Mary - First of two anointings by two different women Evening of the 8th of Nisan. Mary, the sister of both Lazarus and Martha, anointed Jesus' feet with spikenard six days before His crucifixion. Spikenard is an expensive, perfumed ointment used for anointing the dead.
All four gospels present an account of Jesus being anointed by a woman with a costly jar of perfume (Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; Luke 7:36-50; John 12:1-8). Matthew and Mark relate the same event but do not give the woman's name; Luke tells of a different woman, also anonymous, on an earlier occasion; and, in yet another event, the woman in John is identified as Mary of Bethany. Mary Anoints Jesus at Bethany 1 Six days before i the Passover, j Jesus therefore came to Bethany, k where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.
2 So they gave a dinner for him there. l Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 3 m Mary therefore took a pound 1 of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his.
John 12:1-8 Common English Bible Mary anoints Jesus' feet 12 Six days before Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, home of Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Lazarus and his sisters hosted a dinner for him. The anointings of Jesus 's head or feet are events recorded in the four gospels.
The account in Matthew 26, Mark 14, takes place on Holy Wednesday, while the account in John 12 takes place 6 days before Passover in Bethany, a village in Judaea on the southeastern slope of the Mount of Olives, where Lazarus lived. In Matthew and Mark, he is anointed by an unnamed woman. In John, the woman is.
The anointing of feet is an intimate and personal expression of love and devotion. It signifies a deep personal connection and recognition of Jesus' divine authority and mission. The act of wiping His feet with hair, as both Mary and the sinful woman did, further emphasizes the personal sacrifice and vulnerability involved in true worship.
Mary (Martha's sister) then took a pound of pure spikenard ointment worth a great price and anointed Jesus' feet, wiping His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the aroma of the ointment (John 12:3). Jesus returned to Bethany where a supper was prepared for Him.
The resurrection of Lazarus meant that many people were now following Jesus. In these first verses, we have the memorial scene of Mary anointing the feet of Jesus with a pound of pure nard and wiping them with her hair. Discover whether Mary of Bethany anointed Christian feet in this insightful article that examines biblical scriptures and historical accounts.
Learn about the profound symbolism of her actions, including honor, sacrifice, and humility, and understand how her devotion continues to influence modern Christian practices. Gain a deeper appreciation of Mary's lasting legacy and the spiritual lessons. Luke 7:36-50: A sinful woman anoints Jesus' feet with ointment at the house of Simon the Pharisee.
John 12:1-8: Mary of Bethany, sister of Martha and Lazarus, anoints Jesus' feet with expensive perfume.