RR Yeshua Had Favorite Friends  By David Harwood

Shavuah Tov,

We not only find the emotional content of favor through definitions. We see charis illustrated in some stories recorded in Scripture. In these narratives we find that Yeshua favored His friends. He had a few that we know He especially appreciated. The most plainly stated anecdote illustrating this is in John 11. Let’s consider some of it together.

Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Miriam and her sister Martha. This was the same Miriam who anointed the Master with perfume and wiped His feet with her hair. It was her brother Lazarus who was sick. 

So the sisters sent a word to Yeshua, saying, “Master, the one you love (phileō) is sick!” 

... Now Yeshua loved (agapaō) Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 

... After He said this, He tells them, “Our friend (philos) Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I’m going there to wake him up.” (John 11:1–3,5,11) 

In this narrative agape and philos are used interchangeably. That is not unusual in John. However, there is an emphasis on friendship. Lazarus was “our friend.” What a wonderful designation. Who were these people who qualified as their friends?

We know the narrative. Yeshua ultimately intervened and raised Lazarus from the dead. It is a demonstration of favor (charis/grace) to those who were especially beloved friends. This family had found favor in the eyes of Yeshua. He acted on their behalf.

Another thing I find interesting is a glimpse into the common culture of the earliest believers. Apparently, everyone knew that Miriam was the woman who had “anointed the Master with perfume and wiped His feet with her hair.” Now, this was providing some relational context to the narrative found in John 11. However, Miriam’s story is not told in John until the next chapter. Here it is.

Six days before Passover, Yeshua came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Yeshua had raised from the dead. So they prepared a dinner there for Yeshua. Martha was serving, and Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him. 

Then Miriam took a pound of very expensive oil of pure nard and anointed Yeshua’s feet, and she wiped His feet dry with her hair. Now the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. (John 12:1–3) 

We find Lazarus reclining with Yeshua. It is a similar picture to the way John described himself. This is a depiction of a similarly intimate friendship.

Did Yeshua have a special friendship with Lazarus? Yes, He did. So did the entire apostolic company. Messiah said, “our friend, Lazarus”, not “My friend, Lazarus.” 

How was this friendship forged?

Now while they were traveling, Yeshua entered a certain village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. She had a sister called Miriam, who was seated at the Master’s feet, listening to His teaching. (Luke 10:38–39) 

Martha means the “mistress of the house.” Note the Aramaic prefix, “MAR”, in Martha. It’s the same as in MARana-tha. Martha, the head of this household, welcomed Yeshua. Everyone benefitted.

Note, “Yeshua loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.” Miriam and Lazarus are mentioned within the context of their relationship to this woman who was hospitality incarnate. 

Martha’s sister, Miriam, was focused upon Yeshua’s teaching. She placed herself under His authority and drank in His words.

These were Yeshua’s friends. They found favor in His eyes. He acted on their behalf out of His friendship with them. There were favorites and they knew it. Look, “... the sisters sent a word to Yeshua, saying, “Master, the one you love (phileō) is sick!”

Let’s welcome the Lord into our lives and relationships. Let’s befriend Him. Let’s sit at His feet, rest in His presence, and listen to His words. As we do, we will grow in our experience pf the active favor (charis) which proceeds from the Messiah’s friendship. 

He reciprocates. 

Even sinners love those who love them. (Luke 6:32b) They reciprocate.

What about the Righteous One?

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