The Many Mary’s of the Bible

By Petra Vaughn

There seems to be a few different Mary’s in the Bible, each one has a special reason for being mentioned. Just to help you keep them straight here is a little knowledge about each one.

Mary: Mother of Jesus. She is the virgin bride that gave birth to our Savior Jesus Christ. With Jesus at the temple, She was at the wedding in Cana She was at the cross and burial of Jesus. And with the disciples at Ascension.  Mt 1:16-25 Mt 2:11, Lk 1:32-40, Ac 1:14, Jn 2:1-5, Jn 19:25-27

Mary: Mary of Bethany. She is the sister of Martha and Lazarus. She poured pure Nard/Oil on Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair and tears. Lk 10:38-42, John 11:1-12:8, Mt 26:7, Mk 14:3-9.

Mary Magdelene (Mary of Magdala): She was not a prostitute or sinful woman, she had 7 demons inside of her that Jesus cast out, when He called her by name. She was also a great supporter of Jesus’ ministry. She was at the cross, burial and empty tomb. She was one of the first to see Jesus alive. Mt 27:56-61, Mt 28:1-10,Lk 8:1-3, Lk 8:2, Jn 19:25-27

Mary Mother of James & Joseph (Joses): She was at the cross and empty tomb. She was also a great supporter of Jesus ministry. Mk 15:40-41, Lk 8:3.

Mary: Mother of John (Mark): she owned the inn that Jesus used for the last supper. Acts 12:12

Mary Wife of Clopas: Was at the cross with the other woman. Jn 19:25-27

Mary: who worked very hard for you. Unknown who she is, was introduced by Paul. Ro 16:6

The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, K-Q, In Four Volumes, Abingdon Press, 1962. (page 288-290)

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LUKE 10:41-42 – Bible Verse and Reflection

“Martha, Martha,” The Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

We need to focus on what is important and that is one thing, Jesus Christ. He is instructing us in this Scripture that He is the right choice and nothing else is as important…Life is like a camera. Focus on what is important. Capture the good times. Develop from the negatives. And if things don’t work out, take another shot…GodVine.com

Jesus is always available to us. We have to make the right choice to choose Him over all else.

MARY OF BETHANY —10 KEY POINTS FOR BIBLE STUDY ON February 14, 2015

BY PETRA VAUGHN FEBRUARY 14^TH, 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

Women of the Bible – Mary of Bethany – 02/14/2015

Mary of Bethany is our nineteenth study in our series from Women of the Bible, 52 Bible Studies for Individuals and Groups by Jean E Syswerda. The study of Mary of Bethany is found on page 196. The Bible Study will meet 4:00p.m. to 6:00 p.m. For complete information contact Glenda at 727-542-4683.

Martha – 10 Points for Bible Study 01/31/2015

From our lesson of  Martha, Luke 10:38-42; John 11:1-12:3 , here are some important points. The points do not directly answer the questions on pages 192-195 of the text, but may help you in our discussion of the Saturday Bible Study 01/31/2015.

1. Martha, her name, the feminine form of “Lord”, means “Lady”. (4, page 355)

2.  Martha, Mary and their brother Lazarus (John 11:1-2) lived together in Bethany, a village less than two miles from Jerusalem (John 11:18). 

3. All three were intimate friends with Jesus (John 11:5).

4. Martha was the pratical type: the mistress of the house (Luke 10:38; John 12:2) impatient over her sister’s contemplative bent (Luke 10:40) and collected enough in her bereavement to meet Jesus on his approach to Bethany and explain the situation concerning her brother Lazarus’ death (John 11:20-27). (2, page 287)

5.“Distracted with Much Serving ( Luke 10:38-42 )– “This story of Martha and Mary, one of the most exquisite in the Gospels, is found only in Luke. One can no more than guess as to why it is given its particular location in the narrative. Is it because the writer or his source rushed to caution against a conception of Christian life which would make it consist alone in deeds of the benevolent, like that of the good Samaritans? This has been suggested, but is at best doubtful. Still a major point of the story is undoubtedly that service of others is not enough; indeed, that it is possible to be distracted with much serving. It is possible to lose one’s soul in a program of highly useful activities.Our services to others must be in a relation of contract alteration or rhythm with our sitting at the Lord’s feet and listening to his word“ (1, page 197)

6. Martha knew that Jesus had the power to heal (John 11:21).

7 She felt free to ask Jesus for favors (John 11:21).

8. She believed in the resurrection of the dead on the final day (John 11:24).

9. She felt that after a person was dead for 4 days, even Jesus could not raise them from the dead (John 11:39).

10. Jesus visited the home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus shortly before the Passover and His death. Martha served a dinner in his honor. (John 12:12).

1. The Interpreter’s Bible, In Twelve Volumes, Volume 8, Abingdon Press, 1956

2. The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, Volume Three K-Q, In Four Volumes, Abingdon Press, New York 1962.

3. The NIV Study Bible, Zondervan, 1995. (All Scriptures)

4. Women of the Bible,  One Year Devotional Study of Women in Scripture, Ann Spangler and Jean E. Syswerda, Zondervan, 2007.

5. Women of the Bible, 52 Bible Studies for Individuals and Groups, Jean E Syswerda, Zondervan, 1999.