Mary Knows Best

Isaiah 43:16-21; Psalm 126; Philippians 3:4b-14; John 12:1-8

[Jesus said] you do not always have me.

  John 12:8b

The two sisters, Martha and Mary, appear first in the Gospel of Luke (10:38-42). Luke does not name the town where the sisters live. He tells us that Jesus and his followers dropped by the place where the sisters lived and Martha welcomes him in her house. Later on, Martha, being the excellent hostess that she seems to be, grumbles about Mary doing nothing but being at Jesus’ feet listening to him.

John builds upon this encounter. In his account of Jesus ministry, the family, including the sisters and their brother Lazarus, become good friends. In chapter 11, Jesus is called by Martha and Mary when Lazarus gets ill. When Jesus arrives, Lazarus has been dead for four days. Jesus then operates one of his great miracles, bringing his friend back to life even after some show some concern by pointing out the body may be already decomposing. At the beginning of chapter 12, which include the gospel lesson for this weekend, Jesus returns to Bethany, where John tells us the sisters lived, to visit with his friends on his way to the Passover festival in Jerusalem, where he will eventually be arrested and crucified. Here again, Martha plays the role of the good hostess, serving the party, while Mary once more goes bold and anoint Jesus feet with her hair and expensive perfume.

It is necessary to make a note that we are not to diminish Martha. My pastor, Rev. Robert Rasmus, once preached a great sermon about how the church needs not only the “Marys” but also the “Marthas.” They are the property, kitchen, and table guild people who do a lot, unselfishly and unseen, so we the “Marys” can enjoy our church experiences. Thank you!

Now back to Mary of Bethany – to differ from Mary, the mother of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. Both  Luke and John, it seems to me, are intent in portraying Mary of Bethany as someone who gets what others don’t. While the closest disciples often struggle to cope with the radical teachings of the rabbi from Nazareth, Mary of Bethany does not hesitate or question, she chooses Jesus. She puts all her eggs in the basket that says, Messiah. In both gospels, Jesus commends her for making the right choice despite the reprimand, or grumbling if you will, of others.  Mary doesn’t care, she understands the man in front of her is indeed the way, the truth, and the life. Mary knows best.

Mary knows that Jesus is the Christ, the anointed one, promised long ago, and that he will be rejected and abandoned by the ones who he came to save. Mary of Bethany goes all out to him and for him. You do not always have me, Jesus said, in present tense, indicative mode. Jesus states the same fact then and now. We don’t always have him.

However, both Paul and the prophet Isaiah proclaim to us this Sunday, that when we have “God with us.” Unexpected and powerful new things happen.

The Lord has done great things for us. Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves (Psalm 126:3a,6).