Women wash Jesus' feet in Bethany and in Galilee The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and John tell the story of Mary of Bethany washing Jesus' feet. The Gospel of Luke, however, describes a separate event -in which an unnamed woman, described as a sinner, washes His feet with her tears. She began to wash his feet with her tears, and she dried them with her hair, kissing them many times and rubbing them with the perfume.
39 When the Pharisee who asked Jesus to come to his house saw this, he thought to himself, "If Jesus were a prophet, he would know that the woman touching him is a sinner!". 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).
Luke 7:36-50 - The most detailed account of the woman who washed Jesus' feet with her tears and anointed them with expensive ointment. John 12:1-8 - Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, anoints Jesus' feet with costly perfume and wipes them with her hair. Who washed Jesus' feet? According to John 12:1-3, Matthew 26:6-13 and Mark 14:3-9, Mary of Bethany, the sister to Lazarus, and Martha, was one of the women that washed Jesus' feet.
Luke 7:36-39 also describes a different story of a woman that washed Jesus' feet in Galilee. Many Christians believe that this woman is Mary Magdalene. During the meal, other guests were appalled to see a sinful woman come into Simon's house.
She washed Jesus' feet with her tears and then dried them with her hair. She was sorry for her sins, and Jesus forgave her. The woman who washed Jesus' feet with her hair is identified as Mary of Bethany in some biblical accounts.
Yet, in others, she remains unnamed. This lack of specificity can draw our attention to the nature of her actions rather than her identity. Historically, this event is recounted in the Gospels of Luke (7:36-50) and John (12:1-8).
When Mary anoints Jesus' feet and then wipes them with her hair, she foreshadows Jesus' actions at the upcoming Last Supper when the Lord washes the disciples' feet and teaches them how to love one another through sacrificial, humble service (John 13:1-20). But who washed Jesus' feet? If you're short on time, here's a quick answer to your question: Mary anointed Jesus' feet with perfume and her tears, then wiped his feet with her hair. Later, during the Last Supper, Jesus himself washed the feet of his 12 disciples.
11 John 12:3 Mary then took a pound of very costly 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. I understand the significance of Mary letting her hair down.