I have moved many times and each time we knew that the move was designed by God. As we grew in our faith we could look back and see God at work in our lives, preparing us for the next step spiritually. Each move brought a new state in which to reside. Each move was miles and miles from the last. Each move brought many new people into our lives and left many old friends behind. As sorrowful as it was to leave some of them, there was always a sense of excitement and joy. The anticipation was intense as we sought to find out how God was going to use us in this next chapter of our lives.
In our text today, we find Jesus saying his last farewell to very dear friends. It would be his last visit with Lazarus, Mary, and Martha before his crucifixion. Some think because of other passages that they were in the home of Simon the leper while others think they were in the home of Lazarus. Either way, it did not matter the action was the same. Jesus is sitting with Lazarus his dear friend whom He had raised from the dead only a short time before. We find Martha serving, as she usually did, Lazarus eating with Jesus, and Mary worshiping at Jesus’ feet.
John 12:1-3 “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 Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.
There is no doubt Jesus loved these three as much as anyone could. He had raised Lazarus from the dead, but before he gave him his life back, he saw the agony of his sisters and friends. Jesus knew he was going to bring him back to life, but He loved them so much He had empathy for them. In John 11:35 just before the resurrection of Lazarus the Bible says, “Jesus wept.”
We find these three doing what each of us should do to a beloved friend. Especially our friend Jesus. First, He was welcomed into their home and treated like a special guest. However, He was not treated as a guest that you are not familiar with, but one they were intimate with and loved dearly. Lazarus sat and talked with Jesus. He shared a meal with Him and listened as his friend spoke.
Second, we see Martha serving. This was not uncommon for Martha. If you remember in Luke chapter 10 Jesus rebukes Martha for serving. The problem was not in serving, because serving is a part of showing our love. The problem was her attitude and her priority.
Luke 10:40-41 “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:”
This time Martha was serving out of love and listening as she served. Her motive was to meet Jesus’ needs and show her love for Him.
Third, we have Mary. Compassionate, extravagant Mary. For Jesus, nothing was too good. She loved Him so much and was so grateful for all He had done for them. Mary couldn’t help but go above and beyond the normal actions of showing love. Mary poured forth her costly spikenard, in a royal, self-forgetting love.
I’m sure they did not know this would be the last time they would be able to sit at a meal with their dear friend. Therefore, this made their actions that much more precious. How would your relationship with Christ be if you thought today would be the last time you would spend time with Him? Do you love Him so much that you would be extravagant? Are you seeking to get to know Him as Lazarus did, talking and listening? Are you serving Him in all the ways made available to you? Are you keeping your eyes open for those opportunities like Martha? Are you being extravagant with your resources for Him or are you just spending what you feel is your “duty” to spend? These are questions we all need to answer from time to time. It is too easy to go through the motions and allow things to get in the way of truly loving Christ. Self-examination is a good thing, something we should do regularly. If we will judge ourselves here, and follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit, we won’t be judged for those things when we stand before Him one day.
I Corinthians 11:31 “For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.”
As we approach Easter we think about his last weeks and days here on this earth and how He was treated. Let us take those thoughts and remember Jesus is coming back. We may be approaching the last time we can be a Lazarus, Martha, or Mary on this earth.
