Mark 14:1-9 ▼

1 It was now two days before the Passover and [the festival of] Unleavened Bread, and the chief priests and the scribes were searching for a deceitful way to arrest Jesus and kill Him;

2 but they were saying, “Not during the festival, for the people might riot.”

3 While He was in Bethany [as a guest] at the home of Simon the leper, and reclining at the table, a woman came with an alabaster vial of very costly and precious perfume of pure nard; and she broke the vial and poured the perfume over His head.

4 But there were some who were indignantly remarking to one another, “Why has this perfume been wasted?

5 For this perfume might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii [a laborer’s wages for almost a year], and the money given to the poor.” And they scolded her.

6 But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why are you bothering her and causing trouble? She has done a good and beautiful thing to Me.

7 For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do something good to them; but you will not always have Me.

8 She has done what she could; she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial.

9 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, wherever the good news [regarding salvation] is proclaimed throughout the world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”