Last week of Jesus' Ministry
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Jesus Arrives at Bethany
The Passover of the Jews was very near. Many went to Jerusalem before the Passover in order to purify themselves.
The people were looking for Jesus and wondering out loud if he would come to the feast.
They knew that the religious leaders were actively looking for the opportunity to arrest him.
Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived in Bethany.
Bethany was where Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead and was very near Jerusalem.
When Jesus was in Bethany, they made a supper for him in the house of Simon the leper. Martha served the dinner, and Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead, was there.
While Jesus was sitting for the meal, Mary Magdelene carried an alabaster jar of exceedingly costly perfume and broke it and poured it over the head of Jesus.
She then anointed his feet with the expensive perfume and wiped it with her hair. This was the second time that Mary had done this.
The house was filled with the smell of the ointment.
But Judas Iscariot, one of the 12 disciples and the one who would betray Jesus, said:
Why wasn’t this ointment sold for the great amount of money it would bring, and the money given to the poor?
Others at the party began to criticize Mary.
Jesus heard this said:
Leave her alone. She is pouring this ointment upon my body in preparation for my burial.
The poor you have with you always, and you can do good to them whenever you want.
The truth is that wherever the good news is preached, what Mary has done today will be spoken about in memorial to her.
The common people, meanwhile, learned where Jesus was and they came to see him and Lazarus.
But the chief priests were conspiring to put Lazarus to death.
They hated Lazarus and wanted to destroy him. Because of him, many had believed in Jesus.