Mary (Luke 10:39)
The name Mary means “same as Miriam.” Mary is mentioned in 11 verses of the Bible, first in Luke 10:39.
Family of Mary
Who was Mary?
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.
Biography adapted from Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897), public domain, linked via Theographic Bible Metadata.
Key verses about Mary
- Luke 10:39
And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.
- Luke 10:42
But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
- John 11:1
Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
- John 11:2
(It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)
- John 11:20
Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.
- John 12:3
Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
Timeline of Mary's life
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 29 AD | Jesus meets Martha and Mary |
| 30 AD | Lazarus Raised form the Dead |
| 0 AD | Mary Anoints Jesus |