LESSONS FROM A FEAST IN BETHANY
(Jim McDonald)

John 11:1-11 contains the record of a feast which was given for Jesus in Bethany. Three of the gospels record this same event (Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 12:1-11). There is also the record of a similar account recorded exclusively in Luke 7:36-50. However, some regard all four of these account to refer to the same feast.

There are a number of similarities between the account recorded by Matthew, Mark, and John with the feast in Luke 17. In both accounts the name of the host was Simon (Luke 7:49); in the accounts of Matthew, Mark and John the host was identified as “Simon the leper” (Mark 14:3). During both feasts Jesus was anointed with precious ointment by a woman. But, while there are similarities, there are many differences which show us that we are looking at two different feasts. The feast Luke recorded was very early in His ministry and occurred in Galilee; the feast of Matthew, Mark, and John was very late — just the day before His “triumphant entry” into Jerusalem. This mean that it was just 6 or 7 days before His crucifixion, and took place in Bethany, a village near Jerusalem. While the host of Luke’s feast was named Simon, that within itself is not conclusive. Simon was a common name and we read about several different men wearing that name. Consider these differences. Both Matthew and Mark identify the man as Simon, “the Leper” while John’s account simply calls him “Simon”. There is also a significant difference between the two women who anointed Jesus: the woman of Luke 7 was a woman of ill repute while the woman (Mary, Lazarus’ sister) was a woman greatly respected by even the Jews of Jerusalem. There were criticisms at both feasts; however, the criticism was different. In the account of Luke 7, Jesus was criticized for allowing the woman to touch Him; in the account of John there was harsh criticism against the woman for not selling the precious anointment and giving the funds to the poor — but no mention of a flawed character of her.

The feast in John 12 was hosted by Simon, the leper. We must assume that man was so identified after he had been healed of leprosy. Lepers were excluded from the community of other humans so long as the leprosy was still active.

The feast hosted by Simon in John’s account was in honor of Jesus. Lazarus and both his sisters were at the feast and Lazarus shared the meal with Jesus. Martha served and Mary anointed Jesus with the precious ointment. This feast in Jesus’ honor (whether given in Martha’s home or at an entirely different location) was likely given as an expression of the great gratitude the whole family felt because Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead.

The feast drew many people. John 12:9 reads, “The common people therefore of the Jews learned that he was there: and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.” This proves an occasion for more to believe in Jesus, and the record says they did.

The feast also proved to be an occasion for the demonstrating of the best and worst in people. It recorded the best of man’s behavior, the public demonstration of profound attitude on the part of Mary (as well as her brother and sister). Sometimes gratitude is not expressed, although it should be. In Luke 17 there is a record of both gratitude and ingratitude. Jesus was approached by ten lepers and He would cleanse them. Jesus instructed them to go, show themselves to the priest, and offer the sacrifice Moses prescribed for thanksgiving for a gift. When one of those ten (a Samaritan) saw that he was cleansed, he returned to the Lord and prostrated himself before Him, expressing his gratitude for the gift of Jesus. Jesus noticed both his gratitude and the ingratitude of the others who did not return. He said, “Were not the ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there none found that returned to give glory to God save this stranger?” (Luke 17:17-19). These words show that Jesus is conscious of man’s expression (or lack thereof) of gratitude given to God for the uncountable number of blessings he daily receives from His hand. Do we remember God’s gifts to us and express our thanksgivings to Him?

On the other hand, Mary’s gift brought out the worst in Judas. All he could see was that a sum of 300 pence had not been put into the purse which he carried for common needs of the disciples. Although he feigned interest in that the poor had been deprived of benefit from the sum which would have been brought by the sale of ointment and placed their bag, he didn’t really care for the poor. The Holy Spirit described him as a thief who stole what was put into the bag he carried (John 12:16).

Jesus rebuked Mary’s critics, telling them to “let her alone, she had wrought a good work on me … she hath prepared my body for the burial.” How often do we express to God our gratitude, thanksgivings, and joy we have from the riches of His benefits? Are we so insensitive to His blessings that we take them for granted, or even worse to be altogether unconscious of them? I suspect that for all of us, some sincere soul searching is in order. We rob ourselves from so much joy and contentment when we do not recognize the greatness of God’s gifts to us.