans in Marys
time carved into boxes,
vases, jars or flasks.
Ancient ointment flasks
were usually carved from
light gray translucent
limestone.
Today,

instead of
ALABASTER,
we have
CERAMICS,
GLASS,
PLASTIC for
making jars,

The

A
L
A
B
A
S
T
E
R
Jar

Spikenard was Marys very costly

perfume, probably extracted from
fragrant roots of a plant called
Nardostachys Jatamansi.
We need to understand that the
common ointment of Palestine was
olive oil, and people added to it
spices or other aromatic ingredients

The

A
L
A
B
A
S
T
E
R
Jar

Nardostachys Jatamansi
grows high in the Himalaya
Mountains, and in ancient
times was used as a source
of
perfumes
and medicines.
If Marys
ointment
had come
from the Mountains of
Northern India, it is little
wonder that is was
considered very costly (John
12:3, 5).

Someone has said that. . .

Worship (Praise) is the

act of sacrificially giving
to Jesus something that
which is precious to us.
For the woman described
in this scripture, it was a
container of perfume.
Lets try to find out how
much was its cost.

The

A
L
A
B
A
S
T
E
R
Jar

One Years Income

The value of the
alabaster jar and its
content was 300
Roman denarii. This
was equivalent to 300
working days. In other
words, it was more
than a years wages!
$25,000(83/day),
$50,000( 166/day),
$100,000(333/day)
today. These were

o Lets compare Marys

Perfume with the Most
Expensive Perfumes
today
o Well have a look at the
10 most expensive
perfume beginning from
the 10th.
o We will see how much a
PINT is worth.
o Why a PINT?
o Because that was the
volume, or how much,

10th of Top Ten Most Expensive

Perfume
http://brandlinker.wordpress.com/54-2/

10. Chanel No. 5

Price: per 100 ml $ 234
1 ml = $2.34
30 ml/1 oz. = $69.202
16 oz. = 1 pint
to pint, x 16
1 pint = $1,107
P46,494.00

9th Most Expensive Perfume

http://brandlinker.wordpress.com/54-2/

9. Shalini Perfume
Price: 1 bottle $900.00

8th of Top Ten Most Expensive

Perfume
http://brandlinker.wordpress.com/54-2/

8. Carons Poivre
= $1,127 for 1 pint

7th of Top Ten Most Expensive

Perfume
http://brandlinker.wordpress.com/54-2/

7. Ralph Lauren Perfume Notorious

Price: $3,540 (there is no info about the
volume)

6th of Top Ten Most Expensive

Perfume
http://brandlinker.wordpress.com/54-2/

6. Baccarat Perfume Bottle Les Larmes

Sacres de Thebes
Price: $6,800 (no info about the volume in 1
bottle)

4th of Top Ten Most Expensive

Perfume
http://brandlinker.wordpress.com/54-2/

4. Joy Perfume From JeanPatou

Perfumeby Henri Almras
Price: $800 for 1-oz bottle
16 oz. = 1 pint
$800 x 16
= $12,800 for 1 pint

2nd of Top Ten Most Expensive

Perfume
http://brandlinker.wordpress.com/54-2/

2. Hermes Perfume 24 Faubourg

Price: $1,500 1-ounce bottle
16 oz. = 1 pint
$1,500 x 16
= $24,000 for 1 pint

1st of Top Ten Most Expensive

Perfume
http://brandlinker.wordpress.com/54-2/

1. Clive Christian
Perfume
Price: $215,000
one bottle
The lid, or the seal,
is several carats of
diamond, and so
even without the
content, the item
itself could be
worth that price.

In His mercy, Jesus had (1)

pardoned her sins, He had
(2) called forth her beloved
brother from the grave, and
Marys heart was filled with
gratitude. She had heard
Jesus speak of His
approaching death, and in
her deep love and sorrow
she had longed to show Him
honor. At great personal
sacrifice she had purchased
an alabaster box of
ointment of spikenard, very
costly, with which to anoint

Mrs.
White
comments
on the
costly
character
of Marys
gift:

As I consider Mary and her gift to Jesus

the best she could giveI remember
the song,
I Wonder Have I Done My Best of
Jesus
Id like us to sing this together, and
please meditate on the lyrics and
message of the song.

I Wonder Have I Done My Best of Jesus

Lyrics: Ensign Edwin Young
Music: Harry E. Storrs

I wonder have I done my best for Jesus,

Who died upon the cruel tree?
To think of His great sacrifice at Calvary!
I know my Lord expects the best from
me.
Refrain:
How many are the lost that I have lifted?
How many are the chained Ive helped to
free?
I wonder, have I done my best for Jesus,
When He has done so much for me?
The hours that I have wasted are so
many
The hours Ive spent for Christ so few;
Because of all my lack of love for Jesus,
I wonder if His heart is breaking too.
I wonder have I cared enough for others,
Or have I let them die alone?
I might have helped a wandrer to the
Saviour,
The seed of precious Life I might have
sown

Lets now examine what each of

the four writers said as to where
Mary poured her perfume on
Jesus.

SOME DETAILS IN THE STORY OF THE

ALABASTER JAR IN THE FOUR
GOSPELS
GOSPEL

Important WHERE
PERFUME
Character POURED

MATTHEW

A woman

MARK

A woman

LUKE

Sinful
woman

JOHN

Mary
Magdalene

Head

Matt. 26:7 a
woman came to
him with an
alabaster jar of
very expensive
perfume, which
she poured on his
head as he was
reclining at the
table.

SOME DETAILS IN THE STORY OF THE

ALABASTER JAR IN THE FOUR
GOSPELS
GOSPEL

Important WHERE
PERFUME
Character POURED

MATTHEW

A woman

Head

MARK

A woman

Head

LUKE

Sinful
woman

JOHN

Mary
Magdalene

Mark 14:3 - While

he was in Bethany,
reclining at the table
in the home of
Simon the Leper, a
woman came with
an alabaster jar of
very expensive
perfume, made of
pure nard. She
broke the jar and
poured the perfume
on his head.

SOME DETAILS IN THE STORY OF THE

ALABASTER JAR IN THE FOUR
GOSPELS
GOSPEL

Important WHERE
PERFUME
Character POURED

MATTHEW

A woman

Head

MARK

A woman

Head

LUKE

Sinful
woman

Feet

JOHN

Mary
Magdalene

Luke 7:37, 38
she came there with
an alabaster jar of
perfume. 38 As she
stood behind him at
his feet weeping,
she began to wet
his feet with her
tears. Then she
wiped them with her
hair, kissed them
and poured perfume
on them.

SOME DETAILS IN THE STORY OF THE

ALABASTER JAR IN THE FOUR
GOSPELS
GOSPEL
MATTHEW

Important WHERE
PERFUME
Character POURED
A woman

Head

MARK

A woman

Head

LUKE

Sinful
woman

Feet

JOHN

Mary
Magdalene

Feet

John 12:3 - Then

Mary took about a
pint of pure nard, an
expensive perfume;
she poured it on
Jesus feet and
wiped his feet with
her hair.

SOME DETAILS IN THE STORY OF THE

ALABASTER JAR IN THE FOUR
GOSPELS
GOSPEL

Important WHERE
PERFUME
Character POURED

MATTHEW

A woman

Head

MARK

A woman

Head

LUKE

Sinful
woman

Feet

JOHN

Mary
Magdalene

Feet

WHICH IS
WHICH?
WHO WERE
CORRECT?

Well, Ellen
G. White
solves the
problem for
us. She
says quite
clearly,

Breaking her
box of
ointment, she
poured its
contents upon
the head and
feet of Jesus
Desire of Ages, p.
558.

After Marys act, there was a

complaint. Pouring a very
expensive perfume on Jesus?
Lets see how each of the writers
tells us about it.

SOME DETAILS IN THE STORY OF THE

ALABASTER JAR IN THE FOUR
GOSPELS
GOSPEL

Important WHERE
WHO
PERFUME
Character POURED COMPLAINED

MATTHEW

A woman

Head

Disciples

MARK

A woman

Head

Some Present

LUKE

Sinful
woman

Feet

The Pharisee

JOHN

Mary
Magdalene

Feet

Judas Iscariot

While it appears that Matthew

said it was the DISCIPLES who
complained, while Mark said
some present, and Luke said,
the pharisee referring to Simon,
the host of the feast, John said it
was Judas Iscariot.
From Mrs. White writings, we can
deduce that Judas started it all,
and influenced the disciples,
some present, and the
pharisee.

Judas looked upon this act

with great displeasure.
Instead of waiting to hear
what Christ would say of
the matter, he began to
whisper his complaints to
those near him. . . Craftily
he made suggestions that
would be likely to cause
disaffectionThe murmur
passed round the table, To
what purpose is this
waste? For this ointment
might have been sold for

Mrs.
White
comments
as to who
truly did
the
criticism
and
ridicule:

Jesus stops the criticism and

commends Mary
But Jesus puts a stop to their criticism. He
tells the disciples, particularly Judas, to leave
her alone because she has done a good work
for Him.
He says that they can help the poor anytime
they want, but they will not have many more
opportunities to show their love for Him in
person because, as Jesus had told His
disciples on several occasions, He was going
to Jerusalem to be put to death. . .

Jesus stops the criticism and

commends Mary
Jesus claims that Marys act of devotion will
serve as the anointing for His death. Although
Mary probably didnt intend for her actions to be
interpreted this way, the custom was to first
bathe and then anoint the body of a dead
person. After the body was anointed, the flask
that contained the ointment was to be broken
and laid with the body in the tomb. Jesus knew
that He would be put to death as a criminal, and
thatwithout Marys act--He would be buried
without the proper anointing.

Jesus stops the criticism and

commends Mary
Then Jesus goes on to state that wherever the
Gospel is preached Marys act of devotion would
be discussed and remembered. Why?
There is no gospel to speak of if there was no
death of the Savior. Marys act of anointing Jesus
before His death was part and parcel of it all.
Each time we preach about or listen to a sermon
on Marys alabaster jar, there is a fulfillment of
prophecy of Scripture, like this time.

Id like to end this message by

giving you what I think are the
lessons we can learn from this
story of the woman with an
alabaster jar. I suggest 3 lessons.

Lesson 1
Like Mary, we cant do many
things for the Lord, but certainly
there is something we can do
through the prompting of the
Holy Spirit. Jesus said that Mary
did what she could.
(Mark 14:8)

 We must
never
disregard or
devalue
anyone elses
for the type
or value of
his acts of
service.

Lesson 2

Lesson 3

The alabaster
jar contained
something
that was very
precious, but
as long as it
stayed in the
container, it
didnt benefit
anyone. It
should be
broken and
poured.

As already mentioned . . .
Worship is the act of
sacrificially giving to
Jesus something that
is precious to us.
What would that
something be for
you?
Your money? Your
time? Your job?
What is your
response?