
It was a special gift, not an everyday item, but it showed they were people of means. But Mary could afford to buy a very expensive perfume called nard. They had a house large enough to accommodate many people, as their hospitality to Jesus and his group of friends shows. Read what modern writers say about Martha & Mary Leonardo da Vinci captures this isolation in his painting of The Last Supper (below): Jesus is sitting in the middle of a table with his friends all around him, but he seems alone, as those dearest to him lean away from him, separating themselves from him as they will do later, when he is arrested and faces death.

People who are held in high esteem, as Jesus was, are often isolated, even though they are at the center of the crowd. Jesus, who was quite capable of overwhelming people with his presence, was informal and easy in their company. They behaved with him in a natural way, speaking openly about what they thought. The three young people were friends of Jesus. Martha and Mary were two sisters who offered hospitality to Jesus and the people traveling with him. Remember that we can also ask God to perform miracles in our lives.House plan of a well-to-do family in 1st century Jerusalem the house of Martha and Mary would have been smaller, but built along a similar plan
#Story of jesus and lazarus series
Jesus, however, tells us that the woman’s “many sins have been forgiven - as her great love has shown."Ĭontemporary theologians regard Jesus’s actions in resurrecting Lazarus as a central miracle, which sets up a series of events leading to the Crucifixion of Christ and His resurrection from the dead by His Almighty Father. The anointing, described in Luke 7:36–50, is slightly different where the woman who anoints Jesus’ feet with perfumed oil is regarded as a sinner. The anointing of Jesus is reported in four different gospels of the New Testament: Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 7, and John 12. Jesus is telling us to revere Him as the son of God while also predicting His death. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me." ( John 12:7-8) "It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. "Leave her alone," (referring to Mary), Jesus replied. This moment gives Jesus another opportunity to instruct us when he tells Judas:

This simple act of humility incurs the criticism of the apostle Judas (who later betrays Christ). His friendship with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus includes a story where Mary anoints Jesus’s feet with oil six days before Passover. Jesus’s tears for his friend Lazarus show us the Lord as a man grieving for a friend. The story of Lazarus teaches modern Christians about how we can have eternal life if we follow Christ. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. The central message in the story is contained in Jesus’s words to Lazarus’s sister Mary when He says: Lazarus emerges from the tomb while still wearing his grave clothes. Then, Jesus raised His friend from the dead by calling out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out” ( John 11:43). Upon seeing Lazarus lying dead in the tomb, “Jesus wept” ( John 11:35).

Jesus intends to travel to Bethany and tells his disciples that Lazarus’s “sickness won't end in death.” He knows that Lazarus’s illness and death “happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.” ( John 11:4). The disciples warned Jesus about going back to Judea, as previously the Jews had tried to stone Him there.
#Story of jesus and lazarus full
Jesus delays visiting them for two days, knowing full well that he can perform a miracle and restore Lazarus to life. Jesus learns that Lazarus of Bethany is gravely ill and that his sisters require his presence and assistance. Significantly, Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha were close friends of Jesus. The story of Lazarus described in John 11:1-44 tells us that Jesus has power over life and death.
