Readings for Lent and Easter

Chapter 12

The Anointing at Bethany. ¹ Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, the hometown of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. ² They gave a dinner there for him. Martha served the meal, and Lazarus was among those at table with him.

³ Mary brought in a pint^[a] of very costly ointment, made from pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and dried them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment. ⁴ Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, the one who was about to betray him, said, ⁵ “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii^[b] and the money given to the poor?” ⁶ He said this not because he had any concern for the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of the money bag, and he used to steal from it.

⁷ Jesus said in response, “Leave her alone! Let her keep it for the day of my burial.