Three encounters across three gospels in three phases of Jesus's ministry. All at the same Bethany household, Mary, Martha, Lazarus (siblings).
Encounter 1, Luke 10:38-42 (Peraean ministry)
Jesus visits + is received into Martha's house. Mary "sat at the Lord's feet, and heard his word" (the position of a disciple receiving instruction from a rabbi, typically restricted to males in 1st-c. Judaism; Mary's posture is unusual + endorsed).
Martha is "distracted with much serving", comes to Jesus: "Lord, don't you care that my sister left me to serve alone? Ask her therefore to help me."
Jesus's response: "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her."
Theological framing: Most traditional reading, contemplation/discipleship + active-service hierarchy; both are needed but contemplation has priority. Feminist + modern readings emphasize Jesus's affirmation of Mary's right to sit-at-the-feet (rabbinic-disciple posture) regardless of gender, a quietly radical inclusion.
Encounter 2, John 11 (raising of Lazarus)
Lazarus their brother sickens; Mary + Martha send to Jesus: "Lord, behold, he for whom you have great affection is sick." Jesus delays two days; arrives after Lazarus has been dead four days. Both sisters greet Jesus with the same poignant words: "Lord, if you would have been here, my brother wouldn't have died."
Martha's confession (John 11:27): "Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, God's Son, he who comes into the world." This is among the highest individual confessions in the NT, parallel to Peter's at Caesarea Philippi.
Mary's grief + Jesus's tears (John 11:32-35): Mary falls at Jesus's feet with the same opening words. Jesus "groans in his spirit" + "was troubled" + "wept" (John 11:35).
The miracle of Lazarus's raising follows.
Encounter 3, John 12:1-11 (anointing at Bethany)
Six days before Passover. Jesus dines at Bethany; Lazarus is there (recently raised), Martha serves, Lazarus reclines. Mary takes a pound of very costly pure-nard ointment + anoints Jesus's feet + wipes his feet with her hair. "The house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment."
Judas objects (Jhn's narrator notes, because he was a thief): "Why wasn't this ointment sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" (about ten months' wages)
Jesus's defense of Mary: "Leave her alone. She has kept this for the day of my burial. For you always have the poor with you, but you don't always have me."
(Matthew 26:6-13 + Mark 14:3-9 record a similar anointing at "Simon the leper's house" in Bethany, same week but possibly different event, or same event from different angle. Mat + Mrk don't name the woman; Jhn names Mary. Mainstream harmonization: same event with overlapping details + textual differences.)
Theological framing across all three encounters
Discipleship across types, Martha = active service; Mary = contemplative attention; Lazarus = the resurrection-recipient. The Bethany household is a microcosm of varied responses to Jesus.
Mary's repeated foot-position, she is at Jesus's feet in all three encounters: listening (Luke 10), grieving (John 11:32), anointing (John 12:3). Sustained discipleship posture.
Pre-passion preparation, Mary's anointing is interpreted by Jesus as preparation for his burial. The next chapters in John are the Upper Room + arrest + crucifixion + burial, Mary's anointing is the only person honoring Jesus's coming death before it happens.
Apostolic-witness pattern, both Marys (Magdalene + of Bethany) + Martha are significant women in Jesus's ministry whose confessions, ministry, and devotion are preserved + endorsed.