Mary of Bethany
Israelite / Jew Jewish, of Bethany near Jerusalem · Life of Christ · New Testament
- Also called
- Mary
- Name means
- Greek form of the Hebrew name Miriam
- Role
- Friend of Jesus who sat at his feet and anointed him
- When
- c. AD 29-30
What they did
She sat at Jesus' feet and heard his word, fell at his feet weeping when Lazarus died, and before his death anointed his feet with costly ointment of spikenard, wiping them with her hair.
Why it matters: the purpose of their role
Jesus praised her for choosing 'that good part', and her anointing was done, as he said, against the day of his burial, an act of wholehearted worship.
But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. Luke 10:42 (KJV)
Bible references
And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. Luke 10:39 (KJV)
But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. Luke 10:42 (KJV)
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. When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, John 11:32-33 (KJV)
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. John 12:3 (KJV)
Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. John 12:7 (KJV)
Family
- Brothers / sisters
- Martha, Lazarus