Read:  And she had a sister called Mary, who was also seated at the Lord’s feet, and was listening to His word. Luke 10:39

Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair, and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. John 12:3

Examine: We see Mary of Bethany majorly in three primary passages in scripture. [Luke 10:38-42, John 11:28-33, John 12:1-5] Once Jesus and his disciples came to the house of Mary, we saw her sitting down at the feet of the Lord and listening to his teaching. Jesus commends this action to Martha her sister, who shows Mary’s heart to listen and was accepted by Jesus.

Later Mary’s brother Lazarus died and Jesus was not there, and Jesus came to the town four days later. When Mary heard this, she got up and hurried out to meet him. Mary arrived where Jesus was, and as soon as she saw him, she fell at his feet. “Lord,” she said, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died!” And Jesus comforts her and raises Lazarus. Mary’s confidence and trust in Jesus are very notable here

Six days before the cross, Jesus went to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, the man he had raised from death. They prepared a dinner for him there, Mary took a whole pint of a very expensive perfume made of pure nard, poured it on Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The sweet smell of the perfume filled the whole house. Jesus commended this when Judas was trying to condemn the act

Application: For Mary priority and focus was only Jesus and the learning of the word of God from Jesus at His feet. Surely this was so special that Jesus commended this action.

Even when Lazarus died, Mary’s confidence in Jesus though she did not have the Bible like us. Mary’s heart to go, Jesus, without bothering what others thought is a great lesson.

Mary’s sacrificial giving to Jesus cost an entire year’s income and how she expressed herself like a servant not thinking what others might be thinking.

Decision: Lord Jesus, I want to be at your feet in prayers always. I want to be a real student of the word of God and apply it with the strength of the Holy Spirit. Lord let me be like Mary of Bethany, that it is all about Jesus, not about the opinion of other people. Lord Jesus let me be a sacrificial and cheerful giver.