Mary of Bethany and A Sinful Woman

MARY of Bethany and A SINFUL WOMAN

Scripture References: (Mary of Bethany) Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; Luke 10:38-42; John 11:1-2, 19-20, 30-36, 45; 12:1-9 (Sinful Woman) Luke 7:36-50

Mary of Bethany

ABOUT HER

• She was the sister of Martha and Lazarus.
• She lived in a town called Bethany.
• She is known for sitting at the feet of Jesus.
• Mary was sensitive.

“We know that Mary was a good listener, quiet and contemplative, for we read in Luke 10:39, ‘And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.’ Mary had a hungry soul and sat humbly as a pupil before her Teacher.” -Frances Vander Velde, Women of the Bible

HER HUNGER

Read Luke 10:38-42

Concerning Martha and Mary’s service to Jesus: “We see their devotion to one another and to the Lord whom they love and serve, each in her own way.” -Frances Vander Velde, Women of the Bible

“She was a woman who cultivated deep, spiritual inner thoughts, and who was busier internally than she was externally.” -Herbert Lockyer, All the Women of the Bible

v. 39 “sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching” -We need to order our lives and our schedules around our time of sitting at the Lord’s feet. Life is too short. Before we know it life will pass on by and the enemy desires that we are busy and distracted that the life Jesus has given us will escape from our senses.

Psalm 63:1-3 ESV “O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.”

When we sit down at the feet of Jesus our hunger is satisfied...but it also grows.

Proverbs 4:23 NIV “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”

Mary was an example of someone who guarded her heart. How? Because she let her heart be tended to by Jesus. She understand what was ultimately important. We need let Jesus tend to our heart so we can live the life He died to give us.

What is life? What is the importance of your life? Most of our lives are going by so fast and we can hardly grasp our purpose. All of these demands can leave us feeling like we are not living or doing what we were maybe created to do.

The purpose of your life is to glorify God.

Mary (mother of Jesus)  in the beginning of “Mary’s song” in Luke 1:46 says “And Mary said: "My soul magnifies the Lord,”

1. Life is a gift from God.

You did not CHOOSE to be born!

Genesis 2:7 NKJV “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.”

Your very life is a precious gift from God. He created you and formed you while you were in your mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13).

You didn’t choose to be born or to exist. God chose you to! Whether or not you were “called” by God or chosen by God...you were called to be born! You were chosen to exist! There IS a reason.

With the purpose of living to glorify God it takes the weight of us having to try to make ourselves something great in this world. We already are great! God made us. We are His artwork. WE ARE NOT TO LIVE LIKE THAT. Don’t worry about that. Let the pressure of that dissipate.

2. Each day is important to God.

Psalm 139:16 NLT “You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.”

3. Each life is but a moment

Consider all the people who have ever lived. How many of them do you know about? Some are recorded in history books, some you read about in the newspaper, some you watch on television. Think about all the lives that have been lived in all centuries past. People no one knows and no one remembers.

Matthew 6:19-20 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

We need to remember that our days are coming to an end and our lives are passing by quickly.

Matthew 24:42 ESV “Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.”

HER CHOICE

v. 4 “Mary chose the good part” -isn’t it true that in today’s day in age we as women who love the Lord need this the most? If this is not something we choose to do in our daily life it is not going to “just happen”. If we want to grow we need to choose to take time to sit at the feet of Jesus.

We allow too many things in our lives to keep us away from intimacy with God. We need to stop like Mary did and sit down. Remember God is pursuing your heart. When it comes to us seeking God it is a RESPONSE to His love. This was how Mary was responding to the love of Jesus. She chose to sit down.

“There are moments in life which do not come a second time. And if they are not acted on at once, they may never return. Mary was sensitive enough to realize this.” -Brenda Poinsett, She Walked With Jesus

POEM

Thank you for your service, Martha

We love all that you’ve done

You’ve opened up your heart and home

Unto the Holy One

And now we get to sit with Him

To hear His words of truth

Because of hospitality

Under your own roof

Women of good works we praise

Your example is adored

But take heed, Martha, when you hear

These words from your own Lord

“Martha, Martha, anxious one

Put your finger down

I must correct this foolishness

And defend my daughter, Mary, now

You have become distracted,

Oh Martha, can’t you see?

Mary chose the better thing,

The better thing...is Me”

HER ABANDONMENT

Read Mark 14:3-9

WHO IS THIS? (John 11:1-2)

“At the outset we affirm our disagreement with those expositors who connect Mary of Bethany with the woman who was a sinner (Luke 7:36-50 with John 11:2, 12:1-8). Certainly both anointed the feet of Jesus, but the language used to describe the sinful woman is utterly out of harmony with what we know of the commendable character of Mary. The former’s anointing expressed the gratitude of a forgiven and cleansed penitent -the latter’s anointing was an act of gratitude of a much-loved brother brought back from the dead.” -Herbert Lockyer, All the Women of the Bible

WHAT IS THIS?

“In the days Jesus was on earth, when a young woman reached the age of availability for marriage, her family would purchase an alabaster box for her and fill it with precious ointment. The size of the box and the value of the ointment would parallel her family’s wealth. This alabaster box would be part of her dowry. When a young man came to ask for her in marriage, she would respond by taking the alabaster box and breaking it at his feet. This gesture of anointing his feet showed him honor.” -Debby Jones and Jackie Kendall, Lady in Waiting

Abandonment to Jesus is always going to be criticized...not just by the outsiders.

Mary let Jesus be her Defender.

“Notice that she never jumps up to defend herself. The deep love relationship that she has with Jesus draws fire from others -first, from her sister, and later, from Judas and others who thought she had gone overboard in breaking the flask of perfume at Jesus’ feet. But Mary leaves her defense to Jesus -and He defends her very well both times.” -Dee Brestin, Falling in Love With Jesus

During this whole act we notice Mary did not say a word. She adorned herself with a “gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.” (1 Peter 3:4)

“Should you ever be criticized for your acts of devotion, follow Mary’s example. Let the ornament of a gentle and quiet spirit speak volumes.” -Elizabeth George

“Others before her had come to His feet to have their need met; she came to give Him His due.” -Scofield Reference Bible Note

“Silent love can be a mighty force. The greatest work in the world is not accomplished by the best talkers.” -Herbert Lockyer, All the Women of the Bible

A SINFUL WOMAN

Read Luke 7:36-50

She is known as “a sinner” in the city, this was what the men called her...leaving her even nameless.

What did both of the women who broke their alabaster jars at Jesus’ feet understand? They both understood that He WAS their life.

What we DO shows what we BELIEVE.

In the middle of a CELEBRATION Mary recklessly abandoned herself. In the middle of RECREATION the sinful woman abandoned herself. They both abandoned themselves in their broken REVELATION of who Jesus was. Notice they weren’t at church!

Wherever you are at, whatever your past, you can abandon yourselves to Jesus.

Discussion Questions:

1. What is that good part which Mary chose? How can we obtain that good part? How much do we need it? Can we share it? How?
2. Who defended Mary against Martha’s accusation? What does this teach us about Mary’s character, and what practical lesson do we find here for ourselves?
3. How can we maintain a “forgiven much, loves much” attitude in our day-to-day life?