The following "Question" was asked by a member of the congregation at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, and "Answered" by their pastor, John MacArthur Jr. It was transcribed from the tape, GC 1301-R, titled "Bible Questions and Answers Part 20." A copy of the tape can be obtained by writing, Word of Grace, P.O. Box 4000, Panorama City, CA 91412 or by dialing toll free 1-800-55-GRACE. ©1982. All Rights Reserved.
Questioner
My question comes from John chapter 12; it’s an easy yes or no answer. Is
Mary Magdalene and Mary the sister of Martha and Lazarus one and the same?
Answer
No.
Questioner
OK, that makes sense that they’re not one and the same, but when I’m reading
this chapter...it’s after Lazarus has been raised and they go back to the home
to have a dinner and everything. Then the next thing that happens is when Mary
is anointing the Lord’s feet with oil. And that’s Mary Magdalene, right?
Answer
No. You said yes or no, so I’m just saying no.
Questioner
Well, the time when Mary—and I’m not sure which Mary it was that anointed
the Lord’s feet with oil, and then Judas comes in and he’s criticizing the
situation and says, the oil could be sold and the money spent to help the poor.
I thought that was Mary Magdalene.
Answer
No, that’s Mary.
Questioner
So Mary Magdalene never had anything to do with—she then wiped the Lord’s feet
with her tears?
Answer
Right.
Questioner
Nothing to do with any oil at all?
Answer
Right. You know one of the things that you have trouble with when you go
through the New Testament is the Mary's. You have Mary the mother of Jesus, you
have Mary the wife of Clopas; you have Mary Magdalene; you have some other Mary.
Everybody named their girls Mary, so there are some places that you really have
a difficult time sorting out all the Mary's. It’s kind of like the James’;
there’s a lot of them, too.
Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "MacArthur's Questions and
Answers" by:
Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
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Columbus, New Jersey, USA, 08022
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Email: tony@biblebb.com
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