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

But some were indignantly remarking to one another, “Why has this perfume been wasted? For this perfume might have been sold for over three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.” And they were scolding her.

But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why do you bother her? She has done a good deed to Me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them; but you do not always have Me. She has done what she could; she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial. Truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.” (Mark 14:3-9)

Who matters most? In the first century, people were not supposed to enter the house of a leper. Everyone stayed as far away from them as they possibly could. In fact, the Law of Moses ordered that lepers had to be excluded from society.

One day, Jesus had a meal with a man named Simon, who was a leper. Then a woman, unnamed, arrived and poured some very expensive perfume on Jesus’ head.

The criticism of her act was directed more against of Jesus than against the woman. Were the critics suggesting that the perfume was wasted because it was used on Jesus? What is perfume for, after all? Was Jesus unworthy? Certainly there were other things she could have done with the perfume, but so what?

Pouring oil or perfume on the heads of new kings—anointing them—was a common ritual. “Messiah” was a Hebrew word that meant “anointed one.” The equivalent Greek word was “Christ.” Jesus explained that this unnamed woman had anointed him for his burial. His soon-coming death was the reason he had been born. Her gift would be spoken of forever, because she was the one who had anointed him for his messianic role of saving the world from sin.

Kings were anointed in palaces by honored men, but Jesus was anointed by a woman in a leper’s house. Women were second class citizens. Lepers were excluded from society. But Jesus thought they were perfect for his anointing.

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