Mary of Bethany (Luke 10:38–42; John 11:1–6; John 11:28–37; John 12:1–8; Matthew 26:6–13; Mark 14:3–9)

Who Sat at the Lord’s Feet

The sister of Martha and Lazarus, of the village of Bethany, who sat at the Lord’s feet and heard his word, fell at his feet when her brother died, and anointed the feet of Jesus with ointment of pure nard.

Martha “had a sister called Mary, who also sat at the Lord’s feet, and heard his word” (Luke 10:39); the account does not name the village there. The Gospel of John names “Lazarus of Bethany, of the village of Mary and her sister Martha” (John 11:1), and adds that “it was that Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair” (John 11:2).

When Lazarus died, Martha went out to meet Jesus “but Mary still sat in the house” (John 11:20). Called by her sister, she rose quickly and went to him, and “fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died” (John 11:32). Seeing her weeping, Jesus “groaned in the spirit, and was troubled” (John 11:33).

Six days before the passover, at a supper in Bethany, “Mary therefore took a pound of ointment of pure nard, very precious, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair” (John 12:3). Jesus answered Judas Iscariot’s objection: “Suffer her to keep it against the day of my burying” (John 12:7). Matthew 26:6–13 and Mark 14:3–9 tell a similar anointing at Bethany, at the house of Simon the leper, without naming the woman; the texts differ in some details, and readers differ on whether they describe the same event.

Strengths

• Attentive listening
• Costly devotion
• Reverence

Themes

• Sitting at the Lord’s feet
• Devotion
• Grief and comfort
• Anointing for burial

Mary sits at the Lord’s feet (Luke 10:38–42)

While Martha is cumbered about much serving, her sister Mary sits at the Lord’s feet and hears his word; Jesus says she has chosen the good part.

The sisters send word (John 11:1–6)

Lazarus of Bethany, of the village of Mary and Martha, is sick; the sisters send to Jesus.

Mary comes to Jesus (John 11:20; John 11:28–32)

Martha calls Mary secretly; she rises quickly, falls at Jesus’ feet and says her brother would not have died.

Jesus weeps (John 11:33–37)

Seeing Mary and those with her weeping, Jesus groans in the spirit, asks where Lazarus is laid, and weeps.

Jesus weeps

“When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping who came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, and said, Where have ye laid him? They say unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept” (John 11:33–35).

The Jews said, “Behold how he loved him!” (John 11:36). Jesus then came to the tomb and called Lazarus out (John 11:38–44).

Mary anoints Jesus (John 12:1–8)

At a supper in Bethany six days before the passover, Mary anoints the feet of Jesus with ointment of pure nard; Judas Iscariot objects and Jesus answers.

Mary anoints Jesus

“Jesus therefore six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus raised from the dead. So they made him a supper there: and Martha served” (John 12:1–2). “Mary therefore took a pound of ointment of pure nard, very precious, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment” (John 12:3).

Judas Iscariot asked why it was not sold for three hundred shillings and given to the poor (John 12:4–5). “Jesus therefore said, Suffer her to keep it against the day of my burying. For the poor ye have always with you; but me ye have not always” (John 12:7–8).

The Gospels of Matthew and Mark tell of a woman at Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, who poured ointment on Jesus’ head; Jesus said, “she did it to prepare me for burial” (Matthew 26:12), and “She hath done what she could” (Mark 14:8). Neither names her. Whether they and John tell the same anointing is a question on which Christians differ.

Jesus (Luke 10:39; John 11:32; John 12:3)

Sat at his feet, fell at his feet in grief, and anointed his feet.

Martha (Luke 10:38–42; John 11:1–2)

Her sister, who served while Mary sat at the Lord’s feet.

Lazarus (John 11:1–44)

Her brother, who was sick and died, and whom Jesus called out of the tomb.

Major sections

• Luke 10:38–42
• John 11:1–45
• John 12:1–8

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