The anointing of Jesus is a significant event recorded in the Gospels, highlighting the recognition of Jesus' divine mission and foreshadowing His death and burial. This event is depicted in different contexts across the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, each providing unique details that contribute to the theological and spiritual understanding of Jesus' ministry.

Matthew 26:6-13 : In the Gospel of Matthew, the anointing occurs in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper. A woman approaches Jesus with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume and pours it on His head as He reclines at the table. The disciples express indignation, questioning the waste of such a costly item, suggesting it could have been sold to benefit the poor. Jesus responds, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful deed to Me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have Me. By pouring this perfume on Me, she has prepared My body for burial" (Matthew 26:10-12). This passage emphasizes the woman's act as one of devotion and prophetic insight into Jesus' impending death.

Mark 14:3-9 : Mark's account closely parallels Matthew's, with the anointing taking place in Bethany at Simon the leper's house. The woman breaks the alabaster jar and pours the perfume on Jesus' head. The onlookers criticize her for the perceived waste, but Jesus defends her, stating, "She has done a beautiful deed to Me. She has done what she could to anoint My body in advance of My burial" (Mark 14:6, 8). Mark highlights the woman's act as one of sacrificial love and devotion, underscoring the significance of preparing Jesus for His sacrificial death.

Luke 7:36-50 : Luke presents a different setting and context for the anointing. In this account, Jesus is dining at the house of a Pharisee named Simon. A sinful woman from the city brings an alabaster jar of perfume, stands behind Jesus at His feet weeping, and begins to wet His feet with her tears. She wipes them with her hair, kisses them, and anoints them with the perfume. Simon questions Jesus' prophetic insight, but Jesus uses the opportunity to teach about forgiveness and love, saying, "Therefore I tell you, because her many sins have been forgiven, she has loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little" (Luke 7:47). This narrative emphasizes the themes of repentance, forgiveness, and the transformative power of encountering Christ.

John 12:1-8 : In John's Gospel, the anointing takes place six days before the Passover in Bethany, at the home of Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Mary, the sister of Lazarus, takes a pound of expensive perfume made of pure nard and anoints Jesus' feet, wiping them with her hair. The house is filled with the fragrance of the perfume. Judas Iscariot objects, questioning why the perfume was not sold to help the poor. Jesus replies, "Leave her alone; she was intended to keep this perfume to prepare for the day of My burial" (John 12:7). John's account highlights Mary's deep devotion and foreshadows Jesus' death and burial, while also contrasting the selfless act of Mary with the selfish motives of Judas.

Theological Significance: The anointing of Jesus is rich in theological meaning. It serves as a prophetic act, symbolizing Jesus' preparation for His sacrificial death and burial. The anointing also underscores the recognition of Jesus' messianic identity and the devotion of those who truly understand His mission. The varying accounts across the Gospels provide a multifaceted view of the event, each contributing to the understanding of Jesus' role as the Messiah and the response of faith and love from His followers. The anointing narratives invite believers to reflect on the themes of sacrifice, devotion, forgiveness, and the anticipation of Jesus' redemptive work on the cross.