The beautiful story of the anointing at Bethany is also one of the most debated – at least, John’s version is. Why does he change the details? And does this cast doubt on the reliability of the bible?
Let’s tackle this head-on today. And we have to start by acknowledging that this account does appear to be a splicing together of the other two ‘anointings’ in the other gospels: the early episode where a ‘sinful woman’ pours perfume over Jesus’ feet at the house of Simon the Pharisee (Luke 7:36-50) and the other Bethany anointing accounts in Matthew and Mark where an unnamed woman pours expensive perfume over Jesus’ head (Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:1-11). So, here in John’s account, in a house in Bethany near to the time of Jesus’ death (like Matthew’s and Mark’s accounts), Mary pours perfume over Jesus’s feet (like Luke, albeit a different location at a different time).
It is possible to harmonise most of the discrepancies: Simon the Leper – the owner of the house in Bethany according to Matthew and Mark – could be another brother to Mary, Martha and Lazarus, or indeed the first name of Lazarus himself. In that case, Mary could then be the unnamed woman in the account of Matthew and Mark. In similar vein, Mary could have anointed both Jesus’ head and Jesus’ feet, so both accounts are true. In this line of thinking, the gospels give us two anointings of Jesus: by an unnamed woman early in his ministry (recorded by Luke) and by Mary at Bethany recorded by Matthew, Mark and John, albeit with different details included.
This is possible – what isn’t possible is that John records a different time of this encounter. In Matthew and Mark, the anointing happens in what we now call Holy Week i.e. after Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. Here in John, it happens before – the triumphal entry comes next.
What are we to do with all this?
The first thing to say is that genuine eyewitness accounts differ – and their authenticity in fact relies on small differences between the accounts. That’s what makes them human, and credible.
The second thing to say is that we can still be sure that Jesus was anointed at Bethany – it’s recorded by three different writers – and that this anointing meant something important.
…which leads us onto the vital question of meaning and interpretation. John is very different to the other gospel writers. If the other writers are photographs, John is a portrait. For him, the meaning of the encounter is all-important. If that means a little latitude on the precise details, then this is justified if it illuminates who Jesus was and why he came more clearly. John wants us to truly believe that Jesus is the Servant King of all humanity. Therefore, he is anointed before he enters Jerusalem, since anointing was the act of declaring a king. But it was his feet, not his head, as a reminder of his humility – hence John also has the unique foot-washing episode at the Last Supper in a chapter’s time.
This may offend our scientific sensibilities; but truth goes deeper than simple precision. As a historian myself, I do struggle with John’s more cavalier attitude; but we need John in the canon of the bible – think what we would lose without him!
Ultimately, what is incontestable is that Jesus himself knew the significance of this encounter – and as our narrative moves into the decisive final week of Jesus’ life, may our hearts continue to anoint Jesus as our true King. And may that overflow in extravagant worship, as it did for Mary. Amen.