The Anointing at Bethany

Jesus arrived in Bethany six days before the Passover, the town where Lazarus lived whom Jesus had raised from the dead. A supper was prepared for him there. During the meal, Martha served while Lazarus was among those who reclined at the table with Jesus (John 12:1-2).

Mary took a pound of ointment of spikenard, which the text describes as very costly. She anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The text records that the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment (John 12:3). Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon and the disciple who would later betray him, asked why the ointment was not sold for three hundred pence and the money given to the poor. The text notes he said this not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief and kept the money bag (John 12:4-6).

Jesus instructed Judas to let her alone, stating she had kept the ointment for the day of his burying. He observed that the poor are always present, but he would not always be present (John 12:7-8). The text does not say if the other disciples spoke or what their reaction was to his statement.