MARY OF BETHANY

MARY OF BETHANY

There are three great chapters in Mary of Bethany’s history. The first, She sat at his feet, and heard his word. In that she is alone. The good part is new and unprecedented. She departed from the ordinary and approved course which Martha diligently pursued. She adopted a part which was singular and unknown. To be near Him, and to understand Him, is the good part — the soul of love — a blessed beginning; she could never lose it; it was the result of a divine work in her soul. The second chapter recorded for us in her history tells of her deep sorrow because of the death of Lazarus, and her disappointment at the Lord not coming at once, for she had counted on His love. But the moment she heard, “The Master is come, and calleth for thee” (John 11: 28), she was reassured; she had no doubt as to His power and greatness, and when she saw Him she fell at His feet. Now she learns His deep interest in her. The blank caused by the death of Lazarus is filled by Himself. Next, she learns His sympathy and His love in a new way; and lastly, in a circle of friends, she avows such devotion to Him, that that which would have given great distinction to herself she buries with Him. As He is about to die, what is of any value to her where He is not? I admire much her isolated path, because her affection for Him carried her outside and apart from every one here, and as far as I see, it is in this connection she should be spoken of in the gospel. As the Lord says, “Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her” (Matthew 26: 13). It is the memorial that our blessed Lord not only so loved a sinner, but could make a sinner love Him so much.

I suppose if we were here like Mary, sitting at the feet of Jesus, hearing His word, we should be able to interpret rightly every occurrence of the day. I do not say that we should be able to tell the intention of each occurrence; but this I am sure of, that as each drives us to Him, we should receive from Himself the blessing intended for us by it. Where we resist death most, there death comes most, if we are set for knowing the Lord better. The death of Lazarus tried Mary deeply. She, I might say, was disappointed with the Lord. She was reassured when Martha said — He calleth for thee; and this deep sorrow led to her knowing Him in the closest and happiest way. Before Lazarus was raised she had found in Christ a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Until Christ is more to us than every natural tie, though there may be a good deal of nice, useful service, we have not come to Christ, as “everything and in all” (Colossians 3: 11). He may indeed be chief, but He is not everything. When He is, He then is known as Head.

I can understand (would that I knew it better!) that He then so commands the heart and satisfies it, that one could carry out every natural tie with grace and unselfish interest, seeking to impart instead of to receive. The more Christ is to us, the better we are in every natural tie. It may seem hard and unnatural to say, If a man forsake not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple, and yet it is the one who does so, who, because of the grace of Christ, can best answer to and serve the natural ties.