⁵⁵ Now ^(A)the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up to Jerusalem from the country prior to the Passover, ^(B)in order to ^[a]purify themselves. ⁵⁶ So they ^(C)were looking for Jesus, and saying to one another as they stood in the temple area, “What do you think; that He will not come to the feast at all?” ⁵⁷ Now ^(D)the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where He was, he was to report it, so that they might arrest Him.

Mary Anoints Jesus

12 ^(E)Therefore, six days before ^(F)the Passover, Jesus came to ^(G)Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. ² So they made Him a dinner there, and ^(H)Martha was serving; and Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him. ^3 (I)Mary then took a ^[b]pound of very expensive ^(J)perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. ⁴ But ^(K)Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, the one who intended to ^[c]betray Him, *said, ⁵ “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred ^[d]denarii and the proceeds given to poor people?” ⁶ Now he said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he ^(L)kept the money box, he used to ^[e]steal from ^(M)what was put into it. ⁷ Therefore Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it ^[f]for ^(N)the day of My burial. ^8 (O)For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.”

⁹ The ^(P)large crowd of the Jews then learned that He was there; and they came, not on account of Jesus only, but so that they might also see Lazarus, ^(Q)whom He raised from the dead. ¹⁰ But the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death also, ¹¹ because ^(R)on account of him ^(S)many of the Jews were going away and were believing in Jesus.

The Precious Ointment

^6 (A)Now when Jesus was in ^(B)Bethany, at the home of Simon ^[a]the Leper, ^7 (C)a woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very expensive perfume, and she poured it on His head as He was reclining at the table. ⁸ But the disciples were indignant when they saw this, and said, “Why this waste? ⁹ For this perfume could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.” ¹⁰ But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you bothering the woman? For she has done a good deed for Me. ¹¹ For you always have ^(D)the poor with you; but you do not always have Me. ¹² For when she poured this perfume on My body, she did it ^(E)to prepare Me for burial. ¹³ Truly I say to you, ^(F)wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her.”

^3 (A)While He was in ^(B)Bethany at the home of Simon ^[a]the Leper, He was reclining at the table, and a woman came with an alabaster vial of very ^(C)expensive perfume of pure ^[b]nard. She broke the vial and poured the perfume over His head. ⁴ But there were some indignantly remarking to one another, “Why has this perfume been wasted? ⁵ For this perfume could have been sold for over three hundred ^[c]denarii, and the money given to the poor.” And they were scolding her. ⁶ But Jesus said, “Leave her alone! Why are you bothering her? She has done a good deed for Me. ⁷ For you always have ^(D)the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good to them; but you do not always have Me. ⁸ She has done what she could; ^(E)she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial. ⁹ Truly I say to you, ^(F)wherever the gospel is preached in the entire world, what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her.”