The Bethany Family

by Robertson, A. B. | Category: General | Jul 1966

When the Lord Jesus sent out first the twelve disciples and then the seventy into the cities and villages of Israel with "power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases" and to "preach the kingdom of God", He told them when they were received into a house "first say, Peace be to this house... And in that same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: ... Go not from house to house" (Luke 10.5-7).

The story of His own reception in Bethany and of the home that offered him shelter is given in Luke 10.38-42. Martha, Mary and Lazarus loved Him, and His presence in their home greatly enriched their lives. This home has a special place in the record of the Lord's life. During the last fateful week before His crucifixion He lodged at night in the Mount of Olives, in the Bethany area, with the twelve (Luke 21.37), and at least one of these nights was spent at Bethany.

The Good Part

While Martha busied herself with preparing the meal for their illustrious Visitor, Mary chose "the good part". She sat at the Lord's feet, recognizing that He had more to give than they could give Him. "One thing is needful," He told Martha. This intimate and personal communion with the Lord is still vital to the Christian life. Nothing else mattered to Mary, not even the complaint of her worthy sister. Of Mary it could be truly said, "I sat down under His shadow with great delight" and "While the King sat at His table, my spikenard sent forth its fragrance" (Song of Songs 2.3; 1.12). We, too, can sit at His feet and offer the fragrance of our love. Our highest service is bearing a savour of Christ in the way the loaves of shewbread bore the frankincense before God in the Holy Place.

Whom Thou Lovest

We are not told how often the Lord visited the home in Bethany, but it was frequently enough for the family to know His affection for them. "He whom Thou lovest is sick" (John 11.3) was the urgent message sent to the Lord from Judea to beyond Jordan as Lazarus lay dying. When He was in the quiet security

of their home, filling it and them with peace, they knew that the Lord loved them. "His banner over me was love." If He were near, the sisters felt that no sadness could cloud their joy. The message they sent conveyed only the circumstances, but the later comments of the sisters show that they felt the Lord's presence would have saved Lazarus from death and themselves from heartbreak. They thought that he would not allow such distress to overtake His loved ones. They had to learn that even in trouble their faith in His power should never weaken.

Why did the Lord delay going to Lazarus? He said to His disciples, "I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent that ye may believe" (John 11.15). Lazarus fell sick and died. Mary and Martha suffered deeply. All this was so that others might believe. II anything less could have strengthened the disciples, the Bethany family would not have endured this experience, for "Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus" (John 11.5). Later, too, because of the raising of Lazarus "many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus" (John 12.11). This is what the Lord meant when He said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby" (John 11.4).

The Christian is not promised an explanation of his sufferings or an escape from them. But he is promised comfort. "As ye are partakers of the sufferings, so also are ye of the comfort" (2 Corinthians 1.7). Paul writes of God as "the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our affliction" (2 Corinthians 1.3A). Suffering is an important part of life's experience. We shall not escape it but we shall be comforted. The Greek word for "comfort" in 2 Corinthians 1 signifies "to call to one's side". There is a fellowship with Christ learned only in circumstances of affliction: "Comfort also aboundeth through Christ" (2 Corinthians 1.5).

On the road home from Jerusalem, their world in ashes and their hopes frustrated, the two broken men of Emmaus talked of recent events; then "Jesus Himself drew near, and went with them" (Luke 24.15). What comfort this was to be! He asked them to declare their trouble, and, having heard them, he showed them from Moses and from all the prophets ... the things concerning Himself". Their hearts burned within them and their hopes and their faith were restored.

The disciple is committed, and life's vicissitudes should not deflect him from love and service to his Lord. Affliction often brings comfort and a special sense of communion. The Lord Himself was committed to accomplishing His Father's will, and even knowing all things from the beginning, "Christ also pleased not Himself" (Romans 15.3), that is, He did not make things agreeable for Himself.

"Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that through patience and through comfort of the Scriptures we might have hope" (Romans 15.4). It is in the Scriptures that God speaks, and while His purposes are being fulfilled in us they will also reach out and have an effect upon others. We can be assured that He will draw very near to us and walk with us in our affliction. It was in the wilderness of Judah that David learned "Thy lovingkindness is better than life" (Psalm 63.3).

She Hath Done what She Could

The three narratives (Matthew 26.6-13; Mark 14.3-9; John 12.1-8) are so similar that they seem to speak of the same incident in the house of Simon the leper. The reference in Matthew and Mark to "two days" before the Passover cannot relate to the actual incident of the anointing. John 12.1, "six days before the Passover", could be the correct time. The incident in Matthew and Mark seems to be interpolated.

About this time the Lord is lodging in the Mount of Olives at night and going to Jerusalem every day. Before the week was out He would be crucified. On at least one evening He had a meal in the Bethany home. Mary, sensible, it seems, of the impending death of her Lord, anoints His head and His feet and wipes His feet with her hair. Those looking on were critical; they could see no sense in this. But so near was His departure that adoring Mary wished to show her deep affection for her Lord. He understood and appreciated her action, and said, "Let her alone; why trouble ye her? ... She hath done what she could" (Mark 14.6,8).

Over the years Mary had sat at the Lord's feet in the house at Bethany. She had communed with Him when all was well and had been comforted by Him in distress. She had learned the good part. Who can say how much this expression of love meant to her Lord? "She hath done what she could!" Could she have done less? or more?

Robertson, A. B. | Jul 1966
General