Nard Ointment

Nard ointment is a top-tier, expensive fragrant oil derived from the rhizome of a plant called nard. The scientific name for the nard plant is Nardostachys jatamansi. It is a perennial herbaceous plant with robust roots and a fresh fragrance, and it is most commonly found in India or Persia. It currently grows in the foothills of the Himalayas in northern India, which makes it very precious.

The roots of the nard plant are thick, slightly conical, and often twisted. The plant grows to about one meter tall and is typically found in rock crevices, depressions, or valleys. Due to the very low temperatures in the Himalayas, especially from early November to March, the ground is covered in ice and snow. During this time, the nard can only survive; it cannot grow. When the ice and snow melt in April, the nard sprouts from its rhizome, grows leaves in May, flowers in June, bears fruit in August, and gradually withers in October, before being covered by ice and snow again. Because it only has a seven-month growing season each year, the nard stores nutrients in its underground rhizome whenever it has a chance to grow. Modern scientists still don’t fully understand why these small rhizomes produce such a fragrant scent.

The container for nard ointment was an “alabaster jar,” typically made of alabaster. This was a long-necked bottle, usually with a rounded bottom and a small hole at the base for pouring in the ointment. Once filled, the hole would be sealed for sale. The neck of the bottle was also sealed without an opening or a lid, so to use the ointment, one had to break the neck of the jar. This is why the Bible says, “While He was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on His head” (Mark 14:3).

At that time, nard ointment was worth thirty silver coins, which was 300 denarii. This was equivalent to 300 days’ wages for a common laborer and 19,200 times the value of a widow’s two small coins, so it was only used for special occasions. According to ancient Jewish custom, nard ointment could be used to anoint distinguished guests or to prepare the dead for burial. So, when people questioned the woman who anointed Jesus, He said, “Leave her alone… Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me… She did what she could. She poured perfume on My body beforehand to prepare for My burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her” (Mark 14:6, 8-9).

The authors of Matthew and Mark did not name the woman, allowing her to be humbled and hidden in her act for the Lord. However, we know from the Gospel of John that this woman was Mary of Bethany. In this extraordinary and beautiful act, even though Jesus did not mention Mary by name in His words, He remembered her in His heart. As a result, this event, connected to the Lord’s salvation, has been passed down for nearly 2,000 years, reaching our hearts today. It reminds us that in our service to God’s kingdom, we must set ourselves aside, because what is important is not our own name, but giving all the glory to God.

(Edited and compiled based on the Chinese Union Version Bible and Comprehensive Biblical Interpretation)