Evidently Judas Iscariot led the disciples" criticism of Mary"s act ( John 12:4). According to the Gospel records, every time Mary tried to do something for Jesus she was misunderstood. [1] The disciples failed to appreciate the significance of what Mary was doing and that such an anointing was appropriate in view of Jesus" identity as "the Lord"s Anointed" and His impending death (cf. Matthew 16:21-28; Matthew 17:22-23; Matthew 20:18-19). Regardless of Judas" true motive the other disciples felt that Mary"s gift was inappropriate since so many poor people could have profited from it. They did not realize that the sacrifice that Jesus was about to make would solve the basic need of every poor person throughout all of history. Their objection was not evil but wrong due to lack of understanding. Mary does not seem to have understood that Jesus was going to die any more than the disciples. She evidently made her great sacrifice simply because she loved Jesus. [source][source][source]