5. Jesus Anointed at Bethany

Mary Anoints Jesus at Bethany

John 12:1-11 

Then six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, who had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. ² So they made him a supper there. Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with him.

³ Mary, therefore, took a pound of ointment of pure nard, very precious, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment.

⁴ Then Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, one of his disciples, who would betray him, said, ⁵ “Why wasn’t this ointment sold for three hundred denarii, and given to the poor?”

⁶ Now he said this, not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and having the money box, used to steal what was put into it.

⁷ But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She has kept this for the day of my burial. ⁸ For you always have the poor with you, but you don’t always have me.”

A large crowd therefore of the Jews learned that he was there, and they came not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead. ¹⁰ But the chief priests conspired to put Lazarus to death also, ¹¹ because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.

Jesus Anointed at Bethany

Mark 14:1-11 

It was now two days before the feast of the Passover and the unleavened bread, and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might seize him by deception, and kill him.  (2)  For they said, “Not during the feast, because there might be a riot among the people.”

While he was at Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster jar of ointment of pure nard—very costly. She broke the jar, and poured it over his head.

⁴ But there were some who were indignant among themselves, saying, “Why has this ointment been wasted? ⁵ For this might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and given to the poor.” They grumbled against her.

⁶ But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for me. ⁷ For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want to, you can do them good; but you will not always have me. ⁸ She has done what she could. She has anointed my body beforehand for the burying.

⁹ “Most certainly I tell you, wherever this Good News may be preached throughout the whole world, that which this woman has done will also be spoken of for a memorial of her.”

Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went away to the chief priests, that he might deliver him to them.  (11)  They, when they heard it, were glad, and promised to give him money. He sought how he might conveniently deliver him.

Matthew 26:1-13 

When Jesus had finished all these words, he said to his disciples,  (2)  “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”  

(3)  Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas.  (4)  They took counsel together that they might take Jesus by deceit, and kill him.  (5)  But they said, “Not during the feast, lest a riot occur among the people.”

Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, ⁷ a woman came to him having an alabaster jar of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table.

⁸ But when his disciples saw this, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? ⁹ For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.”

¹⁰ However, knowing this, Jesus said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? She has done a good work for me. ¹¹ For you always have the poor with you; but you don’t always have me. ¹² For in pouring this ointment on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. ¹³ Most certainly I tell you, wherever this Good News is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of as a memorial of her.”