(Mark 11:11; Jeremiah 7:11)
Leaving the temple, its ritual and ceremonies-the falsity of mere profession seen and appraised by Him as hateful (compare Col. 2:19-23)-Jesus turns away to Bethany, characterized in the sight of heaven as "the town of Mary and her sister Martha" (John 11:1), to find a response to His love that ever cheered the "Man of Sorrows." The place where His loved ones lived evidently was dear to His heart.
After rising from the grave triumphantly, we find the Lord giving His company to humble followers in an "upper room" rather than in temple courts, thus further emphasizing His own words as to the gorgeous temple:"Behold, your house is left unto you desolate" (Matt. 23:38).
He still "looks round about upon all things," seeing not only the profane and immoral, but also the world-wide nauseous religious profession that ignores His Person, love and claims. Away from all such semblance of devotion He would lead the "little flock," and give His company to hearts drawn by His love to render the response He values.
In our days those all-seeing eyes still behold the secret intents of every heart. He sadly, yet lovingly, looks upon those of His own redeemed ones who choose the company and pursuits of His defamers, as He looked upon Peter, in order that they too may "weep bitterly" for having wounded His loving heart, even though delivered from the terrors of the damned, rescued from the horrors of an endless hell, and claimed by the love that sought and found their lost souls. His look of love assures recovery to Bethany, produces the heartfelt response toward Him which His heart desires. Thus the restored soul with kindred spirits may consort, that the repast prepared for Him at Bethany long ago may still be spread to refresh the "High and lofty One" who yet deigns to abide with "humble, contrite spirits" found at the Bethanys He loves.
Bethany afforded Him, of old, His last resting-place on earth. Not from the temple or confines of Jerusalem, but from Bethany He ascended. As from Bethany still, as from the hallowed presence of the Lord, loyal hearts may be found viewing the world's religious and irreligious disregard for His Person, work and Word; and feeling, besides, the deeper grief to His heart occasioned by the cold indifference of any of His own whose first love He laments as "left" (Rev. 2:4). Such loyal hearts, such sharers of "His reproach," turn away from "the camp" (Heb. 13:13), in order to welcome HIM in, as Martha did into "her house"; adopting the young believer's answer, "Every room," when asked the question, "Have you any room for Jesus?"
The blessed Lord comes when and where He is wanted. May we perceive in the Holy One (as the Shunammite did in the "holy man of God," 2 Kings 4:9) such attractiveness as may lead us to desire His company; to make for Him a "little chamber'' on the "wall" of separation; to minister to Him rest (the "bed"); to obediently learn at His feet (the "stool"); and to have the light of His Word (the "candlestick") dismiss all darkness from the chamber, from the heart, He occupies. Such a chamber will not be tenantless. John 14:23 tells us that abiding occupancy by the Father and by the Son is assured. Our Beloved's communings He directs to hearts (Lk. 24:32), not to intellects. A heart for us how wondrously He has evidenced! Those who have a heart for Him yield refreshing to the glorious God who by every right lays claim to undivided hearts.
A sanctuary we may provide as we answer our Father's plea, "My son, give me thine heart" (Prov. 23:26); the plea of Christ our Lord, "that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith" (Eph. 3:17). We may welcome the entrance of the Spirit, "Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts" (Gal. 4:6); we may enjoy His love, "Because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts" (Rom. 5:5); and seek to honor the sacred Word of the living God, "Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee" (Ps. 119:11).
In Luke 10:38-42 we have words for hearts to cherish and obey placed above service that hands may render. His Word expresses His will, before which the fairest of seemingly pious expressions of self-will earn but condemnation.
To hear Jesus is the "one thing needful." Martha's "many things" would only end in disappointment for her and for Him. The hearing ear for His Word ever delighted and glorified Him, and still does so (Rev. 2:7,11, 17,29; 3:6,13,22). We are told (Col. 3:23) that "whatsoever" we do is taken account of. The motive determines whether valuable or worthless. Self-occupation is the death-blow to all true service, for, as with Martha, it leads to our judging others (as she did her sister), having no good word for them; souring instead of sweetening our spirits.
Martha's "my," "me," "dost Thou not care?" (ver. 40), betray the unrest of soul within, and the lack of such needful preparation for true service as occupation with Him and lowly attention to His Word would afford. Let us contemplate the significant difference between Martha distracted and Mary attracted, and learn, as Martha did, to serve acceptably, as in John 12:2. Heavenly motives in smallest things lift the meanest drudgery of daily life to highest service, and earn His loving commendation rather than rebuke. When no longer "cumbered" Martha's service gladdened the Lord, and won an honored place in the imperishable record of that blessed Bethany household, each an object of the love of Christ and heartily responsive to it. Note how naturally their message to the Lord as to Lazarus speaks of, "Him whom Thou lovest,'' still equally true of every child of God.
His love led our glorious Lord to enter Martha's lowly "home," and sacred words from His blessed lips corrected her faulty service, as the sequel shows, for we read in John 12 that "Martha served," the record of divine approval when all the work connected with the supper she lovingly prepared was performed for "Hin." The heart set right, drawn by the constraining love of Christ, ears, hands and feet were governed to suit Him, and were no longer moved by self-occupation or unbroken will. As listening to the Lord expressing His tender heart's desires for His loved ones, in true lowliness "at His feet," humbly hearing and heeding His Word, who could read chapters 13,14, IS, 16 and 17 of John's Gospel, and fail to render responsive service in hearty compliance with His Will? E. J. Checkley
(To be continued, D. V.)