Mark 14:1-11  Mark is giving us another snapshot of Jesus... it is 2 days before Passover.. the last few days of His life before the crucifixion and He is in Bethany.  The plot to kill Him has been put into motion.. and Jesus knows it well. 

As Jesus joins "Simon the leper"  for dinner that day, a woman comes in with "an alabaster vial of very costly perfume of pure nard."   Now, John records a similar account in John chapter 12.. but he said it was 6 days before Passover and that the woman was Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus.  Mark writes that this woman anointed Jesus' head and John says it was His feet.  Both record that the nard was very valuable. saying it was worth 300 denarii.. almost a year's wages.  John records the fact that the perfume filled the room with its fragrance.  Mark writes that this happened after the triumphal entry while John has it right before that event. 

In both accounts the disciples criticized the woman for wasting the perfume for it could have been sold and the money used to help the poor.  And in both accounts Jesus tells them to "let her alone".  "She has done a good deed to Me." (v6)   Jesus received her gift.. her sacrifice.. as an anointing, for the burial that would come in just a few days. 

In Mark's account we see the contrast between the woman  who gave sacrificially from her heart.. and Judas... who was so angry.. and as John shares.. so greedy.. that he "went off to the chief priests in order to betray Him to them." 

It has been my goal through this reading of Mark's gospel to see Jesus.. to know Him more through the portraits that Mark drew for us... so instead of worrying about the differences between Mark's story and John's.. I just want to look at Jesus a little closer... 

Jesus accepted this anointing.... He accepted it as a preparation for His own death and burial.  As the precious perfume filled the air with its sweet fragrance, as He felt the oil run down His head or His feet and the touch of Mary's hair as she washed His feet ( according to John).. the reality of His crucifixion would perhaps become sharper. He would remember the smell, the touch, the sight of this woman who humbled herself before Him and displayed her great love and thankfulness so openly.  And.. there in this sacred moment.. his friends grumbled about wasting money!  One of His own disciples went out to betray Him.. and they all missed the significance of her actions.   Jesus didn't miss it.. and He doesn't want us to miss it either.. "And truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, that also which this woman has done shall be spoken of in memory of her." 

Do we remember? Do we speak of her.. of her gift.. of her love?  Can we put ourselves in her place?  Coming to the feet of Jesus.. or to His head.. offering everything that we have.. worshiping the One who was about to give His life for us?  

Father, help us to understand.. to grasp the significance of this event and to see Jesus as this woman did. 

amen.