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What does "the cost of the oil in her alabaster box mean, you ask"? Well, if you will indulge me for a moment I will tell a little story about two women whom you may already know and how one of them knew just how much that price was. The story is about Mary and Martha; Lazarus' sisters. These girls were the queens of hospitality in the bible. Together they could anticipate every need a guest could have. Martha, the eldest, liked to tend to the guests comfort; while Mary, liked to talk more than cook and clean.

Either way you would have been well taken care of in their home. As a woman who has the feeding and talking gene, (that's the way I love on people), I could so relate to these girls. I love to have people in my home; cook a fabulous meal for them (ribs, steak, seafood; you name it nothing is too good for those I love) and just sit for a couple hours and talk and laugh.

Jesus was often a guest in Mary and Martha's home. Could you imagine? Trying to anticipate or meet the needs of Jesus! What would they be? What could He have required that He didn't already have? What would He enjoy eating? What would He like to talk about? What time would He like to turn in at night? Would you put an extra towel by the wash bowl for him? Would you go get your most precious expensive perfume to pour on His feet to wash them and dry them with your hair? Mary did and she got it right. There are two things that Mary did that Martha did not that won her Jesus' praise. She listened to Jesus, when He visited her home and spent precious time with Him; instead of doing busy work, and she responded to His imminent sacrifice and poured her worship out on Him with costly service.

Scripture tells us this particular perfumed oil was made of pure "nard" and was kept in a hand carved jar made of alabaster; the perfumed oil alone could have been sold for more than a year's wages and would have been shocking to just pour it on someone's head and feet. But Jesus wasn't just anybody, and so out of love, respect and devotion she broke the jar and poured her most costly possession out as worship. Some scholars believe Mary understood even better than the disciples why Jesus was going to die.

I often think about Mary as she walked through a room crowded with people who came to not only see Jesus, but her brother Lazarus too; whom Jesus raised from the dead. They thought her frivolous and wasteful (maybe even a little ditzy or flaky, she was the younger sister); judging and scolding her because she just dumped a costly bottle of perfume on Jesus' head and then His feet. What a waste they said indignantly she could have sold that and given the money to the poor, but Mary's act of worship touched Jesus not because she poured expensive perfume on Him but because she offered Him everything that was of value to her with her heart and He called it "a beautiful thing"! That's how I want to worship. I want it to touch Jesus' heart! How tender that must have been when she fell at her King's feet and poured her love out on Him because He would die in her place. She received the forgiveness, acceptance and love that she so desperately longed for.

I wonder, was her face numb from weeping? Was she thinking, "I'm not worth this ransom you will pay for me; it's too high!", "Just a moment longer with Him, please, please don't let this be!" I can't even forgive myself; how could you die for that? I couldn't even die for that!" Yes, she was probably thinking all those things and more. I know where I was when Jesus found me and those are some of the thoughts I had.

Where were you when Jesus wrapped His arms around you and saved you from yourself, do you remember where you came from? Are you weeping? Do you wonder if you are worth the ransom? Jesus says you are and He will stand in for you. Will you believe that and live for your King with love, devotion and respect as though He has died for you?

I have to ask myself, "How have I worshiped Jesus with MY life lately when He so willingly gave me His?" Does He say to the Father in Heaven when they are looking upon all that they are sovereign over and say, "Look there Dad, yep, that one, yeah that real talky one, yeah, she's mine. She's living for me and it's a beautiful thing." Oh how I want to get it right!

How could I possibly ignore someone who has traded places with me when my sin cost Him something I wasn't willing to pay nor even could?

What would you have owed if it were still your bill? Ask yourself, "How much is the cost of the oil in MY alabaster box?" And then live for Jesus!

"I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."

Matthew 26:13