Ten Different Things About Mary Magdalene and Mary, Sister of Lazarus.

There is this confusion sometimes about the personality of Mary Magdalene and Mary of Bethany. Many people are confused about the differences between and sometimes some people link both of them together. So, in this short post, I try to enumerate ten different things about Mary Magdalene and Mary, sister of Lazarus. Here they are:

Mary Magdalene:

1. Mary Magdalene was from the town of Magdala, near the Sea of Galilee (Luke 8:2).
2. She is often associated with being a woman from whom Jesus cast out seven demons (Luke 8:2, Mark 16:9).
3. Mary Magdalene was present at Jesus’ crucifixion and witnessed his burial (Matthew 27:55-56, Mark 15:40).
4. She was the first person to witness Jesus’ resurrection and was tasked with telling the disciples (John 20:11-18).
5. Mary Magdalene was a loyal and devoted follower of Jesus throughout his ministry (Luke 8:2).
6. She is named in all four Gospels, demonstrating her significance in early Christianity.
7. Mary Magdalene is often remembered and mentioned due to various interpretations and traditions surrounding her relationship with Jesus.
8. She is depicted as a symbol of repentance, forgiveness, and faith in many Christian traditions.
9. Mary Magdalene’s devotion to Jesus extended beyond his death, as she continued to honor him after his resurrection.
10. Her role in the resurrection story highlights the importance of women in the early Christian movement.

Mary, sister of Lazarus:

1. Mary, sister of Lazarus, and her siblings Martha and Lazarus were from the village of Bethany (John 11:1).
2. She is famously known for sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to his teachings (Luke 10:38-42).
3. Mary was present when Jesus raised her brother Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1-44).
4. She is associated with anointing Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume and wiping them with her hair (John 12:1-8).
5. The act of anointing demonstrated her love and devotion to Jesus.
6. Mary’s actions were criticized by Judas Iscariot, who questioned the use of expensive perfume (John 12:4-6).
7. Jesus defended Mary, commending her for her act of devotion (Matthew 26:10-13, Mark 14:6-9).
8. Mary’s anointing of Jesus’ feet is often seen as a symbol of deep reverence and willingness to serve.
9. Her story reminds believers of the value of sacrificial love and devotion to Jesus.
10. Mary, along with her sister Martha, offered hospitality and welcomed Jesus into their home multiple times.

Both Mary Magdalene and Mary of Bethany are two different people. They are not the same.