The village of Bethany gives testimony to the authenticity of the Bible. The name “Bethany” comes from the combination of two words. The Hebrew word “beth” means “house,” and it is coupled to another which speaks of the date palm. Bethany means “House of Dates” – in other words, there were likely date groves in the area. In fact Bethany may have been a very good region 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.” Bethany was also about two miles east of Jerusalem just beyond the “Mount of Olives.” But today it is no longer known by “Bethany,” rather it is called “el Azariyeh” or simply “Lazariyeh.” My Bible dictionary tells me that the tiny village which rests on the site of Bethany has been renamed after its most famous historical resident – Lazarus. Doesn’t that fact demand an explanation? Why Lazarus? Why not one of thousands of others? That name-change points an historical finger to the miracle of Lazarus’s resurrection. That fact, gives evidence of the authenticity of the Bible record.
Let’s consider this meal which took place in Bethany. Let’s say that the supper of the text is a picture of a scriptural church service. For example, the Lord was bidden to attend, as should be true of all church services. There were several different kinds of Christians present – which is usually true in the average church. Hypocrites were there – Judas, the apparent disciple, was in attendance. And then there were the lost there too, which in itself was not a bad thing. Some had heard how that old Lazarus had “got religion,” and they wanted to see it for themselves. There was even a measure being put out for the next municipal ballot to change the name of the community to “el Azariyeh,” and there were people out investigating the idea. Others came to that meal to seek out ways to destroy the testimony of Christ and Lazarus. Some were there for the meal alone; some were there for the entertainment.
There were four different kinds of “Christian” people in this “church service.”
First we have mentioned the presence of Lazarus sitting at the table with Jesus.
We know Lazarus from the events of chapter 11. That man had been dead in sins. He had 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 life. True religion is supposed to be a medium, a means carrying the message of God to people in need. Lazarus was definitely in great need, but his religion had been powerless to help him. When Christ arrived on the scene, Lazarus’ 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 disposed, he would have continued to corrupt the whole neighborhood. He had been bound hand and foot by the burial clothes of religious tradition and the demands of the law. That is the purpose of the law, to bury us under the realization of our sin and its curse. 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 souls for the grave. Unless, of course it 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 the proper members of any church of the Lord Jesus. 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. 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 to be a part of the family we call the “Church of Jesus Christ.” He wants us to be a part of each family reunion – at every meal, eating up the doctrines of Christ. Christ died for the Church – in the sense that every one for whom Christ died, should be a part His church. “Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”
Perhaps more specifically, sometimes we need to be like Martha at that family meal.
In Luke 10 we recall another meal at this same house with this same family. “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 sitting, 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; the words of Lord only distracted her. It seems that she was so busy puttering about her chores she forgot about her distinguished house-guest. And then she got upset when she noticed that Mary was not working like she was that she rebuked her. But the Lord rebuked her: “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about lots of 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 the evening 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. It wasn’t “whistle while you work,” but “listen while you work.” – an exhortation we should all take to heart.
We are here in this world to be worshipers first, then workers for Christ second. We might liken this woman to workers, male or female, in our church – or any church. Pastors, for example, work pretty hard on Sunday – it is usually one of their busier days. But if they are not being fed and living in the worship of the Lord, then they are wasting at least one aspect of this day. If someone goes into the nursery to serve the Lord by helping a mother listen to the Word of God, that nursery-worker needs to do her best to listen to the message on the nursery speaker. If someone has volunteered to present a special hymn for the congregation, and they have practiced and worked hard to get something wonderful together. If when they have presented their special they sit down and ignore everything else that takes place, then perhaps they shouldn’t be permitted to serve again like that. If someone thinks that dropping a check in the offering box is the extent of his worship, then he needs to do a little growing in the Lord. And if he thinks that warming a pew is all that the Lord requires of him, and he refuses to sing praises to God, or to tithe, or to listen to the message, then it indicates that perhaps he has never really listened to the message of God in the first place. There is a time to be a Lazarus and there is a time to be a Martha.
Then we come across the woman, Mary – sacrificing for Christ.
By the way I don’t think that this is the same feast as that of Matthew 26 and Mark 14. Among other things, there the worshiper poured her ointment on the head of the Saviour. Here Mary anointed the feet of Christ.
Doesn’t Mary suggest that nothing she possessed was really good enough for the Lord. The truth is – that is a fact. This lady had been saving her allowance and had collected a pound of Spikenard. This was both a spice and a perfume; it was an aromatic ointment. And a pound of it was quite valuable. Was the most valuable thing that Mary possessed good enough for head of the Lord? You may have several different kinds of smelly things at your house. Right Guard or Arid Extra-dry, foot powder, and then Aqua Velvet and Chanel #5. Only one might be good enough for your face. I think that it might be a good idea for me to stay away from the Chanel stuff, except as a gift. Mary was serving the very best that she had onto the feet of the Saviour.
She loved the Lord so much, she was so grateful for all He had done, that she gave the best that she had. But at the same time she felt unworthy of anointing anything but the Lord’s feet. She got her hands dirty, but those are easily washed. But then she befouled and tangled the crown of her glory – her long black hair.
How often do people worship the Lord in this way today? Too many try to get something out a worship service without putting anything into it. Have you given your last $10 to Lord lately or befouled your hands working with some sinner? When did you give up your vacation in order to work for Christ? Have you lately given up your sleep for his service? A meal? Your possessions? In the average church service, does anyone at any time wash the feet of the Lord? Can we say that 50% of the saints have never really sacrificed anything for Christ?
Out all the people feasting with Christ that day, the Lord was most pleased with Mary.
Of course we could talk about the unregenerated Jews present, but I’ll skip them.
We’ll 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?” Into every church a little rain must fall. No matter how scriptural the message, 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 been given more glory – by someone else. It seems that every congregation gets a perpetual, contrary soul; an opposite to the contrite soul.
These folk are more concerned with the secular than the spiritual. Or maybe its more about the doctrinal than the devotional – the practical over the eternal. They argue for charity rather than devotion. But in all reality they are spiritual thieves or worse. Pastors can be just as guilty of this as the next church member, or perhaps even more guilty. “I just wish that brother so-and-so would tithe; our church sure could use the money.” That quite often means that the Pastor has something to spend that money on.
But at whom was Judas angry? Usually those Judases vent their wrath toward some of the 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 actually Judas was displeased with Christ for allowing this to continue.
Did any of this disturb Mary? Yes, it just might have bothered her, until Lord stepped in. Don’t let the disgruntles get you down. Don’t let the gossips, inside or outside, hinder you from what duty the Lord has laid on your heart. “Let us not be weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faith not.” Keep on keeping on.
Out of these four apparent Christians, which most closely resembles you? Lazarus, Mary and Martha all ought to be found in each of our lives from time to time. But who is it 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?