The alabaster jar of perfumed ointment has been broken to release the precious and costly contents. The oil was to be saved for burial rituals. But on this amazing encounter a women overcome by her love for Christ abandons all formal protocol and "wastes" the essence on the feet of a living Christ and dries his feet with her hair. A scandalous moment.
In order for the ointment to be used the jar had to be destroyed. One could not simply pour the ointment out and save the bottle as a reminder of what was done. At the exact moment of the alabaster jar's demise, a wonderful essence began to fill the room. The contents were lavished on dirty feet. Usually reserved for a funeral, this ointment was used to celebrate and anoint her Lord while he lived. This is the picture of overwealming love from a grateful heart. This is what it looks like when a sinner meets the Saviour. Always!
At the moment of our brokenness we notice the enticing aroma of Christ lofting up from where Jesus is washing our feet. This is the same Christ who endured the agony of the cross. He has been punished in our place. He has borne our sorrows and our shame. He died for our disapointments and our best efforts. He was crushed for our frustration and our failures. He was bruised for our grief and our guilt. He bled to death for our pain and pleasure. This sacred love has made us right with God. This love is the only reality that saves us; the only one that can.
So as we encounter our broken alabaster shells laying in the dirt, we must understand that the spilling of our inward essence is mandatory on this journey of life in Christ. In our brokenness we identify ourselves with His brokenness and in our spilling out we identify with his emptying of himself. In the full wonder of the aroma of Christ that invades our hearts and minds, we are filled with Life and essence. His life and His essence is in us and expresses itself through us! So reach down and pick up an alabaster remnant and put it in your pocket and smell it often.
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4 comments:
This is an interesting theme you have picked here. What do you mean by "brokenness"? Are you using it in more than one way in more than one place? I realize you may feel it is obvious from what you have written- but I do not think it is. I would be interested to hear you explain what "brokenness" is.
I use the term brokenness to describe the time or times that we come to the end of ourselves and our efforts to make life work. Brokenness is the process that forces us to come to terms with the idea that I have nothing to give to God. I am emptied and desolate. Brokenness is losing all confidence in my ability to manage my life.
This new place and attitude then allows God to begin the process of enlightenment in my life. When I have nothing ... He becomes all I have and we find Him to be enough! Brokenness is the gateway to real life in Christ!
hhhhmmmm, i don't think i've heard you use that one before. i like it.
Kurt the people long for more posts.
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