Women of the New TestamentSample

Mary of Bethany, the Sister Who Worshiped Jesus

Mary of Bethany, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, appears three times in the Gospels—and each time, we find her at Jesus’ feet. Mary does not have as many speaking lines as Martha in these stories, but her heart of worship becomes clear through her actions.

First, Mary breaks with tradition by sitting at Jesus’ feet to soak in His every word (Luke 10:38-42). When Martha complains that Mary should be helping her in the kitchen instead, Jesus affirms Mary’s choice. He says only one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen what is better. She delights in being as close to Jesus as she can.

The second time Mary encounters Jesus is after Lazarus dies. Brokenhearted, she runs to Him in the rawness of her grief and falls at His feet (John 11:32). She laments that if He had been there, her brother would not have died. Though Jesus knows He will raise Lazarus from the dead, He is so moved by her tears that He also weeps.

In her last recorded appearance in Scripture, Mary boldly interrupts a dinner party to anoint Jesus’ feet. Perhaps knowing that this may be the last time she will see her Lord, she prepares a gift for Him, an expensive perfume that costs a year’s wages! She pours it all out on Jesus’ feet and then wipes them with her unbound hair. In that culture, wearing one’s hair down was considered immoral. But Mary’s love was completely unselfconscious because her focus was solely on Jesus. Once again, she comes to Jesus as she is, bringing her whole self and all she has to offer.

The disciples rebuke her for her extravagance, calling it a “waste” (Matthew 26:8). But Jesus calls what she did a “beautiful” (kalos) thing (verse 10). The Greek word kalos has an ethical or moral sense and can mean beautiful, good, or desirable. It can refer to something so attractively good that it inspires others to embrace what is beautiful and praiseworthy. Wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, Jesus says that what Mary has done will also be told in memory of her (verse 13).

In these three stories, we see Mary growing in her devotion to Jesus: first as a learner, then through her lament, and finally lavishing Him with her worship. Mary can inspire all of us to grow in our relationship with God. Do you spend time with Jesus, delighting in His Word and listening to His words? If you are grieving or suffering loss, how can you come to Jesus in honest lament? Finally, how can you cultivate a heart of worship, giving Jesus your all?

Prayer: God, thank you for how Mary came to you in her times of joy and sorrow. Please help us to draw near to you and grow in our relationship with you. We desire to worship you the way Mary did, with whole-hearted devotion. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.