Mary of Bethany

Sister of Martha and Lazarus from the village of Bethany. She sat at Jesus' feet listening to His teaching while Martha worked in the kitchen — and Jesus said she chose 'the good portion' (Luke 10:38-42). She was present when Jesus raised her brother Lazarus from the dead (John 11). She later anointed Jesus' feet with expensive perfume and wiped them with her hair, an act Jesus said was preparation for His burial and would be remembered wherever the gospel was preached (John 12:1-8; Matthew 26:6-13).