God Is Pouring Out His Alabaster Box – Nancy Shupp
“There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.” Matthew 26:7.
When we read this story, we tend to concentrate on the woman and the cost of her sacrifice. But it must have been a very poignant moment for Jesus. He recognized her act as being that of anointing Him for burial. Can you imagine the different emotions Jesus might have felt as He thought about the culmination of His work on earth? Surely there was elation that He would finally fulfill His purpose and purchase our redemption. There must have been joy as He knew that he would soon be re-united with the Father, never to be separated again. I believe He was thrilled as He thought of the Father’s pleasure and pride as He welcomed Him home.
But I suspect there may have also been some thought of the horror of what was ahead. He knew that every force of Hell would be unleashed against Him to try to prevent Him from accomplishing His destiny. All the devil had to do to defeat God once and for all was to foil His plan of redeeming man back to Himself. If he could cause Jesus to sin or stop Him from being able to give His life willingly for us, he would finally have his revenge on God for throwing him out of Heaven. And even though Jesus knew all this before, the nearness of this epic struggle for the souls of men must have weighed heavily on Him. I wonder if He had any doubts about whether He would be able to endure the assault and come forth victorious.
I started thinking about all the forces of hell being released against us as we are endeavoring to fulfill our calling. Will we be equal to the task? Can we finish our course in victory and obtain the prize as Jesus and Paul did? Most of the time, I feel so inadequate, weak and sinful that it seems hard to imagine even standing in the face of the final onslaught of the enemy, much less being victorious.
As I was meditating on this, I saw the Father reach for an alabaster box and begin pouring it out on His children. Somehow I knew that it had been kept in reserve for such a time as this when the enemy is pouring out the full cup of his wrath because he knows his time is short. Knowing the great value and cost of the contents of the alabaster box with which the woman anointed Jesus, I couldn’t imagine what the contents of God’s alabaster box was or the power of its anointing. What would have the same value to God as the precious ointment did to this woman?
Suddenly I knew that the contents of God’s box and the end-time anointing He is pouring out are His great love for us. His box is filled with a love that allowed Him to watch as Jesus was mocked, spat on, beaten and crucified. A love that didn’t unleash His wrath or judgment even as He heard His dear Son cry in anguish “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me”. It contains a love that forgives those that curse Him and rebel against His ways when they simply turn to Him in repentance. God’s alabaster box is filled with an extravagant love that transcends our human ability to comprehend.
The disciples got upset when the woman poured the contents of her box on Jesus because it seemed to be a waste to shower so much on just one man. They still didn’t understand the magnitude of the battle ahead. As God’s alabaster box is broken and poured on us, I wonder if the cloud of witnesses will marvel at the lavishness of the love and anointing given to just one generation. Or knowing the ferocity of the enemy we face, will they rejoice at the provision of the Father to enable us to usher our King to the throne as conquerors?
Perilous times are ahead and evil will wax worse and worse. But the ultimate weapon of the Father’s love has been poured out. Those who receive and walk in it will redefine what Christian means. We will be changed so radically that a new vocabulary will need to be established to describe it. The world is about to see a new heart in us that causes their heart to melt with love and desire for the One who loved them and gave Himself for them. Break open your alabaster box and give God your all just as He has done for you.
Nancy Shupp
theshupps@yahoo.com