Mark 14:3-9

The Anointing at Bethany

While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head.4But some were there who said to one another in anger, ‘Why was the ointment wasted in this way?5For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.’ And they scolded her.6But Jesus said, ‘Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has performed a good service for me.7For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish; but you will not always have me.8She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial.9Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.’
John 12:1-8

Mary Anoints Jesus

12Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.2There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him.3Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.4But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said,5‘Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?’6(He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.)7Jesus said, ‘Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial.8You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.’