Friends at Bethany

Mark 14:3-9; Luke 10:38-42; John 11:1-3

GOLDEN TEXT: “Let us love one another: for love is of God.”—I John 4:7

THE evangelists Mark, Luke, and John each record interesting episodes in the ministry of Jesus pertaining to that little family in Bethany—Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Luke notes one of the Master’s early visits to this home; Mark tells of the time when Mary demonstrated her great love for Jesus by anointing him with oil; and John records the fact of Lazarus’ sickness and death, and that the two sisters turned to the Master for help in this time of great need and were comforted by having their brother restored to life.

In telling of Jesus’ visit to the home of this beloved family Luke reveals the different ways in which the two sisters manifested them interest in him whom they evidently had accepted as the Messiah of Israel. Mary showed her devotion by sitting at the Master’s feet to hear and ponder the meaning of the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth; while Martha—no less devoted—sought to demonstrate her interest by providing for the temporal needs of her Lord.

Jesus told Martha that she was cumbered with much serving, and that Mary had chosen a “good” part which would not be taken from her. We are not to conclude from this that Jesus condemned the reasonable consideration of temporal needs, nor that the only “good” attitude of a Christian is that of giving ear to the Word of the Lord. To hear the Lord’s voice, and to meditate upon his words are indeed fundamentally important considerations, but not the end of what it means to be a true and faithful follower of the Master. We are to be doers of the Word as well as hearers.

Jesus’ remark to Martha is perhaps as much a revelation of his own unselfishness as it is a correction of her lack of judgment as to what was the important consideration at the moment. The entire period of Jesus’ ministry was very short, and his time must have been well filled. We would not suppose that he had much time to spend in individual homes, even of those whom he dearly loved. Having their interests at heart, and being glad to sacrifice his own comforts, it was but natural that he should counsel Martha not to be concerned about preparing food for him, but rather to take advantage of the short time he could remain with them to learn all she could of the gospel message which he had come to impart.

Mary’s devotion was perhaps more of the emotional type, while Martha showed her love for the Master along practical lines; but both loved him dearly. Mary demonstrated her love at great cost when she anointed Jesus with the costly ointment. The cost here was not alone in the money required to purchase the ointment, but also in the unfavorable attitude of some of Jesus’ friends who witnessed this outpouring of her devotion. They were indignant over what they concluded was a waste of money.

But Jesus’ approval of her act was worth more to Mary than all this service of love cost her. Knowing that he was drawing near to the close of his ministry Jesus accepted this outpouring of Mary’s devotion as an anointing for his burial. There wasn’t much that could be done for the Master, but she had done what she could, and as Jesus predicted, this act of love has been recounted by believers throughout the age, and her example of loving devotion has encouraged many also to do what they could to serve the Master and thus to demonstrate their love for him.

Lazarus, the brother of Martha and Mary, although also dearly loved by Jesus, is not particularly mentioned in the Gospels until we read of his sickness and death. At this time Jesus was a considerable distance from Bethany—“beyond Jordan,” in the place where John at first baptized. (John 10:40) The two sisters sent word to their Master saying, “Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.” No request accompanied this message. The sisters judged Jesus’ love by their own. They knew that they would go to the ends of the earth to help him if the need for help arose, and they had confidence that Jesus would do the same for them; and they were not disappointed.

However, Jesus did not hurry back to Bethany at once upon receiving this message. Instead, he waited until Lazarus died—not because he lacked interest, but in order to have a better opportunity to demonstrate the glory of God. Although he loved Martha and Mary, he allowed them to wait, and wonder, and mourn, knowing that ultimately he would bring the greater joy into their hearts and lives. It has been the same in connection with God’s love for the human race. He loves all mankind, but is allowing death to reign for awhile in order that through this experience with the terrible results of sin, a deeper and everlasting joy may come to the people later.—John 5:28,29

QUESTIONS:

Are there other important considerations in the Christian life besides that of hearing the Word of God?

In what way, other than financial, was the anointing of the Master costly to Mary?

How do we know that God loves the human race despite the fact that he has permitted the reign of sin and death?

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