Note 4 at Mr 14:3: The only mention of Simon the leper is in this verse and in Mt 26:6. Simon was a friend of Jesus, as indicated by these verses, and it is possible that Mary, Martha, and Lazarus knew him or were even friends of his since they lived in the same town and were present at this supper. Jesus had evidently healed Simon of leprosy since Jews, who were forbidden to associate with lepers, attended this supper (Joh 12:9, see note 1 at Joh 11:1 and note 3 at Joh 11:2).

Note 5 at Mr 14:3: The spikenard was a fragrant plant, the roots of which were used in Jesus' day to make an aromatic and costly perfume and ointment. The plant itself grows in the Himalaya Mountains at an elevation from 11,000 to 17,000 feet and was used by Hindus as a medicine and perfume for centuries and was an actively traded commodity. Its great cost stemmed from the fact that it had to be transported over 6,000 miles to reach Palestine, and depending on quality, it sold for as much as 400 denarii per pound (or $750 an ounce in modern purchasing equivalent). That made it more valuable than gold. This ointment was worth at least two and one-half times more than the thirty pieces of silver that Judas received for betraying the Lord, which is why Judas was so upset (Joh 12:5). This perfume was worth two and one-half times what Judas thought Jesus was worth.