Bethany

by David A. McClements, Melbourne, Australia | Category: General | May 1996

The home at Bethany was privileged to have as a guest the Lord of life and glory. The visits of Christ to that home must have been a blessed experience for Mary, Martha and Lazarus.

The name Bethany may mean 'the house of affliction', and in one sense it was that, although the power of the Lord brought about mighty changes in the lives of some who lived there. The village became a place of blessing when the Lord restored Lazarus to life; death has no place in His presence. The words of Mary come to mind, 'Lord if Thou hadst been here my brother had not died' (John 11:32). When they came to the tomb, the Lord instructed them to remove the stone. Martha observed, 'Lord ... he hath been dead four days' (v.39). The Lord replied, 'Said I not unto thee that if thou believedst, thou shouldest see the glory of God?' (v.40). This verse refers us back to those mighty words of the Lord including one of the 'I Ams' of John's Gospel:

I Am the resurrection and the Life: he that believeth on Me, though he die yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth on Me shall never die. Believest thou this?

When Jesus therefore saw her (Mary) weeping and the Jews also weeping which came with her, He groaned in the spirit, and was troubled (vv. 25,26,33).

The Lord who wept with Mary also brought triumph to her home by raising her brother Lazarus from the dead. Tears of sorrow were turned into tears of joy.

The Bethany home was a place of hospitality for the Lord. He was welcomed there and so were those who kept company with Him - His disciples. Here was an open door and there were also open hearts to receive the Master and His words. John says, 'they made Him a supper there' (12:2) and Luke tells us, 'Martha received Him into her house' (10:38). It was Mary who sat at the Lord's feet and listened attentively to His every word. The reception the Lord received in this home is an example of true hospitality. The love of the members of the family for each other was evident, as was the Lord's love for them. At the tomb of Lazarus 'Jesus wept. The Jews therefore said, Behold how He loved him!' (vv. 35,36). What self-sacrificing love we see in the Lord, the Son of God, who wept real tears as a Man by virtue of the incarnation!

The home of His Bethany friends had a unique place in the affections of the Lord and was sanctified by His presence. What took place there demonstrates that during the days of His flesh the Lord was approachable and His forgiveness and healing power were available to those who exercised faith.

Lastly, Bethany was a place of yearning where the Lord's presence was longed for. We have seen that Mary sat at His feet and yearned to hear His words. To demonstrate her devotion to the Master, she anointed His feet with a pound of spikenard ointment which was very precious (John 12:3). Christ alone can satisfy the yearnings of sinners and saints alike. May the words of the Song of

Solomon be our experience 'I sat down under His shadow with great delight' (2:3). The presence of the Lord brought great blessing to Bethany. May it be the experience of the churches of God to know the Lord's presence so that they may become places of blessing, encouragement, triumph over trials and tears, hospitality, love, nearness to the Lord and yearning to know more of Him.

David A. McClements, Melbourne, Australia | May 1996
General