Topical Bible: Friendship: Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, With Jesus

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The friendship between Jesus and the siblings Mary, Martha, and Lazarus is a profound example of personal relationships in the New Testament. This relationship is primarily documented in the Gospel of John, where it is evident that Jesus shared a deep bond with this family from Bethany.

Mary, Martha, and Lazarus:

Mary, Martha, and Lazarus were siblings who lived in the village of Bethany, near Jerusalem. They are introduced in the Gospel of Luke and are more prominently featured in the Gospel of John. Each sibling had a unique relationship with Jesus, and together they provide a rich tapestry of friendship, hospitality, and faith.

Hospitality and Service:

Martha is often remembered for her role as a hostess. In Luke 10:38-42, Jesus visits their home, and Martha is described as being "distracted with much serving" (Luke 10:40). She is concerned with the practical aspects of hospitality, while her sister Mary chooses to sit at Jesus' feet and listen to His teaching. Jesus gently reminds Martha that Mary has chosen "the good portion" (Luke 10:42), highlighting the importance of spiritual nourishment over worldly concerns.

Devotion and Worship:

Mary is depicted as a figure of deep devotion. In John 12:1-8, she anoints Jesus' feet with expensive perfume and wipes them with her hair. This act of worship and humility is met with criticism from Judas Iscariot, but Jesus defends her, saying, "Leave her alone; she has kept this perfume in preparation for the day of My burial" (John 12:7). Mary's actions demonstrate her understanding of Jesus' mission and her willingness to honor Him sacrificially.

The Raising of Lazarus:

The most significant event involving this family is the raising of Lazarus from the dead, as recorded in John 11. When Lazarus falls ill, Mary and Martha send word to Jesus, saying, "Lord, the one You love is sick" (John 11:3). This message underscores the close relationship between Jesus and Lazarus. Despite the urgency, Jesus delays His visit, ultimately arriving after Lazarus has died. This delay serves a greater purpose, as Jesus declares, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it" (John 11:4).

Upon His arrival, both sisters express their faith in Jesus, yet also their grief. Martha meets Him first, affirming her belief in the resurrection and Jesus' power, saying, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day" (John 11:24). Jesus responds with one of His profound "I am" statements: "I am the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25).

Mary, when she meets Jesus, falls at His feet weeping, and Jesus is deeply moved by her sorrow. The shortest verse in the Bible, "Jesus wept" (John 11:35), reveals His compassion and empathy. Jesus then performs the miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead, demonstrating His divine authority over life and death.

A Model of Friendship:

The relationship between Jesus and this family from Bethany exemplifies the depth of friendship that can exist between God and His people. It is characterized by mutual love, hospitality, faith, and shared experiences of joy and sorrow. This friendship also illustrates the human side of Jesus, who valued personal relationships and was moved by the emotions and needs of His friends.

Nave's Topical Index

Luke 10:38-42
Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
Nave's Topical Index

John 11:1-46
Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Home Scene.
... but a noble and touching tribute to the longings and susceptibilities of His holy
soul for human friendship, when, on ... Mary, Martha, and Lazarus"all three ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macduff/memories of bethany/ii the home scene.htm

The Anointing of Jesus.
... Martha serves; Lazarus, mute as he is throughout the ... are justified in the occasional
outlay demanded by friendship. 2. But our Lord's defence of Mary is of ...
/.../the expositors bible the gospel of st john vol ii/i the anointing of jesus.htm

"Lazarus, Come Forth"
... Here He found a sincere welcome, and pure, holy friendship. ... Apparently Mary and Martha
and the dying Lazarus were left alone. But they were not alone. ...
/.../white/the desire of ages/chapter 58 lazarus come forth.htm

Jesus Comforting his Friends.
... Mary's grief was deeper than Martha's; and when Jesus saw her ... Yet, knowing well what
would come from this ministry of friendship, he hesitated not. ...
/.../miller/personal friendships of jesus/chapter xi jesus comforting his.htm

The Resurrection of Lazarus.
... Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of Mark, Mary the wife ... 5. Now Jesus loved Martha,
and her sister, and Lazarus. ... His ministry was above the claims of friendship. ...
/.../the new testament commentary vol iii john/the resurrection of lazarus.htm

Opening Thoughts.
... the Lord of glory as the scene of His most cherished earthly friendship! ... his Gospel,
as is supposed in distant Ephesus, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus were, in ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macduff/memories of bethany/i opening thoughts.htm

The Seventh Miracle in John's Gospel --The Raising of Lazarus
... to His heart, and feels all the sweetness and the power of friendship. ... loving Lord
took into the same sanctuary of His pure heart, Mary and Martha, and her ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture i/the seventh miracle in johns.htm

Jesus' Unrequited Friendships.
... Another instance of unrequited friendship in the life of Jesus was in the case of
the rich young man who ... Thus he belongs with Martha and Mary and Lazarus ...
/.../personal friendships of jesus/chapter ix jesus unrequited friendships.htm

Jesus and Thomas.
... time, and there is evidence that the friendship was a ... Mary of Bethany comes into
the story on only ... the same attitude,"at Jesus' feet,"while Martha is ever ...
/.../miller/personal friendships of jesus/chapter viii jesus and thomas.htm

The Death and the Raising of Lazarus - the Question of Miracles ...
... many from the City, who were on terms of friendship with what was ... not have been the
consequence of witnessing the tears of Mary and what ... It was that of Martha. ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxi the death and.htm