Mark 14:3

‘And while he was in Bethany at the house of Simon the Leper, as he sat at the meal, there came a woman having an alabaster vessel of perfumed oil of spikenard, which was very costly, and she broke the vessel and poured it over his head.'

While Jesus was enjoying a meal at the house of Simon the Leper in Bethany, a woman came in and anointed His head. This was how priests, kings and prophets were anointed (Exodus 29:7; 1 Samuel 10:1; 2 Kings 9:3; 2 Kings 9:6; Psalms 133:2), although it was also a courtesy often extended to distinguished guests (Luke 7:46 compare Psalms 45:7; Psalms 141:5). Mark stresses her anointing of His head. He wants us to see in it the anointing of Jesus as the Messiah. Such an anointing set Him apart to God as ‘His anointed' (Psalms 2:2; Daniel 9:25). That this idea was also in Jesus' mind is suggested by His connecting it with the spreading of the Good News of the Kingly Rule of God (Mark 14:9). The woman however was revealing her love for Jesus without thought of any such significance for she anointed Him all over.

John stresses that she also anointed Jesus' feet. Her act of love covered both. Jesus would be lying at table on His left elbow with His feet extended backwards. Thus she would first reach His feet. So she first poured some on His feet and then broke the vessel above His head so that the remainder anointed His head. Jesus saw it as anointing for His burial (Mark 14:8, compare Mark 16:1). This would confirm the dual application. Anointing for burial would not be just on the head (John 19:40).

Note the breaking of the bottle. Because the perfumed oil was very expensive the bottle was designed only to release it slowly. But the woman wanted to pour it all out at once. So she broke the bottle.

This incident occurred chronologically earlier than might at first be thought from Mark 14:1. But Mark is not saying that it happened after Mark 14:1. He brought it in here in order to bring out its direct significance in relation to the plans that were being made against Him. He is piecing events together for a theological purpose. He merely says it happened ‘while He was in Bethany' which could place it anywhere within the period after their arrival in the area. John placed it before ‘the entry into Jerusalem' (John 12:1) which would have followed His arrival in Bethany. (It may well be that in one of Mark's sources Mark 14:10 originally followed immediately after Mark 14:1).

‘A woman.' It is possible that Mark does not name her because he sees her as typifying all the women who followed Jesus (Luke 8:2). Women were given an importance by Jesus not accorded to them elsewhere. In contrast the Pharisee could say, ‘sooner let the words of the Law be burned than delivered to a woman.' But Jesus was happy to receive their ministrations on the spiritual level as well as the material.

‘Perfumed oil' - (nardou pistikes). Pistikes is probably the oil of the Pistachio nut which was used as a base for perfumes. Others have, however, seen it as signifying ‘pure' (based on pistis - ‘true, sure, reliable') or as being derived from pino, thus indicating its liquid form. The breaking of the vessel (at the neck) indicated that all had been given to Jesus. It was total sacrifice. She may also have had the idea that the vessel should never again be used after its sacred task because Jesus was so special.

‘Nard.' A very expensive and valuable perfume made from a rare plant from India. She had probably kept it for years for some special occasion. And now here was the occasion.

‘Simon the Leper.' Otherwise unknown, presumably a former leper whom Jesus had healed and who became a Christian. (They would not have feasted in the house of a current leper, as that would have barred them from celebrating the feast of Passover). It does not necessarily mean that Jesus was staying there, only dining. Martha was helping out by serving at table and Lazarus was in the company (John 12:2). We do not know where Jesus stayed while He was in Bethany, or whether in fact Jesus and the disciples camped out on the Mount of Olives by Bethany.