Anointing, Last Supper (Part 1)

Jesus is the target of a plot by the Jewish religious authorities to kill him before the Passover season. During the same time, a woman anoints Jesus with costly perfume, an act of love and devotion that some criticized as wastefulness. Jesus defends her, predicting that her gesture will be remembered wherever the Gospel is preached, in contrast to Judas, who would betray him for money. This passage deals with cultural norms surrounding gender, hospitality, and wealth, as well as Christian themes of sacrifice, stewardship, and care for the poor.