Ordinary Heroes, Part 3: Mary of Bethany

Josh Lease, Student Ministries Pastor

Our  influences our .

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
      “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38–42

Martha’s heart posture is one of .

Mary’s posture is one of .

“The active life in the world for God can only properly flow
from a deep inner life with God.”
– Pete Scazerro

After she [Martha] had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.
      When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” John 11:28–32

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. “Where have you laid him?” he asked.
      “Come and see, Lord,’ they replied.” John 11:33–34

“Jesus wept.” John 11:35

Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”
      But some of them said, ‘Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?” John 11:36–37

Honest that is greater than .

Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
      But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
      “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” John 12:1–8

Mary of Bethany shows us to position ourselves in a place of extravagant over self-righteous .

No matter the circumstances, Mary’s posture remains the same: .

Mary’s posture and position models the life of a —at Jesus’ feet.

Small Group Questions

1. What do you think of the statement “Your position influences your perspective?” How have you seen this to be true? 
2. What would you say is the position of your heart toward Jesus in this season of your life?
3. Who do you relate to most: Martha, the crowd, or Judas? Do you relate to Martha’s busy productivity? The crowd’s cynicism? Or Judas’ self-righteousness?
4. What might it look like for you to reorient yourself to Jesus’ feet?
5. How can we pray for you right now and throughout the week?