Reference: Mary, Sister Of Lazarus And Martha
Morish
The three are spoken of as those whom Jesus loved. They resided at Bethany, where they were privileged to welcome the Lord Jesus as a guest. On one of these visits Mary took her place at the feet of the Lord, feasting upon the words that fell from His lips. Martha wanted her help, but the Lord declared that one thing was needful, and Mary had chosen that good part, which should not be taken away from her. Lu 10:38-42. The heart of Mary was riven at the death of Lazarus. Word had been sent to the Lord that he was sick, and yet He had not come. When Jesus arrived Mary exclaimed, as Martha had done previously, "Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died:" but Mary said it at the feet of the Lord. Jesus wept, and Mary thus learned His sympathy, and had a fresh taste of the good part which death could not take from her. To Martha Jesus said that she should have her brother back, and should see the power of death broken by the One who was "the resurrection and the life;" but Mary had Himself. Joh 11:1-44.
Afterwards, when they made the Lord a supper, a few days before He suffered, Mary, in full appreciation of her Lord, anointed His head and His feet with costly ointment. Judas and others were indignant at what they called 'waste,' but the Lord defended Mary's action, and said He was being anointed for His burial: this act should be told of her in the whole world. Nothing was too costly to be spent upon such a Lord. Joh 12:1-8: cf. Mt 26:6-13; Mr 14:3-9. It should be noted that this is not the same event as that recorded in Lu 7:36-50.
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Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon who had been a leper, there came to him a woman with an alabaster-box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, while he was at table. read more. one of his disciples seeing this, with indignation said, to what purpose is this waste? for this could have been sold for a great price, which might have been given to the poor. Jesus perceiving this, said to them, why do you trouble the woman? for what she has done is out of regard to me. ye have the poor always with you, but me ye have not always. for her pouring this ointment on my body, is preparative to my burial. I declare unto you, in whatever quarter of the world, this part of the gospel-history shall be related, what this woman has now done shall be there mentioned to her praise.
now being at Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, while he was at table, there came a woman with a viol full of the perfume of spikenard, which was very costly; and she opened the viol, and poured it upon his head. but some had a secret indignation, and said, why must the perfume be so wasted? read more. for we could have sold it for above two hundred denarys, and given them to the poor: and they inveighed against her. but Jesus said, let her alone, why do you disquiet her? it is commendable, what she has done out of respect to me. the poor you have always with you, and you may relieve them whenever you please: but me you will not always have. she has done what she could: she has perfum'd my body previously to my burial. I declare unto you, in whatever quarter of the world this part of the gospel-history shall be related, this action of hers shall be mention'd to her praise.
Jesus being invited to dinner at a certain Pharisee's house, he went home with him, and sat down to table. when a woman of that city, one that had led a loose life, knowing that Jesus was at table in the Pharisee's house, came in with a vial of odoriferous liquor, read more. and stood behind at his feet weeping, bath'd them with her tears, wiped them with her hair, kissed his feet, and poured the perfume upon them. which the Pharisee, who had invited him, observing, he thus argued with himself, if this man were a prophet, he could not but know that the woman, who is so busy with him, is a person of a loose character. in answer to his doubts, Jesus said, Simon, I have something to say to you. master, said he, lets hear it. A certain creditor had two debtors, the one owed five hundred denarys, and the other fifty. having not wherewithal to pay it, he freely discharged them both of the debt. tell me now, which of the two will love him most? I think, said Simon, he that had the greatest debt remitted to him. you are in the right, said Jesus. and turning to the woman, he said to Simon, do you observe this woman? though I am a guest in your house, you never offer'd me any water for my feet: but she has bath'd my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head. you did not salute me, but this woman, since she came in, has been continually kissing my feet. you did not bestow any oil upon my head; but she has poured her rich perfume upon my feet. wherefore, I tell you, her sins, which are numerous, are forgiven; and that is the reason of all this love: but his love is less, to whom less is forgiven. then he said to her, your sins are forgiven. but they who sat at table with him, began to ask one another, who is this, that pretends even to forgive sins? but he said to the woman, your faith hath saved you: go in peace.
Another time, as they were on a journey, Jesus enter'd into a village, where a woman, named Martha, entertain'd him at her house. now she had a sister, named Mary, who placed herself at the feet of Jesus, to attend to his discourse. read more. but Martha perplex'd with the hurry of her affairs, came to him, and said, Lord, don't you observe my sister has left me to serve all alone: direct her therefore to give me some assistance. but Jesus replied to her, Martha, Martha, you trouble yourself about a world of cares: but the best and the most necessary concern is, what Mary has pitch'd upon, of which she shall never be deprived.
Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, who was of Bethany, the town of Mary, and of Martha her sister. (it was that Mary who perfum'd the Lord with ointment, after having wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) read more. his two sisters therefore sent this message to Jesus; he, Lord, whom you love, is sick. when Jesus heard that, he said, the disease is not to be mortal, but is design'd for the glory of God, that the son of God might be glorified thereby. now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. however, he stay'd in the place where he was, even two days after he had heard that Lazarus was sick. and then he said to his disciples, let us return to Judea. upon which his disciples said, master, it is not long since the Jews attempted to stone you; and are you for going thither again? Jesus answered, are there not twelve hours in the day? he that travels by day does not stumble, because he has the light of this world to see by. but if a man travels by night he stumbles, because there is no light for him. thus he entertain'd them: and after that, he said to them, our friend Lazarus is asleep; but I am going to awake him. then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he will recover; though Jesus meant it of Lazarus's death: but they understood it of the natural rest in sleep. then Jesus told them plainly, Lazarus is dead. and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there (to the intent you may believe) but now, let us go to him. then said Thomas, that is, Didymus, to his fellow-disciples, let us also go, that we may die with him. When Jesus was arriv'd, he found that Lazarus had been then four days in the grave. now Bethany being distant from Jerusalem but about fifteen furlongs, many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to condole with them upon the loss of their brother. Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went to meet him: but Mary stay'd at home. Lord, said Martha to Jesus, if you had been here, my brother had not been dead. but yet even now whatever you shall ask of God, I know God will grant it to you. Jesus said to her, your brother shall rise again. Martha said to him, I know that he shall rise again at the resurrection of the last day. Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me shall live even though he were dead: and no man living that believeth in me, shall ever die. do you believe this? yes, Lord, said Martha, I believe that thou art the Messiah the son of God, who was to come into the world. When she had said this, she went privately to call Mary her sister, saying, the master is come, and calls for you. no sooner she heard that, but she arose with all speed, and came to him. for Jesus was not yet arrived in the town, but staid at the place were Martha met him. the Jews then who were with Mary in the house to comfort her, when they saw that she rose in such haste, and went out, followed her, saying, she is going to the grave to weep there. Mary being come to the place where Jesus was, as soon as she saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying, Lord, if you had been here, my brother had not been dead. when Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping who came with her, he sighed from his heart, and was troubled, and said, where have ye laid him? they said to him, Lord, come and see. then Jesus wept. upon which the Jews said, see how he loved him. but some of them said, this man who has given sight to the blind, could not he have prevented Lazarus's death? Jesus then again sighing, came to the sepulchre which was a cave, shut up by a stone. Jesus said, take away the stone. Martha, sister to the deceas'd, said to him, Lord, by this time he is offensive: for he hath been dead four days. Jesus said to her, did I not tell you, that if you would believe, you should see the glory of God? then they took away the stone from the place where the corps was laid. and Jesus lifting up his eyes to heaven said, "father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. I know that thou hearest me always: but I say this, because of the people here present, that they may believe that thou hast sent me." when he had spoke this, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. and he that was dead came forth, his body wrapt in a winding sheet: and his face bound about with a napkin. loose him, said Jesus, and let him go.
Six days before the passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, who had been dead, and raised to life again. there a supper was provided for him; Martha was in waiting: but Lazarus was one of the guests that sat at table with him. read more. but Mary taking a pound of the oil of spikenard which was very costly, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped them with her hair: so that the house was filled with the odour of the perfume. whereupon one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, who was to betray him, said, why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, to be given to the poor? this he said, not out of any concern for the poor; but because being purse-bearer he used to pilfer what was in bank. then said Jesus, let her alone: against the day of my burial hath she kept this. the poor you will always have with you; but me you will not always have.