Why was Jesus anointed for his burial>
Matthew 26:6–13 “Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her” (v. 13). Each night during the last week of His life Jesus is staying in Bethany , a village about an hour’s walk from Jerusalem (Matt. 21:17), probably because the Holy City, filled to the brim with Passover pilgrims, has few vacancies. According to John 12:1–8, the event described in today’s passage takes place in the home of Lazarus, Mary , and Martha, friends of our Lord in Bethany. Mary is the woman who anoints Christ. Since Matthew 26:6 tells us the residence belongs to Simon the leper (most likely a former leper), a number of commentators have surmised that Simon is the father of the three siblings who also live there. Luke records a different, comparable anointing in Galilee (7:36–50). Mary’s ointment (oil) is worth three hundred denarii (John 12:5), a year’s wage for mos...