Scripture readings:
Luke 10:39,42
John 11:1, 2, 5
John 12:3
Matthew 26:12-13

Mary
Her Ministry: Mary took a very expensive bottle of perfume and poured it on Jesus feet. She wiped them with her hair, and the sweet smell of the perfume filled the house.

Her Home Life: No references are found regarding her genealogy. She lived about a mile away from the Mount of Olives in a village named as “Bethany” with her sister Martha and brother Lazarus. These three lived in Galilee before coming to Bethany.

Her Status: A close friend whom Jesus loved.

Her Character: Mary had chosen the good part which shall not be taken from her.

Her Physical Attributes: Unknown according to Bible. (Some people think that she might be beautiful).

Her Ultimate Purpose: For she had poured the ointment on my body she did it for my burial.

Meaning of her name: Mary is also known as Miriam which means the queen of seas, to honour.

Backdrop:
There are many women in the bible named as Mary. MARY mother of Jesus, Magdalene, Mary of Bethany, mother of John Mark, mother of James and Joses, wife of Clopas. The Mary of Bethany, the one who anointed Jesus feet. Jesus Christ admired her by saying that “instead of preparing a grand feast for me she listened to the word of God.” (Luke 10:42)

Even when Martha complained to Jesus about her sitting at the foot step of Jesus and not helping her, Jesus said to her that you are troubled about many things. “But one thing is needful, and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” (Luke 11:42) John states that like her sister Martha she said to Jesus Christ, “Lord if you would have been here my brother wouldn’t have died”.

Six days before the Passover when Jesus Christ was in the house of Simon the leper (Mark 14:3) she began showing her affection and love to Him by pouring on His head and feet the expensive perfume, and wiping His feet with her hair. The people who were there opposed it and said that she has wasted the money. To them Jesus answered and said that she has done a good deed to me and where ever the gospel shall be preached in the world there shall be mentioned as a memorial of her. Jesus Christ looked at her affection as a preparation of His burial. “For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.”

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