July 24, 2023
Breaking Bread and Sharing Stories
“Jesus, therefore, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they made Him a supper there, and Martha was serving; but Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him.” John 12:1-2 (NASB)
No matter if she ministered publicly or at home, Catherine Booth realized it was all worship for God. I remember hearing about a sign hanging over a kitchen sink that said, “Divine service held here three times daily.” That is really true. It could also apply to laboring over a lathe or a desk. Divine service occurs when the proper perspective is there. Martha knew that when her spirit was right, her service was akin to the dramatic outward worship of Mary. The options are always before us. We can complain about those who are not doing their job, we can be sour, or we can do our work lovingly and gently. Those are the choices. The transcending point is that loving service is always the characteristic of those who have had their hearts truly touched by Christ.[1]
“Jesus, therefore, six days before the Passover came to Bethany where Lazarus was …” “If the crucifixion was on Friday, as seems certain from both John and the Synoptics, then six days before would be the Jewish Sabbath preceding or more probably the Friday afternoon before, since Jesus would most likely arrive before the Sabbath.”[2] The feast in Jesus’ honor was held in Simon the leper’s home as reported in Mark 14:3, “While He was in Bethany at the home of Simon the leper, and reclining at the table, there came a woman with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume of pure nard; and she broke the vial and poured it over His head.” Simon would was referred to as Simon the leper, for reader identification, but not that he still had leprosy. He was healed already by Jesus. If Simon still had leprosy, the meeting would not have been there as all would have been ceremonially unclean. This would have been a disaster before Passover. John on the other hand reported who the woman (Mary) was who poured the perfume over Jesus’ head. Martha, on the other hand, was back to serving again. “Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served” (v. 2). That was what Martha loved to do. From what the Scriptures tell us about her, she was in her element. She was a guest in Simon the Leper’s house, but she was in charge. No doubt she had been up the night before, getting things ready so at earliest dawn she could fire the oven… Nothing was too good for Jesus. Martha had used her best recipes, and she loved bringing course after course to Jesus and his men. They loved it too. She was doing her thing, and everybody was happy.”[3]
Imagine the conversation of all those around the table that mealtime. Can you imagine hearing from Lazarus about what happened when he died? Who did you see in heaven? What was the look on Peter’s face when he saw me come out of the wrappings! Can you imagine the story about Simon the leper’s condition and the pain and exclusion it brought to his life? We often read Scripture without wondering what happened around the table. We want to read on. I encourage you today, read and then ask God to share a thought with you about what you read. You will be incredibly blessed by what God decides to share with you!
[1] Hughes, R. K. (1999). John: that you may believe (p. 292). Crossway Books.
[2] Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Jn 12:1). Broadman Press.
[3] Ibid.