Mar 14:1-11 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Mark 14:1: 14:1–16:8 The final section of Mark is the narrative of Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection. Summary for Mark 14:1-2: 14:1-2 The plot by the leading priests and teachers of religious law to kill Jesus (see 3:6 ; 11:18 ; 12:12 ) now comes to a climax.

Summary for Mark 14:1: 14:1–16:8 ^a The final section of Mark is the narrative of Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection.
Summary for Mark 14:1-2: 14:1-2 ^b The plot by the leading priests and teachers of religious law to kill Jesus (see 3:6 ^c; 11:18 ^d; 12:12 ^e) now comes to a climax.
Summary for Mark 14:3-9: 14:3-9 ^f The story of Jesus’ being anointed by a woman in Bethany (14:3-9 ^g) sets the scene for events to follow. Luke’s account (Luke 7:36-50 ^h) is significantly different and might be a different event. This incident took place in Bethany, two miles east of Jerusalem on the lower, eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, where Jesus apparently stayed when he was in Judea (Mark 11:1 ⁱ, 11-12 ^j). The home belonged to Simon, a former leper (lepers were isolated from society; perhaps he had been healed by Jesus; see 1:40-45 ^k).

• eating: Or reclining. The meal was a banquet, as indicated by their reclining. A woman (see John 12:3 ^l) broke the neck of a sealed, alabaster jar containing expensive perfume (pure nard) and poured it all on Jesus’ head (see Exod 29:4-7 ^m; 2 Kgs 9:1-6 ⁿ).
Summary for Mark 14:4-5: 14:4-5 ^o Some (cp. Matt 26:8 ^p; John 12:4-5 ^q) were indignant over what they considered a waste of the expensive perfume, said to have been worth a year’s wages for the average worker. This large amount of money could have been given to the poor, and it was obligatory to remember the poor during Passover.
Summary for Mark 14:6-8: 14:6-8 ^r Jesus defended the woman’s action. That the disciples would always have the poor among them did not minimize Jesus’ concern for the poor. The opportunity to minister directly to Jesus was limited. Only hours remained! She chose the best thing she could do with her perfume.
14:8 ^s Jesus interprets the woman’s action. She had anointed his body in preparation for his burial. Whether the woman was consciously motivated by Jesus’ imminent death is unclear; her loving act served the purpose Jesus assigned it.
14:9 ^t Although Mark does not give the woman’s name, her deed (14:6 ^u) is indeed remembered as the story of Jesus is told throughout the world.
Summary for Mark 14:10-11: 14:10-11 ^v In sharp contrast to the woman, Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, offered to betray Jesus for money (Matt 26:15 ^w; 27:3 ^x, 9 ^y).