Mary and Jesus

We meet Mary of Bethany three times. Each time, she’s at the feet of Jesus. 

The first time she was introduced, she was at Jesus’s feet while Martha did the housework. 

The next time we see her was at the death of her brother Lazarus. 

When Martha told Mary Jesus had come, she left the mourning friends and family and ran to greet him. She fell down at his feet. Her first words were the same as Martha’s “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” (John 11:32)

But instead of discussing theology, Mary merely wept, and Jesus wept with her. 

After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, friends in Bethany gave a dinner for Jesus with Lazarus as a guest of honor. It was held at the home of Simon the leper, and Martha served the meal.

While they were sitting at the table, Mary took out a pound of expensive ointment. She anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. Though Judas condemned her actions, saying she shouldn’t have wasted the expensive ointment, but should have sold it to help the poor, Jesus defended Mary. 

“Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial.  For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.” (John 12:7-8)

Mary was no theologian. She was just a woman who loved Jesus. He didn’t care whether she could explain her feelings. He saw her heart.

Jesus loved Mary because she loved him with all her heart. 

Read about Mary: John 11-12

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