JOHN—NOTE ON John 12:3 Compare John 11:2. A pound (or half a liter) is a very large amount of fragrant oil or perfume. Pure and expensive nard was imported from northern India and used by the Romans for anointing the head. John says that Mary anointed the feet of Jesus, while Matthew 26:7 and Mark 14:3 mention that she anointed Jesus’ head. Considering the large quantity of ointment, Mary probably anointed both Jesus’ head and his feet. Attending to the feet was the work of servants (see John 1:27; John 13:5), so Mary’s actions show humility and devotion. Her wiping of Jesus’ feet with her hair is also remarkable, since Jewish women rarely unbound their hair in public. Mary’s action indicates an expression of intense personal devotion to Christ, but there is no hint of immoral thoughts or conduct.

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