In the time of Jesus’ life on earth, it was a tradition that when a girl was ready to get married, her family bought a box made of alabaster, filled with very expensive ointments, which smelled very good. The size of the box and the value of the ointment showed the family’s wealth.
The girl would break the alabaster box at the man’s feet when he asked for her hand in marriage. This was called an “anointing“. By doing this, the girl showed him honour and made a promise to him – a promise that she will love him and give all she has to him, her whole being.
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.
Mark 14:3-6 NIV
When the woman in Mark broke her alabaster box at Jesus’ feet, she did an act of faith. She proclaimed that He is her one true love and she would honour Him above all others. She gave her all to Him.
And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him.
Romans 12:1 NLT
As this woman, give all you have – your dreams, hopes, your life – to Jesus.