CeCe Winans, Alabaster Box | Music Lifts

In the 46th edition of Music Lifts (2024), we’re uplifted by Grammy-winning gospel singer CeCe Winans performing “Alabaster Box.”

Welcome to Music Lifts , a column highlighting songs that encourage, inspire, and uplift the spirit; songs exuding fortitude, positivity, and resolve, even in the face of adversity.  Featured songs aren’t genre-specific; songs may or may not be faith-based. The goal is for these songs to make you feel better – be LIFTED to new heights! So, for the 46^th edition of Music Lifts (2024), we highlight “Alabaster Box” as performed by Grammy-winning gospel singer CeCe Winans.

“The room grew still as she made her way to Jesus /… Some spoke in anger / Heard folks, whisper, ‘There’s no place for her kind.’” Why wasn’t there a place for her kind, CeCe Winans? She was a sinner! Of course, we’re all sinners, not just this woman who came to see Jesus. “Alabaster Box”, the song where those lyrics hail, appears on Winans’ 1999 album, also titled, Alabaster Box.  The celestial ballad was penned by Dr. Janice Sjostran. Christopher Harris produced it. Biblically, the alabaster box appears thrice in the Bible: Matthew 26:7, Mark 14:3, and Luke 7:37. In each scripture, a woman anoints Jesus with an ointment from the alabaster box. Luke specifies she was a sinner.  Despite the criticism and ‘side eyes’ she received for being in the presence of Jesus, Jesus acknowledged the devotion and profundity of her act. Winans adds in the first verse, “And though she spoke no words, everything she said was heard / As she poured her love for the Master, from her box of alabaster.”

Mary Magdalene is attributed to the alabaster box. Despite her sin (prostitution), she became a devoted follower of Jesus. In the second verse, Winans speaks of ‘Mary’s’ change because of Him. “And I spent my days, poured my life without measure, into a little treasure box I’d thought I’d found,” she sings, adding, “Until the day when Jesus came to me / And healed my soul with the wonder of His touch.” Mary lived a worldly life, and experienced an awesome change, thanks to Jesus. In the chorus, radiantly, Winans sums up her (Mary’s) love for Him because he is all-knowing, all-powerful, and merciful.

“And I’ve come to pour my praise on Him

Like oil from Mary’s alabaster box

Don’t be angry if I wish His feet with my tears

And dry them with my hair, my hair.”

Winans mentions the sacrifice made, embodying the sinner saved by grace: “You don’t know the cost of the oil / Oh, you don’t know the cost of my praise.” Supported by gorgeous music accompaniment incorporating orchestra (those lush, soaring strings are utterly sublime), CeCe Winans beautifully uplifts us as she testifies about Jesus’ excellence.  Perhaps this woman was one of the most sinful ever, but Jesus saved her.  And we must all remember that He died for all of our sins. John 3:16 rings true: ¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. “Alabaster Box” is a Christian music blessing that keeps on giving.

CeCe Winans // Alabaster Box // Sparrow Label Third Party / Wellspring Gospel // 1999

CeCe Winans, Alabaster Box: Music Lifts No. 46 (2024) [: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Sparrow Label Third Party / Wellspring Gospel; Monstera Production, Qamar Rehman, RDNE Stock Project, Thomas Ronveaux, Wolrider YURTSEVEN from Pexels; OpenClipart-Vectors, Quốc Hùng Hầu from Pixabay]