When we study and compare the four Gospels, we find John altogether different. It is interesting that while we learn much from what is similar, we learn most from what is different. It is well known that John as he writes, omits several events, which receive special attention by his three fellow evangelists, Matthew, Mark and Luke. John makes no mention of the Temptation, the Transfiguration, the two on the Emmaus Road and several other important events. No reference to the Lord’s supper either is found in his pages. He does on the other hand devote more space to the upper room ministry than the other synoptists, and writes at greater length than all of them together about the supper at which the Lord’s Supper was first instituted, this makes the omission significant.
It cannot be that he wishes to detract from the importance of the Lord’s Supper, an event at which he was present on that first memorable night, we can safely say that about John. When he wrote the gospel, the ordinance was already well established in the local churches. It was normal for it to be observed on the first day of the week.
There is no doubt that John was in full accord with what the Lord Jesus taught when He took the bread and the cup saying, “This do in remembrance of Me.” All true ministry is timely, the prophets spoke to a present local need, but their message had a far-reaching effect. The early public ministry of the Lord Jesus was to meet needs which were present at the time when He spoke, but the Spirit of God is still using that word to us today. Likewise, each book and epistle of the N.T. was written to meet a particular existing need, it was no different with the gospel of John.
He connects incidents with small recurring links like a word or a phrase. In this way he connects the supper of chapter 12 with the supper of chapter 13 by a reference in each to the last Passover. He says that the one at Bethany was six days before it, while the other was at Jerusalem on the night before it. The student of John will enjoy detail like this from the pen of so contemplative an author.
John tells us that because Jesus was at Bethany, there they made Him a supper. It was a home He often visited, so the place is significant and the time has special meaning. Bethany is mentioned 11 times, only two of these refer to the resurrection of Lazarus, which John shows, was just prior to the upper room ministry where the shadow of Calvary was beginning to be felt.
It was from Bethany the triumphal entry into Jerusalem of the Messiah was made on that long foretold date, and in the predicted manner. In this home He found rest that evening after coming from the inhospitable capital. It was from there He went to cleanse the temple for the second time, it was to there He returned, the rejected King. There He was honored by the few who accepted His Messsiahship, believed in His deity and appreciated His personal worth. The warm fellowship, the heavenly Stranger knew on earth, most often seems to have been found with the loving hearts in that home at Bethany. The impressive events of the week prior to the Cross brought a strange hush of love and sorrow as the shadow of Calvary was cast over them all.
The record of this supper is full of what the disciples did, Martha was there and for her it was again an opportunity to serve the Lord Jesus and His own. Previously Martha had been taken up with much serving, but now there is no rebuke from the Lord, perhaps on account of her spiritual growth, maturity attained in the school of experience, having spent some time in His presence. All who remember Him, in the same manner need to learn the same lesson Martha did. Present-day activity is often too superficial, and life often much too fast to be as deep as necessary if any real worship is to be found when we “make Him a supper.” We need to learn what John is teaching here, the spirit of activity that must always be doing something at the supper in order to keep things going should be restrained. More place then would be given to that ministry of deep devotion by means of suitable expression. The leading of the Spirit at the supper would be more obvious, and Spirit-led brethren would have more liberty to lead the assembly in suitable expressions of acceptable worship.
We are told that Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him, enjoying the new life that the Lord had given him, and new liberty from the hand of the disciples at the command of the Lord. His enjoyment of resurrection life and his freedom from all the graveclothes of this dead world fitly illustrates a desirable condition for us when we sit at the table with Him. Activity did not mark him, but heart occupation, passive enjoyment and fellowship with his heavenly visitor was his to enjoy. The wording that John uses seems to point to the fact that the the man Lazarus was silent, and that the women Martha and Mary were active. In scripture thought, masculine characters usually suggest what Bible students call the objective, that is the work of Christ for us. While feminine characters suggest the subjective, that is the work of Christ in us. The supper is the place for the prominence of the subjective, the work of God in us. Then, what the Spirit has done in us will find greater expression, than reiteration of the facts, as to what Christ has already done for us.
How many worship meetings have been spoiled by undue exposition of doctrinal facts with which we are all familiar. Better it would be, surely, that more complete teaching be given elsewhere, at another time, then the Lord would have His place, and the enjoyment of life and liberty which is ours in Christ might result. This would contribute much more to an attitude of worship by all at the supper than the ministering of doctrine at the time. When we worship, like Mary we come to give back to Him, not so much to minister to one another. What value there would be if we had that Lazarus-like heart occupation, too deep for words, what a depth of worship would result.
Mary, who up to this point had been sitting at His feet, hearing His word, enjoying His presence, found this occasion an opportunity, to express in her own way, her admiration of the one whose worth she had been learning. The love of her heart had guided her, so that, without any special preparation for the supper itself, her affectionate heart had treasured up ointment which is described as both genuine and costly. The supper and the presence of the Lord Jesus became the opportunity she had waited for, then as she poured out the fragrant ointment, in the truest sense, she worshipped, even though the word does not appear.
When we come to remember Him and these spiritual elements are present, the place in which we meet would also be filled with the fragrance of worship. Order and harmony would be evident, and all formality gone. Our celebrations of the supper would then make a Bethany for Him today in a world that is still as inhospitable to Him as was Jerusalem of old.
We must also note that while this noble act was being lavished on the Lord, an unworthy one was present at the same time. There is even in this, definite instruction for us. There was one in the company who would have given to the service of man that which was intended for the Lord. The suggestion was soundly condemned, in contrast to the outpouring being commended. It was not every day that this expression of devotion and worship was possible, because it was not often enough that the Lord Jesus was with them in this way. Every hour is full of opportunities for doing good to men who are present with us, both physically and spiritually. This occasion was unique and if missed might not be recalled.
Let us learn from this, to render to men the things that are men’s in every normal hour, and the things that are the Lord’s in the hour of remembrance. The service of men is a poor exchange for the worship of Christ, and the events that followed proved that it was by no means as genuine as it was professed to be. If we put man first we are not likely to give the Lord His place at all, and even less likely to be of service to man either. When we in all sincerity put Him first, then it will help us to be to our fellowman what He desires us to be, and so serve them best.