Jesus’ Anointing

3  Now while Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, reclining at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of costly aromatic oil from pure nard. After breaking open the jar, she poured it on his head. 4  But some who were present indignantly said to one another, “Why this waste of expensive ointment? 5  It could have been sold for more than three hundred silver coins and the money given to the poor!” So they spoke angrily to her. 6  But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She has done a good service for me. 7  For you will always have the poor with you, and you can do good for them whenever you want. But you will not always have me! 8  She did what she could. She anointed my body beforehand for burial. 9  I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”