Mary of Bethany
femaleNew TestamentMeaning: “Mary "of Bethany"”
The sister of Martha and Lazarus who sat at Jesus’ feet to learn and anointed Him with costly perfume before His burial.
Biography
Mary of Bethany was the sister of Martha and Lazarus, a devoted follower of Jesus remembered for two acts of wholehearted devotion.
Sitting at Jesus' feet
While her sister Martha was "cumbered about much serving," Mary "sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word." When Martha complained, Jesus gently defended Mary: "Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:38–42) — commending the priority of devotion to Christ.
The anointing
Six days before the Passover, Mary took "a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly," anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair, filling the house with fragrance (John 12:3). When Judas objected to the "waste," Jesus defended her: "against the day of my burying hath she kept this." He promised that wherever the gospel was preached, her deed would be told as a memorial of her (Mark 14:9). She had grasped, more than the apostles, that Jesus was going to die.
Life Timeline
Sits at Jesus' feet, choosing 'that good part'
Anoints Jesus with costly perfume before His burial
Family Tree
Drag to pan · use + / − to zoom · tap the + on a relative to expand a generation · click anyone to open their page
Frequently asked about Mary of Bethany
Who was Mary of Bethany in the Bible?
The sister of Martha and Lazarus who sat at Jesus’ feet to learn and anointed Him with costly perfume before His burial.
What does the name Mary of Bethany mean?
The name Mary of Bethany means “Mary "of Bethany"”.
Sermon Mate
Teaching on Mary of Bethany?
Organize your sermon notes, link Scripture passages, and build your outline in Sermon Mate — the workspace for ministry leaders.
Open Sermon Mate →