2. But they said, “We must not do it during the feast. The people might cause a riot.”
3. Jesus was in Bethany. He was at dinner in the house of Simon, who had a harmful skin disease. While Jesus was there, a woman came to him. She had an alabaster jar filled with very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. The woman opened the jar and poured the perfume on Jesus’ head.
4. Some of those who were there saw this and became angry. They complained to each other, saying, “Why waste that perfume?
5. It was worth a full year’s work. It could be sold, and the money could be given to the poor.” They spoke to the woman sharply.
6. Jesus said, “Don’t bother the woman. Why are you troubling her? She did a beautiful thing for me.
7. You will always have the poor with you. You can help them anytime you want. But you will not always have me.
8. This woman did the only thing she could do for me. She poured perfume on my body. She did this before I die to prepare me for burial.
9. I tell you the truth. The Good News will be told to people in all the world. And in every place it is preached, what this woman has done will be told. And people will remember her.”
10. One of the 12 followers, Judas Iscariot, went to talk to the leading priests. Judas offered to give Jesus to them.
11. The leading priests were pleased about this. They promised to pay Judas money. So he waited for the best time to give Jesus to them.