John 11:1-16
Let’s remember to pray for Jim and Marty.
“Notice what you notice.” I went online to ask whether this Mary who anointed our Lord with oil (v. 2) was the same Mary who was a noted sinner. I’ll get to that in a minute. But first, one of the online links asked a pertinent question. Clearly Jesus’ raising of Lazarus was the most significant miracle that Jesus performed. Then why was it reported only in John’s Gospel and not in the Synoptics? The author(s) gave two answers. First, Lazarus may have still been alive when the other writers wrote their accounts. Naming Lazarus may have put him in the rifle sights of the Jews, so better to be silent. Second, some argue that the Synoptic Gospels “are centered on Peter’s account of Jesus’ teaching and ministry” and Peter may not have been present at this time. (https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/john-11/) It remains odd to me that this greatest miracle is recorded only in John.
Second, who was Mary? The next chapter tells of Mary’s anointing of Jesus (John 12:3) while He was in Bethany. Matthew and Mark also have him at a home in Bethany for His anointing (Mt. 26:6-13; Mk. 14:3-9). Luke’s account (7:36-50) is more problematic. Luke does not mention a location, but his earlier activities in chapter seven have him in Galilee. Luke’s account reads, in part: And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. (v. 37-38) There is nothing in John 11 or in the “Martha and Mary” story (Luke 10:38-42) that would portray Mary as “a sinner”. Hence, many writers simply suggest two anointings, one by a sinful woman in Galilee and the other by Martha’s sister Mary in Bethany.
So much that we don’t know, so much to learn…! “Come, Holy Spirit…!”
Slava Bohu!