Seamus Hammond
The anointing of Jesus is a significant event in the Bible, mentioned in all four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). The story involves a woman, identified as Mary of Bethany in the Gospel of John, who pours a costly jar of perfume on Jesus' feet, an act of love and preparation for his burial. This event, occurring six days before Passover, is linked to Jesus' imminent death and holds a deeper meaning in understanding his role as the Messiah or anointed one. The gesture of anointing Jesus' feet with perfume and wiping them with her hair is unique and exceptional within the literature of that time.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Identity of the woman | Mary of Bethany, sister of Martha and Lazarus of Bethany |
| Location | Bethany, in the home of Simon the Leper |
| Timing | Six days before the Passover |
| Purpose | To prepare for Jesus's burial |
| Cost | 300 denarii, more than a year's wages |
| Container | Alabaster jar |
| Volume | 12 ounces or a pint |
| Type of perfume | Nard |
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What You'll Learn
- The woman who anointed Jesus's feet with perfume is identified as Mary of Bethany in John's gospel
- The perfume was costly and normally reserved for kings and dignitaries
- Judas Iscariot, who later betrays Jesus, objects and asks why the perfume wasn't sold and the money given to the poor
- Jesus defends Mary's actions, saying that she saved the perfume for the day of his burial
- The anointing foreshadows Jesus's actions at the Last Supper when he washes the disciples' feet
The woman who anointed Jesus's feet with perfume is identified as Mary of Bethany in John's gospel
The anointing of Jesus by a woman is mentioned in all four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. However, the woman is only identified as Mary of Bethany in John's gospel.
In John's account, Mary is the sister of Martha and Lazarus. She anoints Jesus' feet with a costly perfume, wiping them with her hair. This takes place in Bethany, six days before Passover, at a dinner hosted by Lazarus. John describes Mary's act as one of extravagant worship, foreshadowing Jesus' burial and his role as the humble Servant-King.
The other gospels provide similar but distinct accounts. In Matthew and Mark, the woman is not named, and the anointing takes place on Jesus' head rather than his feet. Luke also describes a different woman, referred to as "a sinful woman" or a prostitute, who anoints Jesus' feet and wets them with her tears.
Despite the differences, the central message across the gospels is similar. Jesus defends Mary's action, saying, "You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me," emphasizing the uniqueness of the opportunity she seized.
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The perfume was costly and normally reserved for kings and dignitaries
The perfume used to anoint Jesus was a costly and extravagant luxury. The woman who anointed Jesus is identified as Mary of Bethany, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, in the Gospel of John. In the Gospel of Luke, she is unnamed and referred to as "a sinful woman". According to the Gospel of John, Mary took "a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard" and poured it on Jesus' feet, wiping them with her hair. The standard price of the perfume was 300 denarii, which was more than a year's wages.
The Gospel of Mark also mentions that the perfume was contained in an alabaster jar, which would have been a costly vessel in itself. This act of anointing with expensive perfume is presented as a gesture of love and honour towards Jesus. It is also linked with His imminent death and burial, as Mary is preparing Jesus' body beforehand.
The Gospel of Matthew describes a similar anointing, where a woman pours expensive perfume on Jesus' head. This act is symbolic of anointing a king, and it further emphasizes the honour and respect shown to Jesus. The use of such costly perfume, normally reserved for royalty and dignitaries, underscores the significance of the moment and Mary's devotion to Jesus.
The extravagance of the gesture is also seen in the wiping of Jesus' feet with Mary's hair, an exceptional act of humility and service. This foreshadows Jesus' own act of washing His disciples' feet during the Last Supper, where He teaches them about sacrificial love and service. The costly perfume, used in such a generous and intimate way, becomes a powerful symbol of Mary's devotion and her recognition of Jesus' worth.
The anointing of Jesus with expensive perfume is a significant event recorded in the Gospels. The costliness of the perfume, normally reserved for kings and dignitaries, highlights the unique nature of the moment and the depth of Mary's love and honour towards Jesus. Through her actions, Mary expresses her faith and gratitude, and her story is remembered as an example of sacrificial love and service.
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Judas Iscariot, who later betrays Jesus, objects and asks why the perfume wasn't sold and the money given to the poor
Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ, is known for his betrayal of Jesus. According to the Gospels of Matthew and John, Judas identified Jesus to a crowd who had come to arrest him by kissing him on the cheek and addressing him as "master".
Before this, during a meal at the house of Simon the Leper, a woman named Mary anointed Jesus' feet with a costly perfume, wiping them with her hair. This act was an extravagant display of worship and gratitude, recognising Christ's identity as Messiah-King.
Judas objected to this act, asking why the perfume was not sold and the money given to the poor. According to the Gospel of John, Judas said:
> "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages."
However, this objection was not out of concern for the poor. As the keeper of the money bag, Judas was a thief who helped himself to what was put into it. Jesus replied:
> "Leave her alone. It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me."
This incident is recorded in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, with some variations in the details. For example, Mark and Matthew state that the perfume was poured on Jesus' head, while John and Luke record it as an anointing of the feet. Despite these differences, the central message of the stories is similar.
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Jesus defends Mary's actions, saying that she saved the perfume for the day of his burial
The anointing of Jesus is a significant event in the Bible, recorded in the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The story involves a woman, Mary of Bethany, sister of Martha and Lazarus, who anoints Jesus' feet with a costly perfume. This act carries profound symbolic significance and leads to an important teaching moment for Jesus.
In the Gospel of John, the setting is a dinner at the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, where Jesus is a guest. Mary brings a jar of expensive perfume, specifically spikenard, and anoints Jesus' feet with it. She then wipes his feet with her hair, filling the house with the perfume's fragrance. This act of devotion and gratitude symbolises Mary's love and appreciation for Jesus, recognising his identity as the Messiah-King.
Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus' disciples, objects to this act, questioning why the expensive perfume was not sold and the money given to the poor. However, Jesus defends Mary's actions, replying, "Leave her alone. It was intended that she should save 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, Mark, Matthew). This response highlights Jesus' understanding of the unique opportunity for Mary to express her love and preparation for his impending death and burial.
The anointing of Jesus' feet with expensive perfume is a powerful symbol of Mary's devotion and recognition of Jesus' true nature. By defending her actions, Jesus underscores the importance of her gesture and uses it as a teaching moment about sacrificial love and service. This event also foreshadows Jesus' own act of humility during the Last Supper, where he washes the disciples' feet, demonstrating the same humble service he appreciated in Mary.
It is worth noting that the Gospel of Luke presents a similar yet distinct account, where Jesus uses the occasion of anointing to tell a parable about forgiveness. In this version, the woman is unnamed and referred to as "a sinful woman," emphasising the theme of forgiveness in this narrative. While the specifics of the location and timing differ slightly across the gospels, the central message of Jesus' defence of Mary's actions and the significance of her gesture remain consistent.
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The anointing foreshadows Jesus's actions at the Last Supper when he washes the disciples' feet
The anointing of Jesus's feet with costly perfume by a woman is an important event recorded in all four gospels, though with some variations in the narrative. This anointing, which took place in Bethany at the home of Simon the Leper, holds significant symbolic value and foreshadows Jesus's actions during the Last Supper.
The woman who anoints Jesus's feet is identified as Mary of Bethany, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, in the Gospel of John. In Luke's account, she is described as "a woman in that town who lived a sinful life," often interpreted as a prostitute. Mary's act of anointing is an extravagant display of worship, devotion, and gratitude, recognising Christ's identity as the Messiah-King.
During the Last Supper, Jesus performs an act of humble service by washing the feet of his disciples, including Judas Iscariot, who would later betray him. This action symbolises spiritual cleansing and teaches an important lesson in humility and sacrificial love. Jesus says, "I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you" (John 13:15), emphasising the importance of serving one another with humility and forgiveness.
The anointing of Jesus's feet by Mary foreshadows this act of humble service. By anointing his feet and wiping them with her hair, Mary demonstrates a profound act of humility and devotion, similar to Jesus's action of washing his disciples' feet. This foreshadowing highlights the theme of humble service that characterises Jesus's ministry and the example he sets for his followers.
The anointing also points to Christ's impending death and burial. In defending Mary's action, Jesus says, "You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me" (John 12:8). This statement underscores the unique significance of the moment and the importance of preparing for his upcoming sacrifice.
In conclusion, the anointing of Jesus's feet by Mary of Bethany symbolically foreshadows his actions during the Last Supper. Both the anointing and the foot-washing demonstrate humility, sacrificial service, and the importance of forgiveness. These interconnected events highlight the central themes of Christ's ministry and provide a powerful example for his disciples to emulate in their own lives.
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Frequently asked questions
The perfume placed on Jesus's feet was likely nard, a very expensive perfume.
The woman who poured perfume on Jesus's feet is identified as Mary of Bethany in the Gospel of John. In Luke, she is unnamed and referred to as "a sinful woman".
The woman's actions have been interpreted as an act of love and an anointing of Jesus as Messiah-King. This gesture also foreshadowed Jesus's actions at the Last Supper when he washed the disciples' feet.
The event took place in the town of Bethany, in the house of Simon the Leper.
