Work, Witness, and Worship

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 odour of the ointment. John 12:1-3

Jesus is the guest of honor at a dinner that has a most unusual setting. The host for this dinner is known as Simon the leper. Leprosy was such a dreaded disease that it caused immediate social isolation for the person diagnosed with it. It is assumed but not scripturally stated that Simon’s leprosy had been cured. Perhaps, Simon was one of the many lepers that Jesus had cured. There were ten cured at one time when one returned to show gratitude. There was another time when Jesus touched a leper and cured him. Of course, touching a leper was considered an unclean thing to do. But Jesus had a special touch. For all of us who were once covered by the leprosy of sin, we know what a touch from Jesus can do. And here Jesus is at a dinner in the home of Simon the leper. But not only that, Jesus is sitting at the table with a man who had died, his body had begun to decompose, and was subsequently raised from the dead after four days. The scripture says that a holy person should not be around the dead. But there are no instructions for how to interact with a person who was once dead and is now alive. This is the setting for an honorarium dinner for Jesus.

I. From the gospel accounts:
A. The dinner was given in Simon’s House (Matthew, Mark)
B. Simon was a leper (Matthew, Mark)
C. Mary anointed Jesus’ head also (Matthew, Mark)
D. The Ointment was worth more than 300 pence (Mark, John)

II. Martha the Worker
A. Notable that the Scriptures indicate that Martha Served
B. We need Christian Servants
C. Jesus had referred to Martha as Worried and Upset about many Things

III. Lazarus the Witness
A. The Scripture notes that This is after Lazarus was Raised from the Dead
B. His new Life is a Testimony of What Jesus can Do
C. He communes or shares at the Table with Jesus
D. He is a Silent Witness (Many believed on Jesus because of him.)


IV. Mary the Worshiper
A. Her Worship caused a Problem at the Party
i. She was Accused of being Wasteful
ii. She was Accused of being Insensitive to the Poor
B. Jesus defended Her
i. Let her alone.
ii. Why are you bothering her?
iii. She has done a good work (Matthew, Mark)
C. Jesus defended his right to be worshiped
i. Jesus’ bodily presence should be acknowledged
ii. You can always help the poor
D. She did what she could
E. Her worship memorialized her
F. She worshiped by Faith (preparation for Jesus’ burial)


I believe that there is a lot we can learn from this Bethany family of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. If you are a worker, there is never enough help but you should work anyway. If you are a witness, your new life in Christ should do most of the talking for you. If people are not convinced by your life, they might not be persuaded by your words either. No matter how much God does in providing you with a new life in Jesus, there will always be some haters who are not in favor of your healthy outlook or general wellbeing. In spite of all of this, you should still take time for communion with Jesus. When you worship Jesus, Jesus is your shield and protector. Worshiping Jesus is a good work. Jesus deserves all of the praise and worship we can give. There is no limit to praising him. You might not sing like others but you should sing anyhow. If no one else is lifting holy hands, you should lift yours when your soul is moved to worship God. You have to learn to do what you can. Worship should be an act of your faith. Not only do you have a right to worship God, but if you know that he has done something for you, you have a reason to worship.


Robert C. Hudson
May 3, 2009