Breaking the Alabaster Jar: True Worship and Sacrifice
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the profound story of the woman with the alabaster jar from Mark 14. This woman, despite societal norms and the judgment of others, broke an expensive jar of perfume and poured it over Jesus, anointing Him for His burial. Her act of worship was not just a simple gesture; it was a complete surrender of her most valuable possession, symbolizing her total devotion and love for Jesus. This story challenges us to reflect on our own lives and consider what we are willing to offer to God. Are we giving Him our best, or just the leftovers?
We all have an "alabaster box"—our dreams, hopes, and treasures. The question is, are we willing to break it open and pour it out at Jesus' feet? True worship requires sacrifice and a heart fully committed to God. It's not about the quantity of what we give, but the quality and the spirit in which we give it. The woman’s act of breaking the jar signifies breaking away from materialism and embracing the spiritual richness of God's presence.
Moreover, the story highlights the importance of worship in our lives. Worship is not just a Sunday activity; it’s a lifestyle. It’s about giving God our time, talent, and treasure. It’s about making Him the priority in our lives, not just an afterthought. The woman’s worship became her legacy, remembered and discussed for generations. Similarly, our worship can leave a lasting impact, not just on our lives but on those around us.
In a world that often prioritizes material wealth and personal gain, this story reminds us that true fulfillment comes from a heart fully surrendered to God. It challenges us to evaluate our own lives and ask ourselves, "What am I willing to give to God?" Are we like the woman, willing to give our all, or are we holding back, giving God only what’s convenient?
### Key Takeaways
1. True Worship Requires Sacrifice: The woman with the alabaster jar gave her most valuable possession to Jesus, symbolizing her total devotion. True worship is not about convenience but about giving God our best, even when it costs us something significant. [32:40]
2. Worship is a Lifestyle, Not an Event: Worship should permeate every aspect of our lives, not just be confined to Sunday services. It’s about consistently giving God our time, talent, and treasure, making Him the priority in our daily lives. [41:43]
3. Breaking the Alabaster Box: The act of breaking the alabaster jar signifies breaking away from materialism and embracing spiritual richness. It’s a call to surrender our dreams, hopes, and treasures to God, trusting Him with our future. [39:41]
4. Legacy of Worship: The woman’s act of worship became her legacy, remembered and discussed for generations. Our worship can also leave a lasting impact, influencing not just our lives but those around us. [49:14]
5. God Deserves Our Best: We often give God what’s left after we’ve taken care of our own needs. This story challenges us to give God our best, not just the leftovers. It’s about prioritizing Him in our lives and showing our love through sacrificial giving. [55:51]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[29:11] - Equipping the Saints
[29:49] - Be a Light Wherever You Are
[30:20] - Small Groups and Outreach
[30:56] - The Alabaster Jar
[31:35] - Criticism of the Woman
[32:11] - Jesus' Defense of the Woman
[32:40] - Is it Waste or Worship?
[34:16] - The Fragrance of Your Life
[35:43] - Prophetic Fulfillment
[37:12] - Mark’s Perspective
[39:41] - The Fragrance of Worship
[41:43] - Commitment in Worship
[44:43] - The Presence of God
[49:14] - Legacy of Worship
[55:51] - Sacrificial Love
[01:00:53] - Extravagant Worship
[01:03:50] - Criticism and Worship
[01:10:12] - Offering to God
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Mark 14:3-9 (NIV)
> "While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, 'Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor.' And they rebuked her harshly. 'Leave her alone,' said Jesus. 'Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.'"
#### Observation Questions
1. What was the woman's act of worship in Mark 14:3-9, and how did those present react to it?
2. According to the sermon, what does the breaking of the alabaster jar symbolize? ([39:41])
3. How did Jesus respond to the criticism of the woman's act? ([32:11])
4. What does the sermon suggest about the importance of worship in our daily lives? ([41:43])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think the woman chose to break the alabaster jar and pour the perfume on Jesus, despite knowing it would be criticized? ([31:35])
2. How does the sermon explain the concept of worship as a lifestyle rather than just a Sunday activity? ([41:43])
3. What does the sermon suggest about the legacy of worship and its impact on future generations? ([49:14])
4. How does the story of the woman with the alabaster jar challenge our understanding of materialism and spiritual richness? ([39:41])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own "alabaster box"—your dreams, hopes, and treasures. What are you willing to break open and pour out at Jesus' feet? ([40:57])
2. In what ways can you make worship a part of your daily life, not just something you do on Sundays? ([41:43])
3. Think about a time when you gave God only what was convenient. How can you start giving Him your best instead of the leftovers? ([55:51])
4. How can you ensure that your worship leaves a lasting impact on those around you, similar to the woman's legacy? ([49:14])
5. Evaluate your priorities: Are you more focused on material wealth and personal gain, or on spiritual richness and devotion to God? How can you shift your focus if needed? ([39:41])
6. Identify one specific area in your life where you can make a sacrificial offering to God this week. What steps will you take to do this? ([55:51])
7. How can you encourage others in your small group or community to embrace a lifestyle of worship and sacrificial giving? ([30:20])
Devotional
Day 1: Sacrificial Worship
True worship requires sacrifice, as exemplified by the woman with the alabaster jar who gave her most valuable possession to Jesus. This act of devotion was not about convenience but about giving God her best, even when it cost her something significant. The woman’s willingness to break the jar and pour out the perfume symbolizes a heart fully committed to God, willing to surrender everything for Him. This challenges us to reflect on our own lives and consider what we are willing to sacrifice for our faith. Are we giving God our best, or just what’s left over after we’ve taken care of our own needs? [32:40]
Mark 14:3-4 (ESV): "And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. There were some who said to themselves indignantly, 'Why was the ointment wasted like that?'"
Reflection: What is one valuable thing in your life that you find difficult to give up for God? How can you take a step towards offering it to Him today?
Day 2: Worship as a Lifestyle
Worship should permeate every aspect of our lives, not just be confined to Sunday services. It’s about consistently giving God our time, talent, and treasure, making Him the priority in our daily lives. The woman with the alabaster jar demonstrated that true worship is a lifestyle, not an event. Her act of worship was a daily commitment to prioritize Jesus above all else. This calls us to evaluate how we can integrate worship into our everyday routines, ensuring that our devotion to God is evident in all that we do. [41:43]
Romans 12:1 (ESV): "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."
Reflection: How can you incorporate acts of worship into your daily routine this week? What specific changes can you make to ensure God is a priority in your everyday life?
Day 3: Breaking Away from Materialism
The act of breaking the alabaster jar signifies breaking away from materialism and embracing spiritual richness. It’s a call to surrender our dreams, hopes, and treasures to God, trusting Him with our future. The woman’s willingness to break the jar and pour out its contents represents a profound trust in God’s provision and a rejection of material wealth as the source of security. This challenges us to examine our own attachments to material possessions and consider how we can shift our focus to the spiritual richness found in God’s presence. [39:41]
Matthew 6:19-21 (ESV): "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Reflection: What material possession or dream are you holding onto tightly? How can you begin to trust God with it and focus on the spiritual richness He offers?
Day 4: Legacy of Worship
The woman’s act of worship became her legacy, remembered and discussed for generations. Our worship can also leave a lasting impact, influencing not just our lives but those around us. Her story challenges us to consider the legacy we are leaving through our acts of worship. Are we living in a way that others will remember our devotion to God? This calls us to live intentionally, ensuring that our worship is not just a private act but one that inspires and influences others to draw closer to God. [49:14]
Hebrews 13:15-16 (ESV): "Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God."
Reflection: What kind of legacy do you want to leave through your worship? How can your acts of worship today inspire and influence those around you?
Day 5: Giving God Our Best
We often give God what’s left after we’ve taken care of our own needs. This story challenges us to give God our best, not just the leftovers. It’s about prioritizing Him in our lives and showing our love through sacrificial giving. The woman with the alabaster jar demonstrated this by giving Jesus her most valuable possession, showing that He was her highest priority. This calls us to evaluate our own priorities and ensure that we are giving God the best of our time, resources, and talents. [55:51]
2 Samuel 24:24 (ESV): "But the king said to Araunah, 'No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing.' So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you have been giving God the leftovers? How can you start giving Him your best in that area today?
Quotes
1. "Everybody is a light Wherever God places them It doesn't matter your level of faith Well, I don't know 50 scriptures like Brother Norman Or I don't know everything about the Godhead Or everything If you keep waiting, you'll never get it Use whatever God has given And pour it into you And pour it into somebody else The moment that you just keep it to yourself Is the moment you stay stagnant And you stop growing But the Bible says give and you shall receive Give of what you have Give of your anointing Give of your knowledge Keep encouraging somebody That wherever God places you Whatever job situation Wherever hobbies that you have Be a light wherever God places you." [29:49] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "If you were carrying a cup of perfume you were going to develop a sweet fragrance or are you going to develop a coffee and somebody bumped into you whether it was life or whether somebody jammed into you whatever it's in the coffee whatever is in the cup is going to come out whether it's coffee or whether it's anything orange juice it doesn't matter what it is and whatever is in your cup is bound to come out through life's struggles through life's difficulties through the situations that we put ourselves in life you don't have to tell people who you are they'll smell your fragrance and people get around you what fragrance do you give off is it a bitter fragrance is it a sweet fragrance." [34:16] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "We all have an alabaster box. We all have those things that we hold dear and precious to us. We all have a place inside of us where we place our things. Our thoughts and our hopes and our dreams. We all have an alabaster box. Something of such precious. Sometimes we place our trust in the wrong things. Sometimes we place our trust in the wrong people. Things that have left nothing but scars and regrets. People that didn't understand the value that we placed in them. And now here she is saying, I take all of my dreams. I take all of my hopes. And I place it. At Jesus' feet. I'm safe in his presence. I no longer have to worry about my future. Because I know the one who holds my future." [40:57] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Her goal was to empty herself out and pour everything she had to Jesus. David must have understood it, which is why David said, and David's entire goal was to bring back the presence of God. That as soon as David became the king, his first goal was to bring back the Ark of the Covenant, which was representing the presence of God. It was David said that I'd rather be just a doorkeeper. I don't even have to be a king. I'd rather be just the one that opens the door. Anything that can keep me near his presence." [44:43] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Do you know him or do you know just about him? And God said what she is doing. Don't stop her please. What she's doing is a beautiful thing. What must it take for God to look at our worship? For God to look at our offering. And say it's a beautiful thing. It's a beautiful thing what they're doing. Could you imagine if your worship got God's attention. That he stopped the party and says don't stop. It's a beautiful thing that she's doing. Because you can come to church and not worship. What she has done will always be remembered. Her worship became her legacy in her life. If you don't worship you'll never truly experience God. That's the only connection you have to God. Is when you decide to worship." [49:14] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "What are you going to do with what God has given to you? What are you going to do with what God has given you? It was David that asked the question in Psalms. Psalms 116. 12. It says. What can I offer the Lord? For all that is done for me. David is trying to think. Put himself in his place of. What can I offer God? David you're royalty. David you're a king. God's not interested in my position. What do I offer God? What can I offer God? For everything that he's done for me. One version says. What can I return to God? What can I return to God? I was thinking we all have three things that we can give to God. We all have three things that we can give to God. Our treasure. Our talent. And our time. Those are the three things that you can return to God. Your treasure. Your talent. And your time." [50:35] (67 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "Nothing expresses love like sacrifice. My kids are not impressed with the toy that I buy them. The only way I can build a relationship with my kids. Is when I devote time to them. Yes they'll appreciate the toy. For two days. But the only way you can build a relationship with someone. Is when you decide to invest your time in them. Nothing says I love you more than. When you give someone your time and your attention. Even when you're busy. You make sacrifices. And if you think about it. We live in a society that just wants to be so busy. We make ourselves busy. If we're not busy. We find reasons to be busy. And we have so much pulling at us. And we have so much just pulling at our attention. And we always say first this and first this. And later if I have time I might go to church. Later if I have time. When I'm ready I'll come to God. But love is an action. Love is self-sacrificing." [54:28] (71 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "You must not know him like I know him. You'll never appreciate. It's a waste for you, but it's my worship. It's my worship because I know who he is. Angel, would you come? And the Bible says they rebuked her harshly. And yet the people that are doing the rebuking are fellow believers. Sometimes it's those that are closest to you that criticize what you're doing. Sometimes it's those that even carry a big Bible that think they know everything about it and they start criticizing you. They start calling what you offer God a waste and unnecessary. But the Bible says they rebuked her harshly. But the Bible says you shall love the Lord your God with all your mind, your heart, your soul, and your strength. Would you say I give them all?" [01:03:50] (59 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "I used to wonder why they got so loud in here sometimes. Why would they shout and get so excited? But I didn't really understand that they knew God on a different level. In fact, the Bible says for those that He forgave much, they love Him much. And those that He forgave just a little bit, because they think they're justified. They just worship God with the leftovers. They're happy with just giving a little bit, 30% of the time. I'm not going to give God a year's worth of my wages. I might give Him a dollar. Sometimes you don't know. You weren't there when I cried myself to sleep. You don't know the nights that I was full of anxiety and I was stressed out not knowing could God hear me, did anyone understand me. I felt so lonely in my place." [01:05:23] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "You could be sitting down next to someone, for someone that God has forgiven so much for. And you're living through their life. I've seen some people get healed and yet walk away. And I wonder, did you miss who God is? Are you only interested in the things that God does? Or do you come to God and say, God, whatever I have it's yours. What I loved about this scripture is that as the disciples were buking her, telling her making her feel so small. waste it's unnecessary you don't need to do all of that she didn't answer she didn't answer a word when you're lost in worship you don't have to fight your battles because the very next verse says that jesus rebuked them jesus rebuked them and the bible says in john 4 23 says but the hour is coming and now is when the true worshipers will worship the father in spirit and in truth for the father he came looking for those that will worship in spirit and in truth." [01:06:59] (91 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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