John 11:55-12:8

English Standard Version

⁵⁵ Now ^(A)the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and ^(B)many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover ^(C)to purify themselves. ^56 (D)They were looking for^[a] Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, “What do you think? That he will not come to the feast at all?” ⁵⁷ Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should let them know, so that they might arrest him.

Mary Anoints Jesus at Bethany

12 Six days before ^(E)the Passover, ^(F)Jesus therefore came to Bethany, ^(G)where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. ² So they gave a dinner for him there. ^(H)Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. ^3 (I)Mary therefore took a pound^[b] of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. ⁴ But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, ⁵ “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii^[c] and ^(J)given to the poor?” ⁶ He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and ^(K)having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. ⁷ Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it^[d] for the day of my burial. ⁸ For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”