Christ told Mary the meaning of her act, and in this He gave her 563 more than He had received. "In that she hath poured this ointment on My body," He said, "she did it for My burial." As the alabaster box was broken, and filled the whole house with its fragrance, so Christ was to die, His body was to be broken; but He was to rise from the tomb, and the fragrance of His life was to fill the earth. Christ "hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor." Eph. 5:2.

Kristus forklarede Maria, hvad hendes handling betød; og på denne måde gav han hende mere, end han havde modtaget. "Thi da hun udgød denne salve over mit legeme," sagde han, "gjorde hun det som en beredelse til min jordefærd." Ligesom alabast krukken blev sønderbrudt og fyldte hele huset med sin duft, således skulle Kristus dø og hans legeme sønderbrydes. Men han skulle opstå fra graven, og duften fra hans liv skulle fylde verden. Kristus "elskede jer og gav sig selv hen for os som en gave og et offer, en liflig duft for Gud". Ef. 5,2.