John 11:1-3, Martha, Mary, and Lazarus

1 Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. 3 So the sisters sent to him, saying, "Lord, he whom you love is ill." 

Bethany, the village of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha, is located a few miles south east of Jerusalem. This is a family especially close to Jesus and he will return and make their home his headquarters during the last week of his life. However, the text never states that all three live in the same home.  

At this point we need to understand the closeness of these four people, because the sisters refer to their brother as “he whom you love.” From Luke 10:38-42, we know that Jesus has been to their home before: 

Jesus entered a village [Bethany]. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” 

This passage in Luke tells of how Martha and Mary are called to follow Jesus and sit at his feet as beloved disciples. Mary will go on to anoint Jesus, and Martha knows to send for Jesus when Lazarus falls ill. Jesus is being called by two sisters he knows well to come and minister to their dying brother, who is another good friend. 

Spend some time at the feet of Jesus today and listen to his voice in Scripture. Perhaps you want to read the end of Luke 7 through the beginning of Luke 8 to understand the incredible ministry Jesus had to women.