Lent 2019 - The Home In Bethany Series

Lent 2019 - The Home in Bethany

Please stand as we read our newest memory Scripture together …

1 John 1:5-7

“This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.

“But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.”

And our memory refresher verse(s) for today is(are) …

2 Timothy 2:15

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the Word of Truth.”

Please open your Bibles to Mark 11:1-11

This year we will celebrate what is called “the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem” on April 14th. In my NIV Bible this section is called, “Jesus Comes to Jerusalem As King” and we usually refer to the date as Palm Sunday.

So, when we read this portion of Scripture it may seem that we are getting a little bit ahead of the church calendar, right? Because, obviously it is NOT Palm Sunday

But, even though this Scripture contains the account of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem there is something else we will be looking at; something that is just kind of a casual fact that is seemingly thrown into the Scripture.

With that in mind let’s look at: Mark 11:1-11

May God bless the reading of His Word … (Prayer for help …)

So, what is it we are looking at today?

Mark 11:11 says,

“Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, He went out to Bethany with the Twelve.”

Jesus went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

Now, that doesn’t seem too important, does it!

Why did they go to Bethany? Couldn’t they have found accommodations in Jerusalem or some other nearby village?

Who was it that lived in Bethany? Martha, Mary and Lazarus lived in Bethany!

The home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus seems to be popping up throughout the Gospels. Actually, there is much more in the Bible about Martha, Mary and Lazarus than there is about some of the twelve apostles!

In the Bible there are three main events where we see the family of Martha, Mary and Lazarus interacting with Jesus

The first time we run into the family of Martha, Mary and Lazarus they are just meeting Jesus and the disciples …

1) Luke 10:38-42

38 As Jesus and His disciples were on their way, He came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to Him.

39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what He said.

40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to Him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

- Here we see Martha in the unusual situation that Martha seems to be the home owner even though her brother lives there as well. (opened HER home to Him)

- But, we also see Martha in the traditional women’s role as she was preparing whatever would be needed by Jesus and His disciples

- Mary is however acting in a untraditional manner by sitting at the feet of a Rabbi

- Martha sees Mary’s inaction as unacceptable

- Martha may very well have been overwhelmed by the unexpected company

The second time we see Jesus interacting with Martha and Mary is after Lazarus has died …

(Give a brief account of Jesus hearing of Lazarus’ sickness up until Martha goes out to meet Jesus – John 11:1-20)

(Give a verbal rundown of the conversations between Jesus and Mary or Martha, or, read them below)

John 11:21-27

21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give You whatever you ask.”

23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”