Application. Jesus loved Martha and Mary, and yet He put off helping them, and let their brother die! He did this to prove their faith and their resignation to God’s will, and also because their trial would tend to the glory of God and to their own salvation. Be sure that Almighty God’s motive is one of love when He visits us with trials. Do not murmur, but use the trial for your salvation by bearing it patiently, because God wills it, and for so long as He wills it.
Chapter LV.
JESUS FORETELLS HIS PASSION AND IS ANOINTED
BY MARY AT BETHANIA.
[Mat. 20, 17 — 19; cf. 17, 21 — 22. Mark 9, 29 — 31. Luke 9, 21—22. John 12, 1 — 11. Mat. 26, 6 — 13.]
THE Paschal feast[1] of the Jews was approaching, and Jesus set out for Jerusalem. At the beginning of this His last journey to the holy city, He said to the twelve: “Behold, we go to Jerusalem, and the Son of man shall be betrayed to the Chief Priests and to the Scribes and Ancients, and they shall condemn Him to death and shall deliver Him to the gentiles[2], and they shall mock Him and spit on Him and scourge Him and kill Him; and the third day He shall rise again.” But the apostles understood none of these things[3].
On his way He passed by Jericho, where He cured a blind man sitting by the wayside, and entered into the house of Zacheus, the chief of the publicans [Luke 19, 1 — 10].
Six days before Easter He came to Bethania, the home of Lazarus, Mary and Martha. There a supper was prepared for Him in the house of Simon the Leper[4], and Lazarus was one of those who sat at table with Him. Martha waited upon the Lord, but Mary brought an alabaster box, a pound of most precious
- ↑ Paschal feast. This was the fourth Easter since the beginning of His public life.
- ↑ Gentiles. Pontius Pilate and his soldiers were heathens.
- ↑ None of these things. They heard the words, but could not understand or believe their truth. How could He, the Messias and Son of God, end His life in such a way?
- ↑ Simon the “Leper." A near relative of Lazarus and his sisters. From the name given to him it is evident that he had been a leper, and had probably been cured by Jesus.
