Read:

John 12:1, 2, 9

¹ Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. ² There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
⁹ Much people of the Jews therefore knew 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.

3 John 1:5-8

⁵ Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers; ⁶ Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well: ⁷ Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. ⁸ We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.

Exhortation:

As for Lazarus, he was one of them that sat at the table. We might hastily imagine that by sitting there he did nothing: but, the people had come together very much to see Lazarus, and for him to sit there, and to show himself, and especially to eat and to drink, was to do the best thing to convince onlookers that he was indeed alive. Our blessed Lord Himself, when He rose from the dead, found it needful to convince His disciples that He was really alive and in a real body, and therefore He took a piece of broiled fish and honeycomb, and did eat before them all (cf. Lk 24:36-43). When they saw Him eat, they were sure that He lived.

Likewise, when Lazarus ate at the table, sceptics could not say, It is merely his corpse, set upright to look like life, or a mere phantom to deceive. Lazarus eating and drinking was, first of all, a testimony for Jesus’ power over sin and death. Lazarus’ presence at the table, was a visible proof that Jesus Christ is the life and resurrection (John 11:25). There are some Christians who cannot do much or say much, but their godly lives, their patient suffering, their quiet holiness, their vibrant and generous spirit, are good witnesses for Christ.

Besides, it was significant that someone of the family would keep the Master company. Who could do this best, but Lazarus, the one who was loved of the Master? Anywhere else, Lazarus might have been out of place, but it appears most seemly that Lazarus should sit at the table.

Lazarus did not avoid fellowshipping with Jesus because many other Jewish men and leaders of his community hated Him; but respectfully took his seat with the Master, giving honour to Him by attentively listening to Him. May  we, who have received much from His gracious hand, readily avail ourselves to reach out to others in His name.

Thought:

Eat, drink and fellowship for the glory of Christ.

PRAYER

May my home be a place of Christ-honouring fellowships!