Old/New Testament

Mary anoints Christ’s feet. Judas murmurs. Christ defends her, and rides into Jerusalem.

12 Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus went to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, and whom Jesus raised from death. ² There they made him a supper, and Martha served. Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with him. ³ Then Mary took a pound of oyntment called nard, perfect and precious, and anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oyntment.

⁴ Then one of his disciples, named Judas Iscariot (Simon’s son, who afterward betrayed him), said, ⁵ Why was this oyntment not sold for three hundred denarii, and given to the poor? ⁶ He said this, not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and kept the bag, and carried that which was given. ⁷ Then Jesus said, Let her alone. She kept it for the day of my burial. ⁸ The poor you will always have with you, but me you will not always have.

⁹ A great many of the Jews learned that he was there, and they went to Bethany, not for Jesus’ sake only, but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from death. ¹⁰ The high priests therefore held a council, how they could put Lazarus to death also, ¹¹ because on his account many of the Jews went away and believed on Jesus.

¹² On the next day, many people who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, ¹³ took branches of palm trees and went and met him, and cried, Hosanna! Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord, the king of Israel! ¹⁴ And Jesus got a young donkey and sat on it, according to that which was written: ¹⁵ Fear not, daughter of Zion. Behold, your king comes, sitting on a donkey’s colt.

¹⁶ These things his disciples did not understand at the first. But when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that such things were written of him, and that people had done such things to him.

¹⁷ The people that had been with Jesus when he called Lazarus out of his grave and raised him from death were speaking about it. ¹⁸ Therefore the crowd met him, because they heard that he had done such a miracle. ¹⁹ The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, See how we are accomplishing nothing? Look, the world is going away after him.

²⁰ There were among them certain Greeks who came to pray at the feast. ²¹ They came to Philip, who was of Bethsaida, a village in Galilee, and asked him, saying, Sir, we would like to see Jesus. ²² Philip went and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus.

²³ And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come that the Son of man must be glorified. ²⁴ Truly truly I say to you, unless the wheat seed falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone. If it dies, it brings forth much fruit. ²⁵ He who loves his life will destroy it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it unto life eternal. ²⁶ If anyone serves me, let him follow me, and where I am, there also shall my servant be. And if anyone serves me, him will my Father honour.