lets examine myths shall we? We have a female figure anointing his feet with oil, considering its a hot sandy zero humidity kind of place where you wear sandals all day a good foot rub in the evening with lotion is a treasure. That this female companion chose to do it was commented on at the time as being rather intimate. The commentators were rebuked, he didnt mind.
Now why was this included in the document? Lets examine mythology. There is a ying/yang in all myths, shiva/ganesh mithraic chaos/order navaho beauty/disorder. In the indo european theatre you have female male pairings. Apparently this formula is being followed here by a prostitute/teacher who after several centuries is transformed into a saint/diety combination. Nothing new here and when it comes to religions you are either a saint/sinner so the whore/saint anology is certainly apt.
regards
daemon