While this plotting was going on at Jerusalem, Jesus and His friends were invited to Simon's feast. At the table the Saviour sat with Simon, whom He had cured of a loathsome disease, on one side, and Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead, on the other. Martha served at the table, but Mary was earnestly listening to every word from the lips of 559 Jesus. In His mercy, Jesus had pardoned her sins, He had called forth her beloved brother from the grave, and Mary's heart was filled with gratitude. She had heard Jesus speak of His approaching death, and in her deep love and sorrow she had longed to show Him honor. At great personal sacrifice she had purchased an alabaster box of "ointment of spikenard, very costly," with which to anoint His body. But now many were declaring that He was about to be crowned king. Her grief was turned to joy, and she was eager to be first in honoring her Lord. Breaking her box of ointment, she poured its contents upon the head and feet of Jesus; then, as she knelt weeping, moistening them with her tears, she wiped His feet with her long, flowing hair.

Medens denne sammensværgelse foregik i Jerusalem, var Jesus, og hans venner blevet indbudt til Simons gæstebud. Ved måltidet sad Frelseren ved siden af Simon, som han havde helbredt for en forfærdelig sygdom, og ved hans anden side sad Lazarus, som han havde oprejst fra de døde. Marta vartede op ved bordet, men Maria lyttede opmærksomt til hvert ord fra Jesu mund. Jesus havde i sin nåde tilgivet hende hendes synder, han havde kaldt hendes elskede broder frem fra graven, og Marias hjerte strømmede over af taknemmelighed. Hun havde hørt Jesus tale om sin forestående død, og i sin store kærlighed og sorg havde hun længtes efter at vise, hvor højt hun ærede ham. Ved store personlige ofre havde hun købt en alabastkrukke med "meget kostbar nardussalve", hvormed hun ville salve hans legeme. Men nu var der mange, der sagde, at han snart skulle krones til konge. Hendes sorg blev vendt til glæde, og hun var ivrigt efter at være den første til at hylde sin Herre. Hun sønderbrød sin salvekrukke og hældte indholdet ud over Jesu hoved og fødder. Derefter knælede hun grædende ned, og medens tårerne vædede hans fødder, tørrede hun dem af med sit lange, bølgende hår.