The Anointing at Bethany

While Jesus was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came up to him carrying a precious jar of expensive perfume, and she poured it on Jesus’ head as he was reclining at table. Seeing this the disciples became indignant, protesting, “What a useless waste! The perfume could have been sold for a large sum and the proceeds given to the poor.” But Jesus was aware of this, so he said to them, “Why are you troubling this woman? She has done a beautiful thing for me. You always have the poor with you but you will not have me forever. And she has anointed my body as a part of my funeral care. Truly, l say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed, all over the world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.” “Then one of the Twelve, named Judas lscariot, went off to the chief priests and said, “How much will you give me if l hand him over to you?” They promised to give him thirty pieces of silver, and from then on he kept looking for an opportunity to hand him over to them.