Jesus in his mercy had pardoned the sins of Mary, which had been many and grievous, and her heart was full of love for her Saviour. She had often heard him speak of his approaching death, and she was grieved that he should meet so cruel a fate. At great personal sacrifice she had purchased an alabaster box of precious ointment with which to anoint the body of Jesus at his death. But she now heard many express an opinion that he would be elevated to kingly authority when he went to Jerusalem, and she was only too ready to believe that it would be so. She rejoiced that her Saviour would no longer be despised and rejected, and obliged to flee for his life. In her love and gratitude she wished to be the first to do him honor, and, seeking to avoid observation, anointed his head and feet with the precious ointment, and then wiped his feet with her long, flowing hair. {2SP 375.1}

Jesus havde nådig tilgivet Marias synder, selvom de havde været mange og store, og hendes hjerte var fuldt af kærlighed til Frelseren. Hun havde ofte hørt ham tale om sin død, som nærmede sig, og hun var bedrøvet over, at han gik en så grusom skæbne i møde. Med stor opofrelse havde hun købt en alabastkrukke med meget kostelig salve hvormed hun havde bestemt at salve Jesu legeme, når han var død. Men nu hørte hun, at mange var af den mening, at han ville blive ophøjet til konge, når han kom til Jerusalem, og hun var alt for villig til at tro, at det ville ske. Hun glæde sig over, at hendes Frelser ikke længere skulle blive foragtet og forkastet og tvunget til at fly for at undgå døden. I sin kærlighed og taknemmelighed ønskede hun at være den først, som skulle ære ham, og hun søgte at undgå at vække opmærksomhed, men salvede ikke desto mindre hans hoved og fødder med kostelig salve og tørrede hans fødder med sit lange hår.