The Anointing at Bethany (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A): Revision Note
Exam code: 8062
14 It was two days before the Passover and the festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him; 2 for they said, “Not during the festival, or there may be a riot among the people.”
3 While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head. 4 But some were there who said to one another in anger, “Why was the ointment wasted in this way? 5 For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.” And they scolded her. 6 But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has performed a good service for me. 7 For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish; but you will not always have me. 8 She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial. 9 Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.” (Mark 14:1–9)
The actions of the woman at Bethany
Jesus was with Simon the leper (who had been cured of leprosy) at his house in Bethany, just outside Jerusalem
A woman appeared and anointed Jesus with an expensive bottle of oil
Anointing with oil was a hugely symbolic action at that time (and remains so today)
Kings were anointed with oil at their coronation as a sign that they had authority from God to govern
Anointing was important at religious ceremonies as a sign of blessing
People were anointed as part of their burial when they died
The Messiah that the Jews were expecting was the “anointed one”
Through her actions, the woman was showing Jesus great respect
The woman’s actions drew criticism, and some (unnamed) people accused her of wasting the perfumed oil
They said that the money could have been better used to help the poor
She was also criticised for touching Jesus, even though she did not know him
Jesus defended her actions and praised her for understanding what was going to happen to him: She had anointed him in preparation for his death
The people who criticised had focused on the wrong thing: They had thought about the worldly value of the oil and not the greater symbolism of the actions
Christianity today and universalism
Jesus praised the woman who anointed him because “she has done what she could”
The key message of the anointing at Bethany for Christians today is to do what they can to meet the needs of others, whatever situation they are in
They believe that the message of the gospel is for everyone
The Kingdom of God is open to all, and no one should be excluded
This is known as universalism
Jesus set the example of universalism through his care and concern for:
People with leprosy
Tax collectors
Gentiles
People with evil spirits (epilepsy)
Widows
The poor
Women
Christians today believe they should follow this example: seek out and do what they can for those on the edge of society, rejected or in need
Worked Example
Why did Jesus praise the woman who poured expensive ointment on him at Bethany?
A. Because she gave money to the poor instead of using the oil
B. Because she recognised his coming death and anointed him for burial
C. Because she treated him as a king in front of the disciples
D. Because she was a close family member who supported him financially
[1 mark]
Answer:
B. Because she recognised his coming death and anointed him for burial
The woman’s anointing symbolised respect and preparation for Jesus’s death.
Examiner Tips and Tricks
If you are asked a question about Jesus and the disregarded, for example:
“Explain two ways in which Jesus’s treatment of those disregarded by society is shown to be important in Mark’s Gospel”, you must refer to St Mark’s Gospel in your answer [5 marks]
You can draw on any of these examples in your response:
The man with leprosy (Mark 1:40–45): Jesus touched a leper and healed him, even though lepers were outcasts, showing compassion over ritual law
The Call of Levi (Mark 2:13–17): Jesus called a hated tax collector to be his disciple and ate with sinners, showing that discipleship is open to all
The Greek woman’s daughter (Mark 7:24–30): Jesus healed the daughter of a Gentile woman, showing that the Kingdom of God includes non-Jews
The boy with epilepsy (Mark 9:14–29): Jesus healed a boy thought to be possessed, showing care for someone others feared or misunderstood
The widow at the treasury (Mark 12:41–44): Jesus praised a poor widow for her faith and generosity, valuing her more than the rich
The anointing at Bethany (Mark 14:1–9): Jesus defended a woman who anointed him, showing respect for her faith and insight when others criticised her
Choose two different examples, and explain the meaning or importance of each.
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