The Alabaster jar of
spikenard / oil to anoint the Messiah before his death and burial
And while he was in
Bethany in the House of Shimeon the Potter, [a man who had previously had leprosy] as he was reclining, a woman came
who had with her an alabaster vase of
ointment of the best spikenard, very expensive, and she opened it and
poured it on Yeshua's head.
But there were some of the disciples who were displeased within themselves and they said, "Why the loss of this ointment?" "It would have been possible to sell this for more than 300 denarii and for it to be given to the poor." And they were indignant at her. But Yeshua said, "Let her alone. Why are you troubling her? She has done a beautiful deed for me." "For the poor are always with you, and whenever you wish, you can do good for them, but I am not always with you." "She has done what she could, and she has anticipated anointing my body for burial." And amen, I say to you, that everywhere that this my gospel shall be preached in all the world, this thing that she has done shall also be spoken in her memory."
But there were some of the disciples who were displeased within themselves and they said, "Why the loss of this ointment?" "It would have been possible to sell this for more than 300 denarii and for it to be given to the poor." And they were indignant at her. But Yeshua said, "Let her alone. Why are you troubling her? She has done a beautiful deed for me." "For the poor are always with you, and whenever you wish, you can do good for them, but I am not always with you." "She has done what she could, and she has anticipated anointing my body for burial." And amen, I say to you, that everywhere that this my gospel shall be preached in all the world, this thing that she has done shall also be spoken in her memory."
Mark 14:3-9 Aramaic Bible in Plain English
https://biblehub.com/mark/14-3.htm
https://biblehub.com/aramaic-plain-english/mark/14.htm
https://biblehub.com/aramaic-plain-english/matthew/26.htm
https://biblehub.com/mark/14-3.htm
https://biblehub.com/aramaic-plain-english/mark/14.htm
https://biblehub.com/aramaic-plain-english/matthew/26.htm
An alabastron (from Greek (Strong's 211) ἀλάβαστρον; plural: alabastra or
alabastrons) is a small type of pottery or glass vessel used in the ancient
world for holding oil, especially perfume or massage oils. They originated in ancient
Egypt as containers carved from
alabaster – hence the name.
The precious
spikenard oil held in alabaster was
used to anoint Christ before his death and burial. The fragrance infused the
dwelling and prepared the way for the greatest sacrifice and miracle to come –
the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Gospel accounts before the Passover (Jesus’ death) with Mary, Martha and
Lazarus (siblings):
·
Matthew 26:6-13
·
Mark 14:3-9
·
John 12:1-8
An earlier account of alabaster
and oil - Luke 7:36-50 speaks of the house of Simon the Pharisee rather than
the house of Simon the leper. This event occurred about a year before the
crucifixion in the area around Galilee (Luke 7:1, 11). The woman here was
forgiven of many sins, but her name is not given.
You cannot talk about Egypt without mentioning alabaster, an
artistic handicraft that boasts a millenniums old history and a noble tradition
that can be felt in almost every nook and cranny of the country. The secrets of
the manufacture of this warm and luminous stone have been handed down from
generation to generation, throughout the ages, and still represent one of the
pinnacles of Egyptian handicrafts.
The world is fascinated by the customs of Egypt. It is especially noteworthy as the biblical month of Abib
(Nisan) starts. The beginning of God’s
spiritual calendar – marking the New Year. Even this month takes us back to Egypt. The time of rebirth – the start of the growing
season. It was the time release for the Hebrew captives as God rescued them
from their years of slavery and came out of Egypt.
Exodus 12:1-2, 13-14
“And
the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in
the land of Egypt saying,
This
month shall be unto you the beginning of months:
it
shall be the first month of the year to you.”
“And the blood shall be to you
for a token upon the houses where ye are:
and when I see the blood, I will
pass over you,
and the plague shall not be upon
you to destroy you,
when I smite the land of Egypt. And this day shall be
unto you for a memorial;
and ye shall keep it a feast to
the Lord throughout your generations;
ye shall keep it a feast by an
ordinance for ever.”
Nard / Spikenard
Greek: νάρδος, νάρδου, ἡ
Hebrew: נֵרְדְּ, Song of Solomon 1:12; Song of Solomon 4:13f)
Sanskrit: naladâ; Persian: nârdîn
Nard (Spikenard), Nardostachys Jatamansi, does not grow naturally in Israel. It is a fragrant East Indian plant, native of the Himalayan region, belonging to the genus Valeriana, which yields a most precious ointment. Nard is a perennial herb that has a long tap roots or rhizomes that are used to make nard. In the Roman Empire, nard was the main ingredient in a perfume called nardinum. From its blackish roots a perfume for the hair is still prepared in India and used in a variety of traditional Indian medicines. Supposedly nard was an ingredient in the Israelite Temple incense.
Spikenard History and Spiritual Meaning | Essential Oils of the Bible
Some news out of Egypt:
The rising of the
statue of Pharaoh out of the mud in Heliopolis
Alabaster Queen statue
discovered on the west bank of Luxor along the Nile River
Earthquake, M4.0 - M3.3 in Cairo - March 25, 2017
Egypt’s former leader, Mubarek, returned home to
Heliopolis
Egypt’ pyramids to
share stage with pharaoh’s boats
In studying the journey of the wise men at Jesus’ birth we were
reminded that the family fled with their young son to Egypt. At the death of the
ruler, Herod, Tetrarch of Galilee and Perea, Joseph, Mary and the boy Jesus
came out of Egypt and returned to
their homeland, settling in Nazareth (Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23). Hosea 11:1 - When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son.
My Deliverer Is Coming - Rich Mullins (Lyrics)
Joseph took his wife and her child
And they went to Africa [Egypt]
To escape the rage of a deadly King
There along the banks of the Nile
Jesus listened to the song
That the captive children used to sing
They were singin'
Hosea 11:1 - When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son.
This attention to Egypt – a major historical power –
restates some important aspects of our Savior’s life.
· - Fleeing to Egypt
as a young child to be protected from the wrath of the ruler Herod.
· - The Via Maris route from Egypt to Damascus that Jesus would have walked along.
· - The alabaster (from Egypt) that contained oil for his anointing
– a reminder of fragrances
he received at birth and the later escape to Egypt.
For us today, the lesson is to come out of “spiritual Egypt.”
(“… spiritually is called Sodom
and Egypt…”- Revelation 11:8)
“And
I heard another voice from heaven, saying,
Come
out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins,
and
that ye receive not of her plagues.”
Revelation 18:4
Out
of Egypt - Part I
Alabaster Jar song by Giovanna Lyssa Cavagnaro
The Great Exchange/The Girl Who Broke the Alabaster Jar - Sarah Liberman
More videos:
Sources:
As I shared Exodus 12:1-2, 13-14 above about the first month a new video came out expanding more on the God-ordained time of year ;-)
1st month - Month of Judah
Additional news about alabaster and Egypt!
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/kidspost/new-pyramid-discovered-in-egypt/2017/04/03/2d2088b0-10d5-11e7-9b0d-d27c98455440_story.html
April 9, 2017 - Part of Egyptian Statue May Have Been Discovered by Temple Mount ‘Sifters’
http://www.jewishpress.com/new
New Spiritual Year begins Abib/Aviv/Nissan 1st Month
https://torahcalendar.com/Calendar.asp?YM=Y2021M1
https://torahcalendar.com/Calendar.asp?YM=Y2021M1
NISSAN 5781 Chalkboard Teaching
