Six days before Passover (and His death), Jesus went to Bethany. While there he had dinner with Mary, Martha, Lazarus (who he raised from the dead the chapter before) and several apostles.

Verse 3.

Interestingly - Mark and Matthew both mention she anointed His head, while John says the feet. These are both scared - so it very well could have been both.

The ointment that she used is mentioned to be very expensive.

Mark 14:5 

300 pence was probably about $50 for us. However, the daily wage was about &0.17. If you multiply that by 300 (a yearly wage), then it’s $50. So really, it was an entire year's wage! Which is closer to $30,000 - $40,000 + for us today.

This is a very expensive gift! - as Judas Iscariot points out.

There is a lot of foreshadowing of what is to come from Judas. 

Verse 5 + 6 say

Jesus’ response I think is one that we all need to take in more often though.

Verses 7 + 8 (JST in 7)

Let’s break all this down a little bit more of what exactly is happening with Mary.

She has this incredibly expensive oil.

She come to Jesus and anoints his feet with it. The feet were VERY dirty in those days. 

Servants were usually the ones to wash guests' feet b/c it was not a pleasant job. 

Mary used her hair. It’s such a symbolic thought. Women usually wore their hair up, so for her to take it down while guests are over, and then use that to make sure she anoints the Savior's feet is such a humbling place she put herself.

However, she also was showing so much love. She understood the significance of the Savior. She may not have completely understood what was coming, but she knew that something was changing and soon.

As the apostles watched this - and maybe more than just Judas was a little surprised.

Do you think a few days later, when Jesus washed their feet they thought of this moment with Mary at all?

It seems like it may have come to mind with the nature of the conversation that had come up. 

I believe that Jesus is showing so much gratitude towards Mary. So much love. She has been with them in their ministries. She is a disciple and a follower. A friend. 

He talks of being gone and she knows who He is. This is her gift to Him.

This is back in John 8 - so two weeks ago in our reading.

We start the chapter with Jesus teaching in the temple, when in come some pharisees with this woman who was “caught in the very act” of adultery.

At the time they were following the Mosaic law - as we know.

In the Book that I often quote from “Walk with the Women in the New Testament '' there are some interesting insights we can gain. Hannah tells us of the history of the women in that time who were taken in adultery and what happened to them. I’m going to quote from her book here for a moment to make sure you have a good picture.

From “Sisters at the Well” page 91 it says:

Page 418 of Hannah’s book

Hannah goes on to say …

Men were allowed to send their wife to experience this even if they just suspected that their wife had something - no evidence necessary. 

So this woman is brought to the Savior - “caught in the very act” - had her punishment been even harsher before they brought her here?

Maybe. They had decided she’d be killed, but thought they’d ask Jesus first.

Jesus then writes on the ground. We have no idea what He wrote. 

Did He write to avert eyes away from the woman? 

Then Jesus Teaches:

This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

Again - he writes on the ground. To avert eyes to Him? Maybe.

9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?

“She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. And the woman glorified God from that hour, and believed on his name.”

So it is with us.

We are often better about judging other people and pointing out what they’ve done wrong and we forget to turn our own finger around and recognize our short comings, faults and even sins.

We are also great at being our own worst critic. 

Our focus needs to be on our relationship with Jesus Christ - not on anyone else's.

Our focus needs to be to keep the commandments in our personal life. Keeping our covenants. Strengthening our testimony in Jesus Christ and the modern day prophets. Repenting. Turning to Him. Changing our lives because of His atonement and all He has done - just as she did in the end.

When that is our focus, we will be more graceful with other people.

We will be able judge less and love more.