Monday | 27 April 2026
It is likely that the woman who anointed the head of Jesus was the wife of Simon. Supporting this view, we observe that, in contrast to the other women who washed and anointed Jesus’ feet, she had the liberty to approach the table and to anoint Christ’s head with oil. Again, Jesus explained that this woman had poured the fragrant oil on His body for His burial. Mat 26:12. Furthermore, Jesus declared, ‘Wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world [proclaiming the resurrection], what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.’ Mat 26:13.
These two women had a participation in the burial of Jesus. The fragrance of these anointings remained on Him right through to His resurrection, when He was presented to the Father as the Firstfruits of men in the image and likeness of God. For this reason, the participation of these women in the burial of Christ belongs to the proclamation of the gospel.
We know, of course, that after Jesus’ body was taken down from the cross, it was anointed and wrapped for burial by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. Joh 19:38‑42. Furthermore, after three days and nights, certain other women, including Mary Magdalene, came to the tomb bringing spices for burial. Luk 24:1‑12. All these people were connected to the same work initiated by Mary and Simon the leper’s wife.
It is notable that after He had risen from the dead, Jesus appeared to the women first. In this regard, the Bible teacher, W.W. Patterson, noted, ‘They saw Him first, because they loved Him best’. Their commitment to anointing Christ revealed that they did not love Him best because Christ had met their expectations. Rather, they had been illuminated that He is the resurrection and the life. They were exercising faith for His resurrection, and to receive this resurrection in their lives and houses under His headship.
Further Study:
John 20
References:
Mat 26:12-13
For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial. Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.
Joh 19:38-42
After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So, he came and took the body of Jesus. And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So, there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.
Luk 24:1-12
Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, ‘Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, “The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.”’ And they remembered His words. Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles. And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them. But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marvelling to himself at what had happened.