2025 Lent Devotional – Day 26

Lent Devotional: Day 26
What is your alabaster?
Mrs. Sonia Daniel

A sinner’s encounter with Jesus
Simon of Bethany invited Jesus at his house, as per the customs of the times, the host/designated person should wash the feet of the guest, kiss them, anoints them before meals, amongst others such customs. However, Simon fails to honour these customs, and while Jesus is reclining, a woman with the alabaster jar, speculated to be Mary Magdalene wets Jesus’ feet with her tears, wipes them with her hair, kisses them and pours perfume brought in an alabaster jar.

Mary Magdalene was a sinner, possibly a prostitute. Making her way to Simon’s house, entering the house amidst the crowds gathered there and reaching closer to Jesus, must have been difficult and uncomfortable. The questionable gazes, sort of rebuking her, must have been hard for her, but such was her resolve that despite these gazes, rebuking murmurs around, she was determined to meet Jesus. And not only meeting Jesus, she wanted to give her best to him, the perfume in the alabaster jar.

She humbled herself, made herself oblivious to the disapproving crowd and focused on Jesus. She not only honoured Jesus but sacrificially offered her most valuable possession, the perfume in the alabaster jar. It was her conscious effort that she wanted Jesus to know how he had impacted and transformed her life. She wanted him to know that she sought forgiveness and presented him with the perfume.

The alabaster jar was considered to be expensive, the perfume even more expensive, perhaps, a year’s wages or her retirement plan. Yet, in a selfless act of love and devotion, she honours Jesus. Dedicating the perfume to Jesus signifies her breaking free from materialistic living and embracing her spiritual connection with Jesus.

What is our alabaster?
Are we willing to admit our sins and seek forgiveness? Are we willing to sacrifice our everything to demonstrate our love and devotion towards Jesus?

We need to break the alabaster jars of our life and pour our best and everything to Jesus.