As we
Journey from Ash Wednesday through Lent to Holy Week and land at our
destination of Easter Sunday, let’s consider some of the people who were
assigned to the space and time that these events took place and how their
choices and experiences related to their experience of Jesus. In our attempt to understand their statements
and actions, we might see our own reaction to Jesus.
The first
three were missing during Easter week.
It seems they may have gone into hiding while all of Jerusalem was in a
frenzy about whom He was and where He went that week. Yet, their significance to the Easter story
cannot be forgotten. Jesus Himself
stated that every time the story of Easter is told, their story, especially
Mary’s actions, should be recounted.
Of
course, I am talking about Jesus’ three close friends from Bethany near
Jerusalem—Lazarus, Martha and Mary.
These siblings were not only close friends of Jesus, but also
enthusiastic about His ministry. We
first learn about them from Luke’s retelling of the day Martha hosted Him in
her home (Luke 10:38-42). Most notable
from this story was the affirmation of Mary for being at His feet listening to
what He said as what is better than being focused on practical details required of the guests. We wouldn’t know how dear they were to Jesus,
nor that they had a brother called Lazarus, unless John took so much time
setting up one of the miracles in his gospel, Jesus raising Lazarus from the
dead (John 11). It is in this reading that
you learn that Lazarus was dearly loved by Jesus. We also observe how differently these three
characters relate to Christ. There is a
consistency to their characters. Once
again Martha is practical and active when interacting with Jesus (questioning
His timing and worrying about offensive smells), while we find Mary always
falling to the feet of Jesus even though she has the same questions as
Martha. All we know about Lazarus is
that Jesus loved him very much and that when Lazarus was called out of the tomb
after his obvious death, He listened and obeyed.
Just
before Holy Week is the last time these three are mentioned. John’s gospel specifically states that six
days before the Passover there was a dinner in Bethany, this time at Simon’s home. Martha was there serving. Lazarus was there reclining at the table with
Jesus. The disciples were there and
others who were more open to considering that Jesus was the Messiah since He
had raised Lazarus from the dead. This
family was most likely well known and well respected in the religious community,
and their experiences with Jesus further validated His legitimacy. Many believe that it was this miracle of
Jesus that incited the Religious Leaders to an increased concern about having
Him killed. Mary did a beautiful thing
in her response to Jesus that is to be remembered every Holy Week. Mary brought a jar of perfume worth a year’s
wages and broke it over Jesus’ feet and dried His feet with her hair. While
Judas reacted negatively to her gesture of worship, Jesus explained that she
had done a beautiful thing and that this act should be remembered at Holy Week
in the years to come. Then there is no
mention of these close friends of Jesus either at the cross of Christ, or by name
in Acts. Their scent goes away from the
gospel narratives. We can only imagine
the reason. The most likely explanation
is that they felt a need to go into hiding sooner than the disciples. Lazarus’ life was being threatened as well as
Jesus’ life. The Religious Leaders
wanted them both dead.
Perhaps
some Jesus followers in Galilee offered their lakeside home as a retreat from
Jerusalem and a hiding place from the death threat of the angry Religious Leaders. We don’t know for sure. What we do know is that before they faded
away from the pages of the Bible, the three were where they were meant to be
just before Holy Week. Each in his or
her own unique honored Jesus. Lazarus
sat beside Him, Martha served Him and Mary anointed Him for burial.
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