John 11:55-12:8

New Testament for Everyone

⁵⁵ The time came for the Judaeans’ Passover. Lots of people went up to Jerusalem from the countryside, before the Passover, to purify themselves. ⁵⁶ They were looking for Jesus. As they stood there in the Temple, they were discussing him with one another.

“What d’you think?” they were saying. “Do you suppose he won’t come to the festival?”

⁵⁷ The chief priests and the Pharisees had given the order that if anyone knew where he was, they should tell them, so that they could arrest him.

Mary and her ointment

12 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany. Lazarus was there, the man he had raised from the dead. ² So they made a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was among the company at table with him.

³ Then Mary took a pound of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She anointed Jesus’ feet with it, and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the smell of the perfume.

⁴ At this, Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was going to betray him), spoke up.

⁵ “Why wasn’t this ointment sold?” he asked. “It would have fetched a year’s wages! You could have given it to the poor!”

⁶ (He didn’t say this because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief. He kept the common purse, and used to help himself to what was in it.)

⁷ “Let her alone,” replied Jesus. “She’s been keeping it for the day of my burial! ⁸ You always have the poor with you, but you won’t always have me.”