Mary the sister of Lazarus is brought to our notice in connection with the visits of our Lord to Bethany. She is contrasted with her sister Martha, who was “cumbered about many things” while Jesus was their guest, while Mary had chosen “the good part.” Her character also appears in connection with the death of her brother (John 11:20, 31, 33). On the occasion of our Lord’s last visit to Bethany, Mary brought “a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus” as he reclined at table in the house of one Simon, who had been a leper (Matt. 26:6; Mark 14:3; John 12:2, 3). This was an evidence of her overflowing love to the Lord. Nothing is known of her subsequent history. It would appear from this act of Mary’s, and from the circumstance that they possessed a family vault (11:38), and that a large number of Jews from Jerusalem came to condole with them on the death of Lazarus (11:19), that this family at Bethany belonged to the wealthier class of the people.
- Luke.10: And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.
- Luke.10: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
- John.11: Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
- John.11: (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)
- John.11: And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.
- John.11: Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.
- John.11: And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.
- John.11: The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.
- John.11: Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
- John.11: Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.
- John.12: 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.