Honoring

Honoring

Matthew 26:6, NLT

Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy.

John 12:2, NLT

A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with him.

Setting the Scene

One evening, Simon, a former leper who had been healed by Jesus, hosted a dinner in Jesus’ honor. The Gospel accounts reveal that in addition to Simon, those in attendance included Mary, Martha, Lazarus, and the Twelve. All those named would have had great reasons for honoring Jesus.

Each person in this story expressed a particular attitude toward Jesus through specific actions. Martha was practicing her gift of hospitality (see Luke 10:38-42), though apparently with a new attitude of meekness. She honored her Lord with hospitality and refreshment. Lazarus was reclining at the table with his Lord, who had brought him back to life. The tender attention given to Jesus by his friends in Bethany contrasts sharply with the treachery Judas planned to commit in just a few days.

Getting Personal

Why do you go to a worship service? How would visitors to your worship service know that it was given “in Jesus’ honor”?

What can you do to make sure that you’re not simply going through the motions?

Guests at this dinner party had major differences in background and social status: a former leper (the lowest element in society); fishermen; a former tax collector (considered a traitor by fellow Jews); a zealot hoping to overthrow the Romans; a man whom Jesus had brought back to life; and more. What brought them together was Jesus. Lazarus, Mary, Martha, and Judas were all in Jesus’ close circle of friends, but their relationships and motives for following him differed greatly. What a contrast between Mary and Judas: Mary expressed her great love for and faith in Jesus by offering a very special gift, and Judas betrayed his true character by disapproving Mary’s extravagance.

Today, Christian churches have similar collections of attendees: a wide range of people from all walks of life and social strata and with a variety of motives. These disparate groups gather ostensibly to honor Jesus. But some are simply going through the motions, reducing the life of faith to a brief semiannual (Christmas and Easter) or weekly appearance at their local church. Being close to Jesus is not enough if we don’t have heartfelt trust and obedience.

Talking to God

All believers occasionally come to a worship service casually or with a bad attitude. Confess this weakness to the Lord, and ask him to make his presence real to you in the company of your church family, as you make his person, his work, and his Word the center of attention.