1 It was now only two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The leading priests and teachers of the law were trying to find a way to use some trick to arrest Jesus and kill him.
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.