The Master's Motive
IN John 11 we read of a village called Bethany. It is recorded in the Gospels, that the Lord Jesus Christ visited Bethany eight times. As far as we read in the Scriptures, He never once stayed overnight in Jerusalem. He would go there in the morning, heal the sick and perform miracles, and then go to Bethany or the Mount of Olives nearby. The Mount of Olives and Bethany are side by side, and either He would go to the Mount of Olives to pray, or He would go to Bethany (Mark 11:1,11,19). On each occasion, after healing or teaching or performing miracles in Jerusalem, He would return to Bethany or to the Mount of Olives in the evening. Finally it was from Bethany He ascended into heaven (Luke 24:50). All this goes to show that the Lord Jesus had special lessons to teach His disciples in Bethany and it was at Bethany that He gave the last message and command to His disciples: "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel." From all these visits to Bethany we too can learn many spiritual lessons.
The word Bethany means house of figs. In the Bible figs speak of health, c.f. 2 Kings 20:7. King Hezekiah was nigh unto death, he was so sick. At last Isaiah came to him and told him to take a lump of figs and put it upon the boil, and he recovered. Again in 1 Samuel 30:12 an Egyptian was almost dying without food for three days. His master, the Amalekite, left him in the field because he was sick (V.l3).. but David's men fed him with bread, water and figs, and he recovered.
Figs are a part of the normal diet of the Jews. In 1 Samuel 25:18 we read how Abigail, to please David, brought him so many good things to eat. When big feasts are made for guests, the host will prepare for the occasion whatever dishes the guests like best. Similarly Abigail brought the best things to David, hoping to appease his anger, and amongst them were two hundred cakes of figs. On another occasion in 1 Chronicles 12:38-40 men of war came to make David king, and there was great joy in the whole kingdom. There was feasting, and the best things were available for eating and drinking. Some of the people brought a large quantity of these good things on asses, camels, mules and oxen. There was meat, meal, cakes of figs and bunches of raisins, and wine and oil, and oxen and sheep abundantly. Amongst those good things were cakes of figs. This is an illustration of the value of figs among the Jews, for feasting and also for health. Bethany as house of figs is also house of health.
The Lord Jesus Christ came into the world to bring us true health. All men are sick of sin and the sickness of sin cannot be healed. Other diseases may be healed by medicines or by some other treatment, but this disease of sin cannot be healed. So the Lord Jesus Christ came into the world to heal men and women from the sickness of sin.
In Jeremiah 33:6 to S. we read that because of rebellion and sin, the people of Israel became captives in Babylon for seventy years. Even though they had to be punished, yet because of His love for them. God promised to bring them out from their captivity after-seventy years. He said: "I will pardon your sins and transgression and iniquity", and said also: "I will give you health and cure". The Lord Jesus Christ came into the world to pardon our sins, transgression and iniquity, and to give us spiritual health. Because our unhappiness and miseries are due to our sins, when our sins are forgiven we become happy and full of joy and spiritual prosperity. Then we have liberty to call upon the Lord Jesus Christ for everything we need.
God promises in Jeremiah 33:3 "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not". These words were spoken to those who rebelled against God, yet when they turned from their sins, He willingly pardoned them and met their need. Bethany speaks of spiritual health and cure. The Lord Jesus Christ was seeking to show through Bethany how man can receive health spiritually, and true peace. He went to Bethany a number of times, and on each visit. He revealed something more of the secret of how He gives and how we can receive true spiritual health. All diseases are caused by sin and even death itself. In Bethany there is healing, provided you come to the Lord Jesus Christ.
The first time the Lord came to Bethany is recorded in John 11:1. The Lord had a special love for the family of Martha, Mary and Lazarus. They had many shortcomings, failures and inward weaknesses, but still He loved them. In the same way He loves you and me. Romans 5:8 proclaims His love: "While we were yet sinners Christ died for us". The Lord uses many ways to show His love for us. Even though we have sinned and grieved Him, and wounded Him again and again. He yet receives us and shows His love to us, but unless we are fully prepared to receive that love, we cannot enjoy the life and joy and health He offers to us.
Now let us see how that divine love can be received and enjoyed by us. Most people only think of divine love in terms of earthly blessings. In fact that is how most people define blessing. If they have everything in plenty they think God loves them. But God has many ways of showing His love to us. Man can be prosperous, but very miserable inside. Earthly prosperity is no sign of divine love, but that very wrong conception exists in many hearts. Men think of health and prosperity as spiritual blessing, but God's blessing is for eternity (Psa.133:3). True blessing is always in terms of eternal life, and whatever we enjoy through eternal life is true blessing. When we have inward peace we enjoy true life, and in-spite of whatever God may allow in our lives, whether sufferings or difficulties, because of eternal life we can enjoy true blessing. Blessings come to us in different ways. In fact, in Psalm 119:67,71 we see how David regards affliction and trials as blessing. He is thankful in his affliction because he learns how to keep and understand God's Word (Psa. 18:19,35&36). Through the very same affliction, he comes into enlargement. In the same way in Job 42:6,12,13, through many painful trials, Job received a double portion of blessing. Whatever God may permit in our lives, even though it may be painful, because we enjoy eternal life it becomes a blessing.
In Genesis 26:12 to 14 we see certain men became jealous of Isaac and wanted him to go away. Isaac would rather lose much, than to have strife with the Philistines (v. 16). Then the men of Gerar made it very difficult for Isaac, and they also wanted him to remove himself from that place. Isaac's men had dug the wells and again the Philistines had claimed them—but again Isaac moved away. Each time the Lord gave him a better place. All these trials were a blessing to him and in the end he came to Rehoboth, a large place (vs.22,24). There are many, many trials which are hidden blessings, and we have to come into God's full purpose to know His heavenly plans and real blessing.
To show His love to Martha and Mary, the Lord Jesus Christ came to Bethany again and again, but they had to be prepared to receive His love in fullness. The first time He came to show them then true condition. If we really want to receive God's love fully, we have first to see our sinful and corrupt condition. There is nothing good in us, as Paul testifies (Rom.7:18). It takes us many years to learn that lesson, because we do not want to think that there is nothing good in us. It is only after many failures that we see how sinful and corrupt we are, and that we have to be delivered from our sinful nature.
Sometime ago somebody gave me a rosy apple. I kept it for two days, and then I cut it and found it rotten inside: I tried to find at least one good piece, but there was not a single piece that was good. It looked very nice outside but was rotten inside. I kept on scraping at it with a knife, but there was nothing good in it at all. That is like ourselves. Outwardly we look good but inwardly we are rotten. That is our nature. God has declared that in our flesh there is no good, and therefore our life is defiled, full of shortcomings and failures. God's servant testified: "In my flesh dwelleth no good thing". We are defiled in every way, and cannot depend upon our old nature for anything. It takes many years to learn that lesson, but we have to learn that lesson, for it is only then that divine love can flow freely.
Outwardly the family at Bethany were very nice people. They looked after the Lord Jesus and loved Him. They were not like the Pharisees and Sadducees who found fault with Him. This family had great respect for the Lord Jesus Christ, and welcomed Him with great joy every time He went in that direction. He must have passed that way many times, because Bethany is on the way to Jericho from Jerusalem, and whenever the Lord Jesus came from Jerusalem, He must have stopped there on the way. Even though His visits are recorded only eight times, He must have gone there many more times than that. The Lord knew very well their condition and it was not because they were perfect that He went there. He knew how much He could accomplish in them by going there so He kept on going. The first time He went, it was to show them their true nature and condition, for He only can see our hearts.
Samuel was God's prophet and a man of experience, (1 Sam. 16:7). After many years of serving as God's prophet, he was sent by God to Bethlehem. God had told him: "I have refused Saul and I want somebody else to be anointed king." God did not reveal to Samuel beforehand that David was going to be king instead of Saul. When Samuel came to Jesse's house, Eliab, Jesse's eldest son, was brought before him. He had a good appearance, a strong body and he would have been fit to be king, judging by his height, features, and bearing. Everything was perfect about him. Samuel thoroughly examined him and seeing his stature, bearing and height, he said within himself: "Eliab is certainly fit to be king. He must be God's choice". But God told him clearly: "Do not be deceived by his face. I have refused him"
That is how men are often deceived. However good we look, that will not satisfy God. Man may think highly of us, because we speak nicely and politely and look humble. No doubt Martha and Mary belonged to a nice family. When the Lord Jesus came to the house, straightaway Martha would begin to cook food, and straightaway Mary would come to the feet of the Lord Jesus. What a nice family they were, very generous, kind, loving and so hospitable, and above all a God-fearing family. But the Lord had seen something which others could not see. Unless a man becomes totally new, he cannot receive God's love, power and grace. Even though outwardly he may look nice and well-behaved, none of these human virtues can satisfy God, unless they come from an inward change of nature. We remain under condemnation as long as we do not come to the Lord Jesus. Whatever we have through our old nature, our good behaviour and manners or that which we call virtue, is nothing but filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). It is only as we receive new life that our nature becomes new, and through these virtues we become Godfearing.
So the Lord Jesus Christ came to Bethany to let them see first their true inward condition, for only then could He "bless them. Patiently and lovingly He came to Bethany, till He found a change in the whole family. The Lord Jesus Christ very lovingly comes to us also again and again till all things are new, for everything must come from Him. 2 Corinthians 5:18 (1st part) "All things are of God.'' (v. 17) "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature." All that we are, all that we do, or possess, or acquire, must be from God. Only then He is satisfied, and to this end He comes to us, and sends His people to us and His servants again and again till we are brought into full possession of new life. Then our yea becomes yea and our nay becomes nay. And every step will be controlled by Him. That takes time, but the Lord knows all our difficulties and very lovingly comes to us again and again.
In the beginning we find there is no mention about Lazarus. Evidently he was not interested at first. He was a good man. There was no charge against him, for he was honest and hardworking, and a good brother. We know that, because Martha and Mary wept so much for him when he died. If he was a bad man, nobody would have wept for him. There are some very nice people who are very kind and very loving. They love to talk to God's servants and to receive them into their homes, but if the latter gives them the Word of God, they may go to sleep. They have no interest. Someone can talk about a dog, or a donkey, or a monkey, and they will be interested, but for God's Word they have no interest. Lazarus may have been thus in the beginning. He may have had no interest. Perhaps he did not like God's Word. When the Lord Jesus Christ came into the house, he may cleverly have gone somewhere else. If the Lord Jesus came in by the front door, he may have gone out by the back door. There are very many men of that type. You cannot find any fault with them, for they are good, nice, hard-working people, but somehow they do not have any hunger or thirst for the things of God.
In Luke 10:40 we see how kind Martha was. As soon as she saw the Lord through the window, she got busy getting the fire ready and began to prepare the food. She was very hospitable,kind-hearted, and a very good cook. But she was also full of jealousy and bad temper. She went on cooking for some time, but kept one eye upon Mary and one eye upon the food. She waited for a while, but her heart was burning, till, looking very angry, she went to the Lord Jesus, and said "Lord, look at that woman! Tell her to come and help me". By the Lord coming into her family, all her hidden weaknesses came out.
Many a husband will say that his wife is extremely good, and that she is very loving and kind, and there is nobody like her in the world. She is very hospitable too. Her only fault is that when she gets angry, nobody can move her, and she will even say to her husband: "Why do you look at me that way, or this way?" In many people there is jealousy and bad temper, and the family is unhappy. With all their good virtues, there are hidden weaknesses in each one. The Lord Jesus knew fully well the condition of this family, and knew also that unless those weaknesses were uncovered there could not be a change.
Whenever the Lord uncovers sin, He does it to bless us, but human beings uncover sin to shame us. He went to Bethany not to shame them, but to allow them to see their own condition, to realize their own folly and weakness, and how they could be transformed and become new.
In the same way Mary was outwardly humble. Straightway she came to the feet of the Lord Jesus when He came into the house. She was so hungry for the Word of God, but judging by her attitude in, John 11:20 she was too proud. It was true that the Lord Jesus had not come to them when they wanted Him, yet He was worthy of respect. Even though Martha was in sorrow, when she heard the Lord had come, she straightway left the house and went to receive Him. She knew she must welcome Him properly, and to show her respect went to meet Him. But Mary sat still weeping and saying: "I won't go! I won't go! Why did He not come when we called Him? We loved Him and served Him! I won't go!" She was too proud, so refused to go and give Him honour. Many of us are like that. We are proud of family, nationality, wealth, land or property, proud of beauty, complexion, nose, face, hair, or some other feature. Whatever it may be, many of us think we have something to be proud of. The Lord went to Bethany in order first to let that family realize their true inward condition. Before God can bless us and help us, He must show us also our true nature.
Good doctors must examine a patient thoroughly before treatment. Those who want money look at the tongue and send the patient away. But good doctors will do many tests. They examine the lungs, blood and everything else, and tell the patient what is the cause of the sickness. Then they give the right treatment. The Lord Jesus is the only person who can diagnose our inward nature. Unless we humble ourselves and see ourselves as the Lord Jesus sees us, He cannot bless us. We must cry out like Job in Job 42:6, and as Peter cried out in Luke 5:8, and allow the Lord Jesus to diagnose our spiritual diseases.
Peter never saw himself inwardly. The Lord Jesus had to come to him again and again till he saw his true condition. The first time the Lord met him is given in John 1:35 to 42. He called him by his name Simon, and then gave him a new name. Peter thought this was a wonderful thing. He thought: "Here is a man who knows me by name", but there was no inward change in him. In Luke 4:38,39 we read of the second occasion when the Lord met Peter, and came into his house. There He healed Peter's mother-inlaw by rebuking the fever, and straightway she got up and served them. Peter doubtless thought to himself: "What a wonderful person this is! By His word alone she has been healed!" But still there was no inward change in Peter.
The Lord Jesus met Peter the third time in Luke 4:40,41. This happened in the street where they were living. A crowd came to see the Lord Jesus, and by His word many were healed. Simon Peter was seeing wonderful things happening before his eyes, but yet there was no change in him. He was the same old Peter; but the Lord kept on coming to him again and again. In Luke 5:3, the disciples had toiled all night, but had caught nothing. Peter sat in the empty boat with an empty stomach. But in the very same boat, the Lord came to show him that though he was a hardworking, honest and God fearing man, yet inwardly his life was barren. He was still not prepared to follow Christ fully. At the Lord's command Peter obeyed and put the net on the right side of the boat, and it began to sink. At last Peter saw his condition. He said: "Lord, I am a sinful man, depart from me." He did not say that in the beginning. He was no doubt a God-fearing man, waiting for the Messiah, but never saw his condition as a sinner, and the Lord had to come to him again and again before he did so.
Our nature is under condemnation unless our "old man" is crucified. Then we receive new life, and only then, we receive true blessing. That was the purpose why our Lord came to Bethany to the home of Mary and Martha and Lazarus. It was in order to change them and make them entirely new. This is a picture of a true Church. In every visit to Bethany He revealed something. He wants to teach us also how His love can come into us fully. Our Lord wants our heart, home and Church to be a Bethany, and then there will be a triumphant life, a happy home and a living Church. This threefold secret is revealed by our Lord going to Bethany.