Daily Bible Reading: John 12:1-11 - Mary Annoints Jesus and Judas Protests

John chapter 12 follows the raising of Lazarus from the grave in a mighty display by the Lord Jesus.  After this Lazarus returned to his home and his sisters where a dinner was made for Jesus.  Lazarus was there as well.  It was at this dinner that Mary, the one who sat at Jesus' feet and learned of him, anointed him.  This is where the true personality of Judas, the one who betrayed Jesus, begins to show itself.

V1-2  "Six days before the feast of Passover, Jesus came to Bethany where Lazarus was which had been dead.  There they made him a supper and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him."

To learn where Passover originated, please read Exodus 12.   One cannot help but marvel that Lazarus who had been in the grave for four days was raised free of the illness from which he had died, his body restored.  This time Martha is willingly serving, and does not complain to the Lord about Mary not helping her as she did on a previous occasion. (Luke 10:38-42)

V3 "Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment."

For an excellent  explanation of what Spikenard is, please follow this link to Got Questions.  It is speculated that this spikenard might have been Mary's dowry.  She wanted only the best for Jesus.  It is fitting that the one who sat at the feet of Jesus and learned of him would be the one to anoint his feet and dry them not with a towel but with her hair.  In these times hair was the woman's glory and Mary did not hesitate to use her hair in this manner, showing her love and respect for Jesus. The odour of the ointment was so strong and beautiful that it filled the house, thus Mary's act of love for Jesus had an effect on the whole house.