In brief
Mary of Bethany is the sister of Martha and Lazarus, and a friend of Jesus. She first appears seated at the Lord's feet, listening to his word. After the death of Lazarus, she falls at his feet in tears. A few days before Passover, she pours very costly perfume on him. Jesus defends her and says that this gesture prepares the day of his burial. She is remembered as a woman whose worship is precious to Jesus.
What does the name Mary of Bethany mean?
Mary is the usual English form of Miriam in Hebrew. The meaning of this name is debated, several proposals exist (beloved, bitter, exalted), and the Bible does not explain it. It should not be confused with the other Marys of the Gospels, notably Mary Magdalene.
The story of Mary of Bethany
Seated at the Lord's Feet
Luke 10:38-39When Jesus is welcomed into the home of Martha, her sister Mary sits at the Lord's feet and listens to his word. While Martha busies herself with serving, Mary chooses to stay close to Jesus. This posture is that of a disciple who learns, at a time when something else was expected of women.
The Good Part
Luke 10:40-42Martha asks Jesus to tell Mary to help her. Jesus answers that Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken from her. He thus defends her choice. It is not a reproach against service, but a statement of the value of listening to his word, which no one can take away from Mary.
She Falls at His Feet
John 11:28-32After the death of Lazarus, Martha calls Mary quietly: the Teacher is here and is asking for you. Mary gets up at once and goes to meet him. Seeing him, she falls at his feet and tells him, like her sister, that if Jesus had been there, her brother would not have died.
Jesus Weeps With Her
John 11:33-35When Jesus sees Mary weeping, along with the Jews who accompany her, he is deeply moved in spirit and troubled. He asks where Lazarus has been laid. They tell him to come and see. Then Jesus weeps. The Lord shares the grief of those he loves, before showing his power.
The Costly Perfume
John 12:1-3Six days before Passover, a meal is given for Jesus at Bethany. Mary takes a pound of pure nard, very costly, and anoints the feet of Jesus. She wipes them with her hair, and the house is filled with the fragrance of the perfume. Her gesture is an act of worship without calculation.
Jesus Defends Her
John 12:4-8Judas Iscariot protests that this perfume should have been sold for the poor. Jesus answers: leave her alone, she kept it for the day of my burial. He announces that the poor will always be there, but not him. He recognizes in this gesture a preparation for his death.
What Mary of Bethany teaches us
- Take time at the feet of Jesus: listening to his word comes before activity.
- Bring your tears to Jesus: he is not indifferent, he weeps with those who suffer.
- True worship does not calculate what it gives, it offers the best.
- You do not have to justify your love for Jesus: he himself defends those who worship him sincerely.
Key verses
Mary sits at the Lord's feet and listens to his word. An image of the disciple who chooses to stay close to Jesus and to learn from him.
Mary falls at the feet of Jesus, saying that her brother would not have died if he had been there. She expresses her pain and her faith plainly before the Lord.
Mary anoints the feet of Jesus with pure nard, very costly, and wipes them with her hair. The whole house is filled with the fragrance. A generous act of worship.
Sermons about Mary of Bethany
- The Broken Jar: Mary, Judas, and the New CovenantThe gesture of Mary, who breaks an alabaster jar and pours out priceless perfume, becomes the key to reading the last Passover of Jesus: the only right response to his sacrifice is to give everything.
- Martha and Mary: Wisdom for Your Overloaded ScheduleStarting from Luke 10:38-42, the sermon shows Mary seated at the Lord's feet, listening to his word, as a model of wisdom in the face of our worries.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mary of Bethany the same as Mary Magdalene?
No. Mary of Bethany is the sister of Martha and Lazarus, who live in Bethany, near Jerusalem. Mary of Magdala, or Mary Magdalene, comes from another town, Magdala. John 11:2 identifies Mary of Bethany as the one who anointed the Lord with perfume.
What does the name Mary mean?
Mary is the usual English form of Miriam in Hebrew. The exact meaning of this name is debated and the Bible does not explain it. Several proposals are made, such as beloved, bitter or exalted. It is better to stay cautious about this etymology.
Where can I find the story of Mary of Bethany in the Bible?
She appears in three texts: Luke 10:38-42 where she listens to Jesus at his feet, John 11 where she mourns the death of Lazarus, then John 12:1-8 where she pours the perfume on the feet of Jesus. The passages complete one another.