The Priests’ Plot and the Precious Anointing

The Passover was near. Jesus told his disciples, “In two days the Passover comes, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.” The disciples were shocked and sad. At that time Jesus was at a meal in Simon’s house in Bethany. Mary of Bethany brought an alabaster jar filled with very costly pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on Jesus’ head, and the whole house was filled with fragrance. Some disciples complained, “Why this waste? This perfume could have been sold for much money and given to the poor.” But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She has done a beautiful thing for me; she has prepared me for burial.” In those same days, Judas went to the chief priests and sold Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. In this story, we see two hearts: one worships because of love, and one betrays because of money. Yet Jesus walked quietly and firmly toward the redemption entrusted to him by the Father.