Mary Of Bethany

by Reg Jones, Aberkenfig, South Wales | Category: Three Marys | Jan 1995

Of all the names given to women in the Bible, Mary must surely have some of the choicest associations. The name originates from Mara, the name which Naomi took to herself when she returned from Moab, bereft of her family, as related in the first chapter of the book of Ruth. The name means "bitter" - but the women who bore this name in the New Testament are some of the sweetest characters we know. There are six different Marys in the New Testament, as far as we can tell, and it is an interesting Bible exercise to find them all. Our interest in this

article, however, is in Mary of Bethany whose love for the Lord was so outstanding.

Mary is first introduced to us in the 10th chapter of Luke's gospel where we find that her sister Martha was entertaining the Lord and His disciples in the family home. Mary was clearly so enraptured by the Lord that she sat at His feet listening to His words. Martha was busy serving the meal and could have done with Mary's help, but the Lord commends Mary for choosing the more important occupation. She valued her Master so much that listening to Him meant everything to her. Both Martha and Mary were entertaining the Lord in their different ways - Martha serving Him with a meal and Mary sitting and listening to Him. It was a pity that Martha found her duty heavy and wished her sister to help, leading to the Lord's gentle reproof. Both are duties which sisters can do today. It is essential that someone attends to the physical needs of the disciples, but even more necessary to spend time in the Lord's presence hearing His word. The Lord's words to Martha should not discourage us from our duty because, while Mary's part is described as the better part' the Lord needed Martha's services as well.

The next time we see Mary is in the same home at Bethany when her brother Lazarus had died. These two sisters, who had treated the Lord well on at least one previous occasion, were understandably distressed that He was not with them in their hour of greatest need. He knew best as He knows best today and the fact that He was not there meant greater glory to God and a greater witness to the unbelieving Jews. From John's record we would judge that Martha and Mary had discussed together their regret that the Lord had not been there when Lazarus died, for on separate occasions they both said the same thing to Him. Now it was the Lord's words to Martha which prove to be the more interesting, for it was to her that He said, "I am the Resurrection, and the Life; he that believeth on Me, though he die, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth on Me shall never die" (John 11:25,26). It was, however, when the Lord saw Mary weeping that He Himself was caused to weep. The tender spirit of Mary who loved Him so much was hurt because of her sorrow, and the Son of God wept with her. How much

He entered into the griefs and pains that they bore then! He is still able to sympathize with His loved ones today and "though exalted feels afresh, what every member bears".

By far the most wonderful thing about Mary of Bethany is the devotion she showed to the Lord by her anointing of Him, as recorded for us in John chapter 12. This must surely rank as one of the most moving stories in the whole of the Bible. While we have the clear record of it in John's Gospel it is also recorded for us, without Mary's name, in Matthew and Mark. Although there are slight differences in the accounts in Matthew, Mark and John, most people consider that these all refer to the same happening. It is John who provides most of the details and so we concentrate on what he says.

The scene in Bethany is one of happiness; Lazarus has been raised from the dead and it would appear that Mary and Martha, as well as Simon the leper, were anxious that the Lord and His disciples should share in their joy in a meal together. At this feast Martha served without being in any way upset because Mary was engaged in concentrating on her Master. Mary took a jar full of valuable perfume and anointed the feet of the Lord. The expense involved is clear from the remonstrations of the disciples, particularly Judas. It would have cost a year's earnings, a lot of money in anyone's reckoning, but Mary loved her Lord so much that it did not matter to her that it was expensive. She was prepared to sacrifice because her love for Him was so great.

It is pointless to enter into what the perfume was or where Mary had obtained the money to buy it. The real point of the story is that here was one who loved the Son of God when He was here as a humble Man and she wished to show that love to Him in a very special way. To her He was worth it all! She had listened to His words, she had seen His wonderful power in raising her brother from the dead and she knew that He was worth all the adoration that her heart could possibly give. Money counts little where there is love, and Mary poured out her heart with that ointment that day in Bethany.

Did she know that the Lord was about to die? This is one of those

questions that we cannot answer for sure. The Lord said the anointing was in preparation for His burial. Does this mean that she had not used the ointment on her own brother's body when he had died, but out of her deep devotion to the Lord had kept it for His burial? Whatever the Lord meant we can be sure from His words that Mary appreciated that He must suffer and die. Perhaps she was the only person among all the Lord's followers who realized this! We read nothing at all about her, or Martha and Lazarus, being at the Cross or the tomb. As a matter of fact they disappear from the gospel story completely after this. Mary's act of adoring love for her Master could hardly be the last time she saw Him. She perhaps realized, because of what they had passed through, that in Him was the Resurrection and the Life and that He would appear again, raised from the dead. Some day we shall know fully what part they played after that, but Mary's devotion is linked with the good news of the gospel and remains an abiding testimony to the love of a woman.

Reg Jones, Aberkenfig, South Wales | Jan 1995
Three Marys