BY PETRA VAUGHN FEBRUARY 14TH, 2015
Our Lesson on Mary of Bethany, comes from Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9, Luke 10:38-42 & John 11:1-12:11, here are some important points. These points may not directly answer the questions on pages 199-200.
1. Mary of Bethany, her name may be “Bitterness” page 196 Women of the Bible.
2. Mary of Bethany, is the sister of Martha and Lazarus, not to be confused with Mary, Jesus’ mother or Mary Magdalene.(John 11:1-2) Martha, Mary and their brother Lazarus lived together in Bethany, a village less than 2 miles from Jerusalem.
3. Mary stepped outside of the Cultural expectations of the time by sitting at the feet of Jesus with the men. Luke 10:39, She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.
4. Mary annoints Jesus head with very expensive oil in a Alabaster Jar.Matthew 26:7, A woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he as reclining at the table. Mark 14:3b a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. John 12:3, Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume, she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
5. Jesus took up for Mary, due to her kind gesture of pouring the oil on him, since the gesture seemed to cause an concern for one of the Disciples( Judas Iscariot). Matthew 26:10, Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me.”Mark 14:6 “Leave her alone” Jesus said, ”Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.” John 12: 7, “Leave her alone,” Jesus said, “It was intended, that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.
6. Mary will always be remembered for her gesture of love torwards Jesus. Matthew 26:13 & Mark 14:9, “ I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she had done will also be told, in memory of her.”
7. As Mary sat listening to Jesus, her sister Martha wanted Jesus to make her help her serve. Luke 10: 40-41, But Martha was so distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
8. Mary and her sister sent word to Jesus that Lazarus was sick. John 11:3, So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”
9. Mary waited expectantly for Jesus to come while her brother was sick. John 11:28-33
10. Mary wept at the death of her brother Lazarus John 11:32-33
1. The NIV Study Bible, Zondervan 2008 Edition (All scriptures)
2. Women of the Bible 52 Bible Studies for Indivuals or groups: Jean E Syswerda
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