John 12:1-8

1 Six days before Passover, Jesus arrived in Bethany. Lazarus, whom Jesus had brought back to life, lived there.

2 Dinner was prepared for Jesus in Bethany. Martha served the dinner, and Lazarus was one of the people eating with Jesus.

3 Mary took a bottle of very expensive perfume made from pure nard and poured it on Jesus' feet. Then she dried his feet with her hair. The fragrance of the perfume filled the house.

4 One of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was going to betray him, asked,

5 "Why wasn't this perfume sold for a high price and the money given to the poor?"

6 (Judas didn't say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of the moneybag and carried the contributions.)

7 Jesus said to Judas, "Leave her alone! She has done this to prepare me for the day I will be placed in a tomb.

8 You will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me with you."