6
Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon, a man who had suffered from a dreaded skin disease.
7
While Jesus was eating, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar filled with an expensive perfume, which she poured on his head. 1
8
The disciples saw this and became angry. "Why all this waste?" they asked.
9
"This perfume could have been sold for a large amount and the money given to the poor!"
10
Jesus knew what they were saying, and so he said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? It is a fine and beautiful thing that she has done for me.
11
You will always have poor people with you, but you will not always have me. 2
12
What she did was to pour this perfume on my body to get me ready for burial.
13
Now, I assure you that wherever this gospel is preached all over the world, what she has done will be told in memory of her."