Chapter XV: The Precious Ointment

JOHN 12.3, and MATTHEW 26.6

THREE of the chief friends of our Lord Jesus lived at Bethany, which was a village near Jerusalem, just on the other side of the Mount of Olives.

Their names were Martha and Mary, and their brother Lazarus.

Jesus often went to their home when He was staying at Jerusalem, and they loved Him very much, and He loved them dearly, too.

Only a little time before our Lord Jesus died on the Cross, and while He was some distance away from Bethany, Lazarus was taken very ill, and his sisters sent in haste to Jesus to beg Him to come and heal their brother.

But our Lord Jesus waited for two whole days before He set out to their help. And you must hear why.

This was not because He did not care about their trouble: Oh, no! But He had a great reason in staying away.

He knew that Lazarus was dying, and He intended to come and raise him from the dead!

And when Jesus reached Bethany, Lazarus had died, and had been buried four days before.

When Martha had the news that Jesus was coming, she hastened to meet Him, and in her grief she exclaimed, "Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother would not have died!"

But Jesus told her that her brother should rise again; and that He, Himself, was the Resurrection and the Life: and He said that if only she would believe, she should see the glory of God!

And when Jesus came to the grave, and they rolled away the big stone, then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and said: "Father, I thank Thee that Thou hast heard Me. And I knew that Thou hearest Me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it!" ... And when He had thus spoken, He cried with a loud voice: "Lazarus, come forth."

And Lazarus came out of the grave, and they unbound his grave clothes, and he was alive again.

So Martha did see "the glory of God!"

From this time, many of the Jews determined to destroy Jesus; and would gladly also have put Lazarus to death.

Not long after this, Simon the leper, who lived at Bethany, made a feast for Jesus.

Martha helped to serve the guests, but Lazarus sat down to the table with the Lord.

Many Jews were also guests, who came, not only to see Jesus, but to see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead.

Then, as Jesus sat at supper, Mary, the sister of Lazarus, brought an alabaster box of precious ointment, and poured it over His head and His feet, and the room was filled with the lovely odour.

Some who were there were indignant at what they thought was waste, but the Lord said, "Let her alone ... she hath done what she could; she is come beforehand to anoint My body for the burying."

And then He added this wonderful promise—"Verily I say unto you, 'Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also, that she hath done, shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.'"