The Hidden
Jesus -Mary's Broken Box
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Mary had a most unusual box. It was of sealed alabaster, and inside was perfume valued at over $25,000 (a year's wages). Mark 14:4,5 This was a strange box, because in order to get the perfume out, the box had to be broken, and once it was broken, you couldn't reuse it. Mary would only get one chance to use this perfume, so she had to be absolutely certain that whatever she broke open that box for would be worth it! When Mary did break open her box of expensive perfume, it was for a very good reason. She decided to pour it upon Jesus. John 12:1-8 Those who watched Mary do this thought she was being extremely wasteful, but Mary's love for Jesus was so great, she eagerly and gladly did this for him, for he was worth it! |
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As I looked upon Mary's broken box, I could see Jesus, for his body was also broken, Mark 14:22 and out of it flowed the very precious perfume of God's Magnificent Grace! Acts 2:31-33 And just as Mary's perfume filled a "Leper's house," Mark 14:3 & John 12:3 so has the perfume of God's Great Love been poured out over our entire, sin-damaged earth, that all may savor and enjoy His great goodness and love! When Mary's perfume was poured out, everyone in that house could smell it's refreshing scent, but only one person had it physically poured upon them, and that was Jesus. In the same way, everyone on our planet can smell the scent of God's favor expressed through his outpoured love, because "the whole earth is full of his glory," Isaiah 6:3 and our Loving God graciously cares for saint and sinner alike. Matthew 5:45 |
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However, as Christians we not only breathe in the precious fragrance of God's favor and love, but we also have had it poured upon us and into us, for we have received of God's own Holy Spirit, who was poured out freely, extravagantly and lavishly upon everyone who chooses to follow Jesus. Acts 10:45 Mary knew that once she poured out her perfume, there would be no turning back, for her box had to be permanently broken to release it. In the same way, our Jesus had to be broken to release his marvelous gift of Grace that saves sinners, and like Mary, this he willingly did. When Jesus died, he was made "permanently broken," for even though God is going to destroy all sin and remake a perfect Heaven, our Jesus will bear forever the cruel marks of the cross upon his own body. John 20:24-29 & Zechariah 13:6 And yet, even though my Jesus knew he was going to be permanently broken, even into eternity, Jesus said of me "I AM WORTH IT!" And so he willingly and freely and gladly let his body be ripped open in order to save you and me, and out of his crushed body poured out the precious Holy Spirit into your heart and mine. Romans 5:5 |
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And why did Jesus endure all this suffering and pain? Because Jesus saw that after he endured the agonies of the cross, there would be great joy, Hebrews 12:2 and the joy he saw was you and me saying YES! to his extravagant gift of Grace; saying YES! to the outpouring of his Holy Spirit; saying YES! to Heaven and eternal life; and saying YES! to Jesus as our Lord, Savior, Lover and King! Don't let Satan tell you that "You're no good!" or that "You're too sinful!" or that "God really hates you!" Jesus is revealing himself to us as Mary's Broken Box so we might know that our God says "YOU ARE WORTH IT!" Jesus let himself become permanently broken because YOU ARE WORTH IT! and Jesus has poured out his most expensive perfume called Grace because YOU ARE WORTH IT! Jesus has given the very best he has because YOU ARE WORTH IT! All he wants in return for all his hardship, brokenness, scars and pain is your freely given love. |
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