John 12:1–11

The Anointing at Bethany

12Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany ^awhere Lazarus ^bwas, the one Jesus had raised from the dead. ^c2So ^dthey gave a dinner for Him there; Martha ^ewas serving them, and Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him. ³Then Mary took a pound of fragrant oil—pure and expensive nard—anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped His feet with her hair. ^fSo the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.

⁴Then one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot ^g(who was about to betray Him), said, ⁵“Why wasn’t this fragrant oil sold for 300 denarii ^hiand given to the poor?” ⁶He didn’t say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. ^jHe was in charge of the money-bag and would steal part of what was put in it.

⁷Jesus answered, “Leave her alone; she has kept it for the day of My burial. ^k8For you always have the poor with you, ^lbut you do not always have Me.”

The Decision to Kill Lazarus

⁹Then a large crowd of the Jews learned He was there. They came not only because of Jesus, but also to see Lazarus the one He had raised from the dead. ^m10Therefore the chief priests decided to kill Lazarus also ¹¹because he was the reason many of the Jews were deserting them ⁿand believing in Jesus.