WRITTEN BY: HANNAH ROWEN FRY

In all four gospels Jesus is anointed by a woman before his death.
There is some debate among biblical scholars on whether this is the same event told in four different ways or multiple anointings. While we can’t know for certain, we can reflect on this profound act of worship and how such devotion informs our own worship during this Holy Week.

Let’s start with a review of the four gospel accounts.

Matthew 26:6-13

Jesus is anointed by an unnamed woman.
This takes place at the home of Simon the Leper.
An alabaster jar of “very expensive perfume” is poured on Jesus’ head.
The disciples respond that it was wasteful and the money for the jar could have been given to the poor.

Jesus explains this anointing as a preparation for his burial, calling it a “beautiful thing.” It is clear in the text that he was honored by her expression of worship through this sensory experience!

Mark 14:1-9

Jesus is anointed by an unnamed woman.
This takes place at the home of Simon the Leper.
An alabaster jar of “very expensive perfume, made of pure nard” is broken open and poured on Jesus’ head.
Those present respond that it was wasteful and rebuked the woman harshly.

Again, Jesus calls this woman’s worship a “beautiful thing” done to prepare for his burial. He explains to those who criticized her actions that “she did what she could.”

Luke 7:36-50

Jesus is anointed by an unnamed, uninvited, “sinful” woman.
This takes place at the home of Simon the Pharisee.
An alabaster jar of perfume is poured on Jesus’ feet along with the woman’s tears and hair.
The Pharisee responds by doubting Jesus’ power and position.

Jesus uses this as a teaching moment. He explains that the woman’s worship is an expression of her love and his forgiveness. He tells her, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

John 12:1-8

Jesus is anointed by Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus.
This takes place at the home of Lazarus during “a dinner given in Jesus’ honor”.
An expensive pint of pure nard is poured on Jesus’ feet and wiped with Mary’s hair.
Judas responds that it was wasteful and he would have rather kept the money for himself.

Jesus explains that this perfume was set aside and saved for his burial.

“A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to **wet his feet with her tears.** Then she **wiped them with her hair, kissed them** and **poured perfume on them.”**

(Luke 7:37-38)

Anointing is not a common practice in our modern age, so we often miss the significance of this moment. The women in these stories honored Jesus with everything they had—perfume, hair, tears, and dignity.

On Palm Sunday, Jesus was welcomed into town with a parade of shouts: “Hosanna!”

But less than a week later, those cheers turned into jeers. Some of the very voices that had cried out “He saves us”, now shouted “Crucify him!” What a week of emotional whiplash—not only for Jesus but for all those who experienced the week’s events, including the women who anointed him.

These women bowed down to honor Jesus while preparing him for his death. Cracking open fragrant jars, they filled the room with the aroma of worship. Some of them cried, washing his feet with their tears in an act of devotion. And scandalously letting down their hair for a holy purpose, they paved a way for us as women to show up as our full and feminine selves as we enter into the presence of God, emotions and all.

Still, during these intimate moments, these women were interrupted by criticisms that their worship wasn’t good enough. It was too extravagant. Too wasteful. Too shocking. Too disgraceful.

“Too much.”

As women, we know this label all too well. It shames us and suffocates us, grooming us to make ourselves small.

But because of these women and their bravery, we can confidently know that we are not too much for Jesus.

“She did what she could”, he said of the woman in Mark 14. “She has done a beautiful thing to me.”

Jesus understood the worship that was being poured out on him. He understands yours too.

As we enter Holy Week, may we follow in the footsteps of the women who anointed Jesus and worship unashamedly with whatever we have to give.

Our tears and our hair, messy and melodramatic, but meaningful to our King.