Mary of Bethany
She sat at Jesus’ feet to listen, wept at his feet in grief, and anointed his feet with perfume.
New Testament · 1st century · Luke, John, Mark · Also known as Sister of Martha and Lazarus
About Mary of Bethany
Mary of Bethany, sister of Martha and Lazarus, is found three times at Jesus’ feet. When he visited, she "sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word," and Jesus said she had "chosen that good part." When Lazarus died, she fell at his feet weeping, and Jesus wept. Days before his death, at a supper in Bethany, she poured a pound of costly spikenard ointment on his feet and wiped them with her hair, and the house was filled with the fragrance. When Judas objected, Jesus said, "Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this."
This Mary is different from Mary Magdalene and from the "woman… which was a sinner" who anointed Jesus in Luke 7, though later Western tradition often confused them. Mark 14 tells of an unnamed woman anointing Jesus at Bethany, whom John identifies as Mary.
The story
That good part
Mary "sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word." When Martha complained, Jesus said, "Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."
Luke 10:38-42
Jesus wept
When Jesus came after Lazarus died, Mary "fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died." When Jesus saw her weeping, "he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled." "Jesus wept."
John 11:28-36
The house was filled
"Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment." Judas asked why it wasn’t sold for three hundred pence and given to the poor. Jesus said, "Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this."
John 12:1-8
Key moments
- Sits at Jesus’ feet: "That good part." (Luke 10:39)
- Falls at his feet in grief: "If thou hadst been here." (John 11:32)
- Jesus weeps with her: At Lazarus’ death. (John 11:35)
- Anoints his feet: With costly spikenard. (John 12:3)
- Defended by Jesus: "Let her alone." (John 12:7)
Questions about Mary of Bethany
In meetBible these answers are given in Mary of Bethany’s voice. They are written by hand and checked against Scripture.
Why did you pour perfume on Jesus’ feet?
John doesn’t record my reasons, only what I did: I took "a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair." Jesus gave it meaning: "against the day of my burying hath she kept this." He had just raised my brother, and was days from his death.
Are you the same as Mary Magdalene?
No. I’m Mary of Bethany, sister of Martha and Lazarus. Mary Magdalene came from Magdala in Galilee. Luke 7 also tells of an unnamed "woman in the city, which was a sinner" who anointed Jesus in a Pharisee’s house. Later Western tradition often merged the three, but the Gospels keep them distinct.
Why did Judas complain?
Judas asked, "Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?" John adds, "This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag." Jesus answered, "Let her alone… For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always."
Connected people
- Martha: Sister
- Lazarus: Brother
- Jesus: Friend
- Mary Magdalene: Often confused with her
- Judas Iscariot: Objected to her gift
Read it yourself
Start with Luke 10:38-42; John 11; 12:1-8.