Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.
Jesus said, 'Leave her alone. She's been saving this for the day I'm buried.'
Jesus saw the love behind the gesture when others only saw the waste.
📚 Historical Context
In the Gospel of John, this verse occurs during a dinner in Bethany shortly before Jesus' crucifixion, where Mary, the sister of Lazarus, anoints Jesus' feet with expensive perfume as an act of deep devotion. This anointing was a cultural practice often associated with preparing bodies for burial, reflecting the Jewish customs of the time. Jesus defends Mary's action, interpreting it as a prophetic preparation for His own death, which underscores the mounting tension toward His passion and arrest.
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