Person

Mary (sister of Lazarus)

Female

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.

Relationships

Siblings Lazarus, Martha

Events Jesus meets Martha and Mary, Lazarus Raised form the Dead, Mary Anoints Jesus

Associated people Jesus Christ

Active in Bethany

Appears in John

Key verses

Luke 10:42

but one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

John 12:3

Mary, therefore, took a pound of ointment of pure nard, very precious, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment.

Luke 10:39

She had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.

John 11:1

Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus from Bethany, of the village of Mary and her sister, Martha.

John 11:19

Many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother.

John 11:2

It was that Mary who had anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother, Lazarus, was sick.