Anointing the Lord’s Feet

Luke 7:37-38

And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

Mary Magdalene was a sinner from whom seven demons were removed (Luke 8:2). When she heard that Jesus was at the Pharisee’s house for dinner, she brought an alabaster box of ointment. Mary stood at Jesus’ feet and started weeping and began to wash His feet with tears. She wiped His feet with the hairs of her head. She kissed His feet and anointed them with the ointment.

Alabaster box is a box made from finely textured gypsum. This expensive box represents the heart of Mary. When she opens the alabaster box of ointment, I think that the whole house was filled with beautiful aroma. She cleaned the Lord’s feet with her tears and wiped them cleanly with the hairs of her head. Then she anointed the Lord’s feet with this expensive ointment. The Lord was pleased by this act of Mary. His precious feet were cleaned and anointed by this sinful woman.

Mary broke her heart before the Lord and wept bitterly. The tears that ran down her cheeks were sufficient to wash the feet of the Lord. She probably was tired of her sinful life that was run down with the seven demons. These demons must have tortured and ravaged her. She must have been convicted in her heart that nobody but the Lord Jesus can set her free. When you know that you have no other way out of your sins, but the way of the Lord who is right before you, this is the kind of reaction that would naturally follow. The Lord was so pleased by her act that He says something to her, which only He can say. Luke 7:48 says “And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.” Imagine the joy in Mary Magdalene’s heart when the Lord spoke these beautiful words. She must have overflowed with tears of joy and her face most likely was shining with this new birth in Christ. She was now set free from the seven demons, her many sins were forgiven and she went from that place in peace and happiness. The same heart that was filled with grief and sorrow moments before was now filled with everlasting joy!

If you are suffering from sins in your life, just break open your heart before the Lord and He will forgive you and you can be totally free from the sinful nature. You will have a new birth in Jesus Christ. You will be filled with the Spirit of God and this Spirit will help you lead your new life with Christ as the chief cornerstone!