The Bethany Project

Editorial by R. E. Bob Tate

It’s interesting that some things, seemingly commonplace, can have such a long-lasting, even eternal object lesson for generations to come. One of those things is the story of Martha from Bethany who welcomed Jesus into her house (see Luke 10:38–42).

By welcoming Him into her home, Martha unwittingly demonstrated how one’s home can be an extension of a worship service and a center of influence for Him who is the light of the world.

It has often been asked by pastors and other church leaders how they can get their members to let their lights shine outside the walls of the church and into the communities. The answer to that question is quite simple: They don’t have to do anything. The community is already there. That’s where they live. They all live outside the walls of the church. All that is necessary is to turn the lights on. 

What if each home would follow Martha’s example and invite Jesus to fellowship together? His presence would bring a blessedness to everyone. And by inviting others, the home would be a lighthouse shining in the darkness.

What if we would also follow the advice Jesus gave to His disciples, when at the climax of His life in Gethsemane, He asked, “Could you not watch with Me one hour?” (Matt. 26:40, NKJV). Was that too much to ask when the salvation of the world was at stake? But His small church of three was asleep. Now that we are at the climax of earth’s history, is that too much to ask of ourselves? Can we not watch with Him for one hour?

Accordingly, my wife and I have carved out a specific time each Sabbath to watch and fellowship with Him for one hour. We have set this time apart as “holy to the Lord” and to invite others who are not of our faith. His promise is, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matt. 18:20, NKJV).

When Jesus found His disciples asleep in the garden, it represented the vast, almost countless potential of believers lying out there—dormant, asleep. They are like bones in a cemetery waiting to be called forth by the Life-giver. What would happen if they would all arise and turn the lights on? It would be like the resurrection before the resurrection. It would certainly hasten the coming of that great resurrection day. 

R. E. Bob Tate is a retired pastor.