Part 63

The evangelist in the first verse, makes mention of the sickness of _Lazarus_. “Now, a certain man mas sick, named _Lazarus_ of _Bethany_, the town of _Mary_, and her sister _Martha_.” Some think these sisters were very wealthy, so as to own good part of the town, or, as the original word seems to imply, the village. But then it is probable the evangelist would have said the town of _Lazarus_, estates usually descending, as with us, in the male line: it means therefore no more, than that _Martha_ and _Mary_ lived in _Bethany_. The Holy Ghost pointing out to us hereby, that nothing makes a town so worthy of a gracious soul’s remark or esteem, as its having many of GOD’s dear children for its inhabitants. _Bethany_, though a little place, is more famous because it was the town of _Martha_ and _Mary_, than if _Alexander_ had fought in it one of his greatest battles. Both these women loved JESUS in sincerity, and were as good as they were great. But _Mary_, though the younger sister, seems to be the most eminent: for the evangelist in the second verse, speaks of her in a very distinguishing manner. “It was that _Mary_, (that never-to-be-forgotten _Mary_) which anointed the Lord with ointment (expensive as it was) and wiped his feet, (after she had washed them with tears of love) with her hair,” even the hair of her head. What notice is taken of this action! With what an eulogy, and in what a high strain of commendation is it here spoken of? And such are the honours of all GOD’s saints. Though all our good works are not recorded as _Mary_’s are, yet GOD is not unmindful, that he should forget our works of faith, and labours which have proceeded of love. Every tear we shed, every sigh we fetch, every alms we give, though it be only a cup of cold water, are all recorded in the Lamb’s book of remembrance, and shall be produced to our eternal honour, and rewarded with a reward of grace, though not of debt, at the great and terrible day of the LORD. “I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat, I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink, naked, and ye cloathed me, sick and in prison, and ye came unto me.” What reason have we then to be “stedfast and unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the LORD, forasmuch as we are assured, that our labours will not be in vain or forgotten by the LORD?” It was that _Mary_ that anointed the LORD with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair. And what follows? “Whose brother _Lazarus_ was sick.” So that being related to CHRIST, or his disciples, will not exempt persons from sickness. In this life, time and chance happen to all, only with this material difference, those afflictions which harden the obstinately impenitent, soften and purify the heart of a true believer. “My son, therefore despise not the chastening of the LORD (on one hand), nor faint when thou art rebuked of him (on the other): for whom the LORD loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.”