The Precious Anointing of Christ

“…there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious;

and she break the box and poured it on His head.”

(Mark 14:3)

I believe that the reason we remember what Mary did, is not the preciousness of the alabaster box nor the value of her fragrant oil but the body she anointed and because the Gospel is all about the life, death and resurrection of Christ. Her name is remembered in association with the body of Christ which means His death. “She hath done what she could: she has come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. Verily I say unto you, ‘Whosesoever this Gospel shall be preached throughout the world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.” (Mark 14:8-9) By the Spirit’s direction, she broke the precious box and poured the precious oil on Christ’s head. Christ wasn’t dead yet but by the Grace of God she saw the preciousness, the tremendous worth of the LORD’s death and what He was going to accomplish for her sins. When that became clear to her, nothing else mattered. In Philippians 3:8, when Paul saw Christ and understood that in Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, He gave everything up for, as he says: the excellency of Christ. Christ and Him Crucified is ALL to the Father and ALL to His people that He has saved by His Grace alone.