This event in Jesus’ life is recorded in Matthew, Mark and John – but not in Luke. John’s account is the most complete, even though we are still left with a lot of mystery. One interesting detail, missing from Matthew, is that the worshiping lady is Mary, sister of Lazarus. Something else is that she poured her ointment over the Lord’s head and down to His toes. But John adds one confusing statement as well. “Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. There they made him a supper,” and obviously it is the same supper described for us by Matthew. But Matthew has already told us that there were but two days until the Passover – not six. My understanding is that Jesus’ came to Bethany six days before the Passover, and lodged there throughout that time. But then John jumps ahead four days without telling us, describing this special meal and worship service. “Worship” is the theme of both our messages today.
Did you know that the village of Bethany gives a very special testimony to the authenticity of the Bible? The name “Bethany” comes from the combination of two words. The common Hebrew word “beth” refers to an “house.” “Bethany” means “House of Dates” – in other words, there were date palm trees growing there. In fact Bethany may have been a very good area for all kinds of groves and orchards. Where was Jesus when He approached the barren fig tree looking for some fruit? Mark 11:12 – “And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever.” What other crop probably grew plentifully in that area? Bethany was about two miles east of Jerusalem on the south-eastern slope of “the Mount of Olives.” Today the community is not known as “Bethany” – rather it is called “el Azariyeh” or simply “Lazariyeh.” My Bible dictionary tell me that the tiny village which rests on the site of Bethany has been renamed to commemorate its most famous historical resident – Lazarus. Doesn’t that fact demand an explanation? Why Lazarus? Doesn’t that name-change point a finger to the great miracle of Lazarus’ resurrection? That name-change, gives evidence to the authenticity of the Bible record.
The Lord Jesus loved the family of Lazarus and the village of Bethany. Another resident of the community was Simon who formerly suffered from leprosy. If I had to guess, I would say that Simon had been cured of that terrible disease, and that he was now one of the Lord’s disciples. The town of Lazarus and Simon had become a bedroom community to Jerusalem, at least to Christ and His disciples. We have eleven references to Bethany in the Bible. For example, it was from Bethany that Christ sent two of His disciples to bring the ass colt for the so-called “Triumphal Entry.”
Today, I would like us place ourselves in Simon’s house, worshiping and witnessing the worship of the Lord Jesus Christ. But the context of that worship was a meal. Ironically, just like those disciples of Christ, we too have a meal scheduled for today. I trust that everyone here knows the difference between a worship service and a church pot luck lunch. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with church meals, but they are not a substitute for worship. A Christian can be fed with the bounty of God at either a church supper or a church service, but he can be made spiritually fat at only one of them.
For the sake of the lessons contained here, let’s say that the supper of this text is a picture of a scriptural church service. For example, the Lord was bidden to attend – sadly that is not true of all church services. There were several different kinds of Christians present – which is usually true of the average church. An hypocrite was there – Judas, the apparent disciple, was in attendance. Were there were any of the lost there that day – it wouldn’t necessarily have been a bad thing – but I doubt it in this case. In another context, we read that people had heard that old Lazarus got religion, and they wanted to see it for themselves. And on other occasions people came to meals to which Christ had been invited, but they came to seek to destroy Him. Were any there for the meal alone; were any there for the entertainment? Why are YOU in the house of God today?
There were at least five different kinds of “Christian” people in this “church.” Some were sitting, some were serving, some were sacrificing, and some were sniveling. And of course one was sponsoring the whole affair.
Let’s start with Simon, the man at whose house this supper took place.
I know that Matthew doesn’t mention the word “supper,” but John does. Simon was a wealthy man – by a couple of different criteria. He had money enough to feed a relatively large crowd. But as we think about that, we may still have a few questions. In his former life, he could not have held a normal job – any contact with the public was forbidden. If he had money then it was probably inherited. But then again this meal might have been like ours down stairs – pot luck. Like our church meals, there are none of us wealthy enough to feed everyone. Simon may have contributed the BBQ. And then the family of Lazarus might have brought a large portion of the other ingredients. Of course, it wouldn’t have been expected that Christ and his disciples would have contributed. No, Simon might not have been considered a wealthy man by the bankers over in Jerusalem. But when the grace of God touches someone, they are truly rich.
Generally speaking, leprosy, more than any other Biblical disease is used to picture sin. Simon was a sinner just like any other human being, and as such he had been as good as dead – he had been spiritually dead. But assuming that he was no longer a leper, I will also assume that it was Christ Jesus who cured him. There were no doctors in Israel who could cure that disease – only God’s grace and power could do that. By way of illustration, this sinner had been forgiven and delivered from the curse of his sin. Whereas he had been living a shameful and terminal life, now he was enjoying eternal life. Jesus said on another occasion, “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”
Simon, the redeemed sinner, enjoying the Lord’s eternal life, was where he was supposed to be. He was serving the Lord as best he could, meeting Christ’s earthly needs in sponsoring this meal. He was worshiping the Lord as well as he knew how, bringing glory to his Saviour by setting him in the center of this adoring congregation.
John tells us that next to Christ was Lazarus.
We know the story of Lazarus from the events described in John 11. Like Simon, but in an even more spectacular way, that man had been dead in sin. Like everyone else, he had earlier been locked into a Jewish religion of false doctrine and moral corruption. There was not a thing that his religion could do to give him eternal life. True religion is supposed to be a medium, a means carrying the message of God to people in need. Lazarus had definitely been in great need, but his religion had been powerless to help him. (There is as much difference between religion and salvation as there is between the bottom of the ocean and the top of a mountain.) When Christ came to him, his body had been rotting for three days in the local cemetery. He had been a stench in everybody’s nostrils, including those of the Lord. He was in the process of making the world sick by the effects of his iniquity and sin. If his body hadn’t been properly disposed, he would have continued to corrupt the whole neighborhood. Even his closest loved ones revolted at thought of his putridity – his decay. Furthermore, he had been bound hand and foot – by the burial clothes of the law. That is, actually, the purpose of the law, to slay us – in the sense of proving us to be dead in sin. Paul said, “I was alive without the law once; but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.” The law can’t give life; it can only condemn and prepare our souls for the grave. Unless, of course it first awakens us to the need of a Saviour. “The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith in the risen, living Lord Jesus Christ.” Lazarus HAD BEEN dead in trespasses and sins; walking according to course of world, according to the prince of the power of the air. But then the Lord came and Lazarus lived again.
In other words, Lazarus was just like all proper members of any church of Christ. By this time he had been raised from spiritual death – quickened from the grave. And he was sitting at the Lord’s table as a testimony of the saving grace of God. “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
Lazarus is a picture of where God wants the child of His grace to be. He wants you sitting at the table of His preached Word. He wants you as part of the assembly we call the “Church of Jesus Christ” – to be at the family reunion. I believe that He wants you at every meal, eating up the doctrines of Christ. Christ died for the Church – in sense that every one for whom Christ died should be a part of His church. The local assembly is the pillar and ground of the truth – I Timothy 3:15. “Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” “Come and dine, the master calleth; come and dine.” Just as many dieticians recommend that children should eat three proper meals a day, we might say that the child of God should dine with the Lord three times a week – Sunday morning, Sunday evening and at least once during the week. We all ought to be Lazarus, sitting at the table with the Saviour.
But then sometimes we need to be like Martha.
Matthew doesn’t tell us that Martha was present that day, but John does. “There they made him a supper; and Martha served.” In Luke 10 we recall another meal at this same house with this same family. Luke 10:38 – “Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Lazarus and Mary were feasting on Lord’s instruction and fellowship, but Martha was cooking, washing pots and pans, and waiting on tables – rather than waiting on Christ. While she was cumbered about with all her activity, perhaps the words of Lord only distracted her. On that occasion, she might have been so busy that she forgot about the distinguished guest. And she got so upset when she noticed that Mary was not working like she was that she rebuked her. But then the Lord rebuked her: “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about lots of non-essential things: But Mary has chosen to sit with me, and you shouldn’t try to take that away from her.”
Perhaps you might disagree with me, about this, but I don’t hear Christ rebuking Martha for her service. I hear Him rebuking her for trying to make her sister conform to her kind of service. He didn’t necessarily tell Martha to sit down beside Mary and listen. He didn’t tell everyone that evening’s meal should be cancelled. Martha’s service was still needed, but she needed a different attitude in that service, and she needed to attune her ear to the things of the Lord while she worked.
We are here in this world to be worshipers first, then workers for Christ second. I am not trying to say we should not be the Lord’s servants, but we should be the Lord’s worshipers first. Martha might be an illustration of the preacher during the church service. His job is important, but he needs to carry out his responsibilities in the light of his own need to worship the Saviour. The Lord’s church needs lots of different kinds of workers – different varieties of service. But we must not let our service replace the more important thing. When the preacher becomes overly proud of his sermon, or the singer her solo, or the grounds-keeper the condition of the lawn, then those servants may be worshiping the wrong thing. There is a time to be a Martha, but there is a time when we need to be a Lazarus.
Another servant whom I’m not going to fully address today is the disciple – John, or Peter, or Matthew.
One of the lessons they teach us is that our special kind of service may not be required 24 hours a day. Were the disciples serviceable? Certainly, and each in his own way. There were those occasions when they were waiters, passing out fish and bread. Then they became bus-boys gathering baskets full of leftovers. From time to time some of them picked up supplies – such as donkeys and their colts. Some of them are making plans for up-coming Passover meal.
But as their title suggests their primary responsibility was to learn of Christ; to sit at His feet and soak Him up. At this time they were little more than children, learning the Bible lessons and preparing for their future ministries. But they were also worshipers of Christ, as all the rest of Jesus’ servants were supposed to be.
Then we come to the woman, Mary – sacrificing for Christ.
She is not named in Matthew – we learn more about her in the Book of John. And by the way, what was the purpose for the writing of the Gospel of John? John said, “These are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” As led by the Holy Spirit, John considered this meal to be extremely instructive – not from an historical perspective, but from the divine perspective.
Mary loved the Lord so much – she was so grateful for all He had done for her – that she gave to Him the best that she possessed. How often do people worship the Lord in this way today – giving Him their best? Too many expect to get something out a worship service without putting anything into it. They come to the house of God, as they might to the dinner table, demanding to be fed. Have they prepared anything for the meal? Have they even washed their hands? Have they even worked up a spiritual appetite? They sit down and pull out their phones to make sure that they don’t miss the latest text from the other side of town. Their minds wander, and they refuse to focus on the discussion around the table. And the meal itself? “Not these vegetables again. I was hoping for pizza and all we have is hamburger.”
Out all the people feasting with Christ that day, the Lord was most pleased with Mary. And she will be my focus this afternoon.
Now let me close with the hypocrite – the sniveling Judas.
“Why wasn’t this ointment sold and given to me – I mean to the treasurer – to pass on to the poor?” Matthew suggests that it was more than just one disciple with this attitude, but John tells us that it was Judas who was most offended at the “waste” of Mary’s precious ointment. Into every church a little rain must fall. No matter how good the meal, in a crowd this large, someone will not like some part of it. No matter how the Lord is glorified, someone will complain. And sometimes the complaint will be that Christ should have put a stop to it, or it could have been given more glory by someone else.
It may not be true of every church, but a great many of them have some member with a Judas’ attitude. These folk are more concerned with the secular than the spiritual, but they rarely put their complaints in that particular way. They argue for “charity” rather than devotion. But in all reality, like Judas, they are spiritual thieves or worse. “Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.” Pastors can be just as guilty of this as the next member. “I just wish that brother so-and-so would tithe; our church sure could use the money. Why isn’t he more faithful to the services? He must not love the Lord as much as I do.” What is it that motivates thoughts like that?
At whom was Judas angry about this waste? Usually Judases like this vent their wrath on other church members. On one occasion Mary was criticized by her sister for listening to the Saviour, and then on another occasion she was criticized by Judas for giving and not listening. But in reality Judas was displeased with Christ for allowing this to continue, and Martha seems to have been angry with the Lord as well. Did any of this disturb Mary? Yes, it just might have bothered her, until Lord stepped in.
And now to make the obvious conclusion:
Out of these five apparent Christians, which are YOU this afternoon? Lazarus, Mary, Martha and Simon all ought to be found in each of us from time to time. But who are you today, and who will it be next week? Which best describes you in your estimation? And perhaps more importantly, does the Lord agree with your estimation? Which one of these people ought you to be working to imitate more in your life?
The most important question in the light of this meal is in regard to Judas. He was a member of the Lord’s first church. He was a professed disciple, following the Lord, and learning the details of Christ’s life and His doctrine. But the man was not a worshiper of the Lord in any sense of the word. The man was still in his sin and when he died, he went to his own place – beginning eternal judgment. He was so angry with what took place in that house of God, that he arranged to betray Christ Jesus.
Do we have any Judases among us this morning? Examine yourself and repent before God. Trust Christ as your Lord and Saviour. Learn that He is worthy of the love that Mary had for Him. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.”