John 12:1-3

Joh 12:1 That was why – six days before the Passover – Jesus came to Bethany where Lazarus was, the one Jesus had raised from the dead.

Joh 12:2 That was why they made a banquet for him there; Martha was managing it, and Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with him.

Joh 12:3 That was why Mary took a litra¹ of perfume, pure and expensive nard,² anointed Jesus’s feet, and wiped his feet with her hair. So the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

Two women who took charge

Mary and Martha reappear in this scene, but not as passive figures in the background. The previous chapter introduced them in the rawness of grief and the astonishment of resurrection. Now they stand again beside Jesus, not in mourning but in service and devotion, each taking responsibility in her own way as the household hosts a banquet in His honor.

Martha’s role is often reduced to the image of a busy servant, yet the text suggests something far more substantial. The verb διακονέω can refer not only to serving food but to overseeing the entire operation of a meal—administration, coordination, and leadership. This banquet was not a small family dinner. It required many hands, and those hands needed direction. Martha was managing a complex event, ensuring that everything ran smoothly for the guests gathered to honor Jesus. Her service was not menial; it was skilled, intentional, and essential.

Mary, too, stepped into a leadership role, though of a different kind. She offered a costly, intimate act of devotion by anointing Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume. This was not a spontaneous gesture but a deliberate act of love and recognition. Jesus later explained its meaning: she was preparing Him for burial. In a moment charged with tension—when the shadow of the cross was lengthening—Mary acknowledged what others were unwilling to face. Her gift was prophetic, tender, and courageous. She honored Him while He was still with them, recognizing that His time was short.

Together, these sisters demonstrate two forms of taking charge: Martha through capable administration, Mary through sacrificial devotion. Both acts were needed. Both honored Christ. Both revealed hearts attuned to the significance of the moment.

Their example reminds the church that leadership takes many shapes. Some lead by organizing, coordinating, and ensuring that the work of ministry happens with excellence. Others lead by acts of devotion that awaken spiritual awareness in those around them. Both kinds of leadership matter deeply in the kingdom of God.

A prayer rises naturally from this reflection:
Lord, thank You for those who step up and take charge. Thank You for the leaders in our lives.