JESUS ANOINTED BY “this woman”

JESUS ANOINTED BY “this woman”

John Stone

Who massaged Jesus' head or feet?

Matthew 26: (KJV)

" 7 There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head..." 13 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.

Customs of this time held that when a homeowner had a special guest in his house, he would set out dinner for invited guests, but also open his home to anyone that would want to come in and "hang out" in the background ―to be present for anything that might occur while the special guest was present. Apparently this woman was not part of the dinner setting. In other words, this woman could have been anybody from that community that happen to be there.

The unknown author of Matthew was very good at telling stories, but in this case he left out one simple detail. Who was this woman, the one to whom a memorial should be made? Was her name simply forgotten. If "this woman" was unimportant then why did Matthew's Jesus go to the trouble of making a point about her? Indeed, "a memorial for..." for whom?

Perhaps Jesus (god incarnate) forgot her name or never told anyone. However, according to the writers of the gospel of Mark and Matthew, this event fell under the heading; “Jesus Anointed at Bethany” and contains many verses, giving detailed events that make up Mark and Matthew’s stories. Every detail, except the name of the woman. Perhaps It never happened, like Herod's slaughter or a cunning walking, talking snake, or... ad infinitum.

However, John’s gospel, written 30 or more years after Matthew and Mark, tells of this same event in a completely different manner, but this time his Jesus happens to know her name ― you guessed it, Mary (John 12:1-8). Ah, but which Mary?

"3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair..."

The New Testament has four Marys:

1. Mother of Jesus;

2. Mary of Bethany, sister of Martha and Lazarus;

3. Mary Magdalene; and

4. The mother of Mark

And then there was Salome (also known as Mary), the mother of James and John (Mark 15:40).

First, no name, then Mary ― first it was the head, then the feet ― what idiot really buys the excrement being sold here?

"Faith: Belief without evidence in what is told by one who speaks without knowledge." -Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914)

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