'Mary then took a pound of costly perfume and anointed the feet of Jesus with her hair' John 12:13

The anointing of Jesus's feet by Mary is one of the few events that are reported in all four gospels. Even though it was written thousands of years ago the words carry a shocking immediacy and impact .Even if the author of John wasn't present himself without doubt he received an eye witness account of what took place. There is something about this scene which is riveting and at the same time unsettling and moving. Everything in this passage goes against the accepted norm . Regardless of age  girls seem to pay the most attention to their hair Is it clean tidy and well styled etc and that applied as much in Jesus's time as it does today. Likewise but in reverse the feet have always been considered unclean especially covered with the sand and grime of rural Palestine and nard a costly perfume for the upper body hardly an appropriate podiatric deodorant ! Everything is wrong but the effect is perfect.

I've read many accounts of what this passage means. I see it as a description of love at its purist we recognize the truth in events and the truth speaks for itself. There isn't a hint of fear or forced obedience she knows that Christ is the Christ her actions are at one level simple and straightforward but at another unworldly and mysterious with a metaphysical feel to them an oddity containing a profound message. In other words just like the life of Christ itself.

Jesus' s whole life has an otherworldly twisted feel to it. The son of God riding on a donkey born in a stable crucified a common criminal in a forgotten corner of the world. They hoped for a warrior prince they got a carpenter , they yearned for strength but ' blessed are the meek'. Yet something whispers to our soul that cannot be extinguished and once heard never forgotten. The scene and Mary's actions are in themselves very ordinary but the effect is extraordinary . Sound familiar?