Event · Jesus and the Gospels
Anointed at Bethany
Anointed at BethanyMark 14:3–9AD 30 or AD 332 parallel accounts
A woman pours costly perfume on Jesus; he defends her, saying she has prepared his body for burial. John names her as Mary of Bethany.
- Main passage Mark 14:3–9
- Also told in Matthew 26:6–13John 12:1–8
People JesusJudas IscariotMary of Bethany
Places named Bethany Mark 14:3
- Place in the order
- Explicit biblical sequence Scripture itself gives the order of these events.
- Historical setting
- AD 30 or AD 33 Disputed date
Under Pontius Pilate (governor AD 26-36), on a Passover Friday. AD 30 and AD 33 are most often proposed.
Proposals: 7 April AD 30; 3 April AD 33
Read it
Mark 14:3–9 WEB
3While he was at Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster jar of ointment of pure nard—very costly. She broke the jar and poured it over his head. 4But there were some who were indignant among themselves, saying, “Why has this ointment been wasted? 5For this might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” So they grumbled against her. 6But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for me. 7For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want to, you can do them good; but you will not always have me. 8She has done what she could. She has anointed my body beforehand for the burying. 9Most certainly I tell you, wherever this Good News may be preached throughout the whole world, that which this woman has done will also be spoken of for a memorial of her.”