The Feet of Jesus Anointed by Different Women

Författare

David Svärd

Summary, in English

There are significant differences between the anointing episodes in Luke 7:36-50 and in John 12:1-8, and the relation between them has been much debated. I propose that the episodes testify to a similar Christological emphasis as well as a different one which may indicate that one or both evangelists were aware of the work of the other. There is reason to assume that the Lukan as well as the Johannine anointing stories are meant to confirm the messianic identity of Jesus. They both differ from the Markan and Matthean accounts in singling out Jesus’ feet as the object of the anointing. This is due to a common emphasis on Jesus’ messiahship as inherently being servanthood, as the feet represent servants. One important difference between the episodes is that in Luke a sinful woman anoints Jesus while in John the pious Mary performs the act. The latter corresponds to Mark and Matthew and confirms that Jesus is the Messiah of the faithful Jews. The former shows that Jesus is the Messiah even for sinners and outcasts – a Lukan theme. These corresponding and differing details of the anointing episodes should be interpreted Christologically and the inclusion of them by the respective evangelists may indicate Luke’s awareness of John’s Christological feet emphasis or vice versa.

http://sbl-site.org/meetings/abstract.aspx?id=30081

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