4
Some of the guests became furious among themselves. "That's criminal! A sheer waste!
5
This perfume could have been sold for well over a year's wages and handed out to the poor." They swelled up in anger, nearly bursting with indignation over her.
6
But Jesus said, "Let her alone. Why are you giving her a hard time? She has just done something wonderfully significant for me.
7
You will have the poor with you every day for the rest of your lives. Whenever you feel like it, you can do something for them. Not so with me.
8
She did what she could when she could - she pre-anointed my body for burial.
9
And you can be sure that wherever in the whole world the Message is preached, what she just did is going to be talked about admiringly."
10
Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the cabal of high priests, determined to betray him.
11
They couldn't believe their ears, and promised to pay him well. He started looking for just the right moment to hand him over.
12
On the first of the Days of Unleavened Bread, the day they prepare the Passover sacrifice, his disciples asked him, "Where do you want us to go and make preparations so you can eat the Passover meal?"
13
He directed two of his disciples, "Go into the city. A man carrying a water jug will meet you. Follow him.
14
Ask the owner of whichever house he enters, 'The Teacher wants to know, Where is my guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?'