Seamus Hammond
The anointing of Jesus is an event recorded in all four gospels, with the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and John describing the anointing of Jesus' head and John, Luke, and Mark describing the anointing of Jesus' feet. The woman who anoints Jesus' feet with perfume is identified as Mary of Bethany, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, in the gospels of John and Luke, though she is unnamed in Mark's account. Mary's act of anointing Jesus' feet with perfume is seen as a sign of her love and faith, and Jesus defends her from criticism by pointing to the unique opportunity she has to show her devotion.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the woman | Mary of Bethany, Mary Magdalene, Mary Magdalen |
| Identity of the woman | Sister of Martha and Lazarus of Bethany |
| Location | Bethany |
| Date | Six days before Passover |
| Amount of perfume | 12 ounces, 1 pint, 300 denarii |
| Type of perfume | Nard, Spikenard |
| Cost of perfume | Expensive |
| Action | Poured perfume on Jesus' feet, wiped his feet with her hair |
| Significance | Foreshadowed Jesus' actions at the Last Supper |
| Other people present | Judas Iscariot, Martha, Lazarus |
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What You'll Learn
- Mary of Bethany, sister of Martha and Lazarus, anoints Jesus' feet with costly perfume
- Judas Iscariot, who was stealing from the money bag, objects to the act
- Jesus accepts Mary's gesture as preparation for his burial
- The anointing of Jesus' feet is recorded in all four Gospels
- The iconography of the woman's act has traditionally been associated with Mary Magdalene, but there is no biblical text identifying her as such
Mary of Bethany, sister of Martha and Lazarus, anoints Jesus' feet with costly perfume
The anointing of Jesus by a woman is recorded in all four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). The story goes that a woman pours a costly jar of perfume on Jesus' feet, an act of worship and gratitude. In John's Gospel, the woman is identified as Mary of Bethany, sister of Martha and Lazarus.
Mary of Bethany, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, anoints Jesus' feet with costly perfume. This takes place in the town of Bethany, six days before Passover. Jesus is dining with his close friends, and Martha serves the meal while Lazarus reclines at the table with him. Mary takes about a pint (or twelve ounces) of pure and costly nard, an expensive perfume, and pours it on Jesus' feet. She then wipes his feet with her hair, and the sweet fragrance fills the house.
A disciple named Judas Iscariot is present and objects to what he perceives as a waste of expensive perfume. He suggests that it could have been sold and the money given to the poor. However, John's Gospel reveals that Judas, as the carrier of the money bag, sometimes stole from it, indicating that his concern may not have been entirely altruistic. Jesus rebukes Judas, defending Mary's action as an act of preparation for his upcoming burial.
Mary's anointing of Jesus' feet with costly perfume is a significant event in the Gospels. It foreshadows Jesus' own act of washing his disciples' feet at the Last Supper, teaching them about sacrificial and humble service. The gesture also symbolizes Mary's love, gratitude, and honour towards Jesus.
It is worth noting that there are different interpretations and confusion regarding the identity of the woman in the anointing accounts. Some associate the act with Mary Magdalene, but there is no explicit biblical text identifying her as such. The presence of multiple women named Mary in the New Testament, including Mary of Bethany and Mary Magdalene, has led to interpretations that they are the same person. However, John's Gospel clearly distinguishes Mary of Bethany as the sister of Martha and Lazarus, setting her apart from Mary Magdalene.
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Judas Iscariot, who was stealing from the money bag, objects to the act
Judas Iscariot, a disciple of Jesus, objected to Mary Magdalene anointing Jesus' feet with costly perfume. This incident, recorded in the Gospel of John, took place six days before Passover in the village of Bethany. Mary, identified as the sister of Martha and Lazarus, poured a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume, essence of nard, on Jesus' feet and wiped them with her hair. The sweet fragrance filled the house.
Judas Iscariot, who was present, questioned why the perfume had not been sold and the money given to the poor. According to the Gospel, Judas's concern was not genuine compassion for the poor, but rather, he was motivated by his own greed. As the keeper of the money bag, Judas Iscariot had a reputation for stealing from it. His objection to Mary's act was rooted in his own self-interest rather than any altruistic motive.
In response to Judas's criticism, Jesus defended Mary's actions, stating, "Leave her alone! She has kept this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me" (John 12:7-8, NLT). Jesus recognised that Mary's anointing held a deeper significance, foreshadowing his upcoming death and burial.
The anointing of Jesus' feet by Mary Magdalene is a significant event recorded in multiple Gospel accounts, with slight variations in the details. The central message, however, remains consistent—a woman anoints Jesus with costly perfume, and her act is criticised by those who consider it a waste. Jesus defends her, emphasising the importance of her gesture and its connection to his impending death.
Judas Iscariot's objection, influenced by his own dishonest practices, stands in contrast to Mary's selfless act of devotion. His criticism highlights the tension between those who follow Jesus and their differing levels of understanding and commitment.
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Jesus accepts Mary's gesture as preparation for his burial
The story of Jesus being anointed by a woman with costly perfume is recounted in all four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). The woman is identified as Mary of Bethany, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, in John's Gospel. However, in the other gospels, she is not named, and some interpretations associate her with Mary Magdalene.
Six days before Passover, Jesus visited Bethany, where Lazarus lived, and attended a dinner held in his honour. Mary took a jar of expensive perfume, estimated to be worth 300 denarii, and poured it on Jesus' feet, wiping them with her hair. The sweet fragrance of the perfume filled the house.
Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus' disciples, objected to this act, calling it a waste. He suggested that the perfume could have been sold and the money given to the poor. However, Jesus defended Mary's actions, saying, "Leave her alone! She has kept this perfume for the day of my burial."
Jesus accepted Mary's gesture as a preparation for his impending burial. This act of anointing foreshadowed the Last Supper, where Jesus washed the disciples' feet, demonstrating sacrificial and humble service.
The story highlights the significance of Mary's devotion and gratitude towards Jesus, as well as the value she placed on her relationship with him. Her action was an exceptional gesture of worship and love, setting a precedent for how believers should honour and serve one another.
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The anointing of Jesus' feet is recorded in all four Gospels
The anointing of Jesus's feet is recorded in all four Gospels. In the Gospel of John, the woman who anoints Jesus is identified as Mary of Bethany, the sister of Martha and Lazarus. In the other three Gospels, the woman is not named. The story takes place six days before Passover in the home of Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Mary took a jar of expensive perfume, made from essence of nard, and poured it on Jesus's feet, wiping them with her hair. The sweet smell of the perfume filled the house.
This act of anointing has been interpreted as a foreshadowing of Jesus's upcoming death and burial. The perfume is said to have had a standard price of 300 denarii, and Mary's action has been seen as an extravagant and worshipful expression of love and gratitude towards Jesus. Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus's disciples, objected to what he saw as a waste of money, asking why the perfume had not been sold and the proceeds given to the poor. However, Jesus defended Mary's action, saying that she had kept the perfume for the day of his burial.
The anointing of Jesus's feet is also mentioned in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, although the woman who performs the anointing is not named in these accounts. The story in Mark's Gospel is particularly notable for its late addition to the text, appearing for the first time in second-century CE manuscripts. In these three Gospels, the anointing takes place in the home of Simon the Pharisee, and the woman is described as a sinner. The perfume used in this account is said to be the purest of spikenard.
The iconography of the anointing has often been associated with Mary Magdalene, but there is no biblical text that explicitly identifies her as the woman in the story. The presence of multiple women named Mary in the New Testament, as well as the commonness of the name at the time, has led to some interpretations identifying the woman as Mary Magdalene, while others maintain that she was Mary of Bethany.
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The iconography of the woman's act has traditionally been associated with Mary Magdalene, but there is no biblical text identifying her as such
The anointing of Jesus's feet with costly perfume is mentioned in all four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). In the Gospel of John, the woman who anoints Jesus's feet is identified as Mary, the sister of Lazarus. However, there is no explicit mention of Mary Magdalene in this passage.
The iconography and artistic depictions of this anointing have traditionally been associated with Mary Magdalene. This association likely stems from her significance as a follower of Jesus and her presence at his crucifixion and burial. Mary Magdalene is often listed first among the women who supported Jesus's ministry, indicating her importance.
Additionally, Mary Magdalene has been the subject of various interpretations and portrayals throughout history, including as a prostitute, a penitent, a mystic, a disciple, and even as Jesus's wife. These interpretations have influenced artistic representations and shaped her image.
However, it is important to note that the biblical text itself does not explicitly identify Mary Magdalene as the woman who anointed Jesus's feet. The association is based on the cultural and historical context surrounding the interpretation of the gospels and the artistic traditions that developed over time.
While the woman who anointed Jesus's feet remains unnamed in the gospels of Matthew and Mark, the act itself holds symbolic significance. It foreshadows Jesus's death and contrasts the disciples' denial of his impending crucifixion. The anointing also exemplifies the woman's acceptance of Jesus's coming death, highlighting her devotion and faith.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Mary Magdalene poured perfume on Jesus' feet and wiped them with her hair.
Mary poured perfume on Jesus' feet as a blessing. She wanted to show her love and appreciation for Christ.
The act of anointing Jesus' feet with perfume was a gesture of humility and sacrificial service. It also pointed to Christ's identity as the Messiah-King and his imminent death and burial.
